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The Greek 
dance Zeibekiko (Zeybek is Turkish 
version) is a dance originating from the Aegean region of the Ottoman Empire and is named after the local Zeybek guerilla fighters.
It is traditionally supposed to be danced solo while holding the arms out like a hawk
dance Zeibekiko (Zeybek is Turkish version) is a dance originating from the Aegean region of the Ottoman Empire and is named after the local Zeybek guerilla fighters.It is traditionally supposed to be danced solo while holding the arms out like a hawk
The Greek version of the dance symbolizes a dignified defeat. Itās about a man trying to stand tall and keep balance through lifeās misfortunes. Thereās usually one man on stage dancing to a song he has requested. Itās very offensive for another man to step up next to the dancer
The dance itself made its way to mainland Greece via Greek refugees from Asia Minor during 1922
Originally this would have been a dance only danced by refugees from Asia Minor, but just like music and food the refugees brought with them, the dance spread to all corners of Greece
Originally this would have been a dance only danced by refugees from Asia Minor, but just like music and food the refugees brought with them, the dance spread to all corners of Greece
In 1973 Nikos Koemtzis and his brother Demos went to a club (bouzoukia) to celebrate their recent release from jail
In the club there was also a group of off duty police celebrating
Nikos made a request (a Parangelia) for a song to so his brother Demos could dance a Zeibekiko
In the club there was also a group of off duty police celebrating
Nikos made a request (a Parangelia) for a song to so his brother Demos could dance a Zeibekiko
Now itās worth mentioning that Greece was under the control of a military dictatorship
All communists were either tortured or killed
The Koemtzis brothers were known communists who had already been tortured in prison
The brothers and the police had a mutual hate for eachother
All communists were either tortured or killed
The Koemtzis brothers were known communists who had already been tortured in prison
The brothers and the police had a mutual hate for eachother
2 of the policeman knew the brothers and didnāt like them, got up and started dancing in front of Demos while he was dancing in order to mock him
This was huge disrespect but the policemen kept dancing and mocking the Demos until he lost his patience and a scuffle broke out
This was huge disrespect but the policemen kept dancing and mocking the Demos until he lost his patience and a scuffle broke out
All of a sudden his brother Nikos jumped up from his seat and ran towards the policemen with a knife, killing 3 of them as well as injuring 7 others.
He was sentenced to death then reduced to life in prison
Scenes taken from a movie based on this story called āParangelia!ā
He was sentenced to death then reduced to life in prison
Scenes taken from a movie based on this story called āParangelia!ā
So next time you see a Greek man dancing Zeibekiko
Leave him alone
Leave him alone
Nikos Koemtzis was eventually released in 1996 and sold his autobiography in the biggest market in Athens (Monastiraki) until his death in 2011
