Living the Dancer's Life
A little while ago I was having a conversation with an American friend and she was asking me about my experience as a Greek traditional dancer and dance teacher.
We got talking about dance performances and then I mentioned a couple of things we are doing and noticed how curious she was to learn more.
It daunted on me that those little details we are so accustomed to as Greek traditional dancers may not seem obvious to other people and may be fun to know.
So I will share some of them with you!
The Shoes
The dance group I have been a part of since I was a child has a very specific type of dance shoe that all female dancers wear for our performances.
photo credit: Kostis Paraskevas
Other Greek traditional dancers wear similar dance shoes, but not the exact same. So if you see Greek folk dancers wearing the dance shoes with the laces (like those in the image above), you know they belong to the Lykion Ton Hellinidon!
The Skirt
All female dancers are required to wear a skirt or a dress during classes and rehearsals.
This may seem a bit backwards in its thinking, but I will explain the logic and why I actually think its very helpful.
This kind of "rule" is far more relaxed these days, unless you dance at a very advanced level.
But, why is that important?
The truth is that the skirt is helping the female dancer understand the impact that her moves have on a garment like the skirt, which can lift up when turning around for example. That is important because when we perform we are only wearing dresses.
So that makes the skirt as much of a dance tool as the shoes are.
The Hair
You will be glad you kept reading, because I saved the weirdest for last...
On the day of a performance all female dancers are expected not to wash their hair for at least a day - ideally two days.
Having greasy hair is essential so that all the elaborate headdresses remain... well... on our heads! lol
If someone doesn't follow those instructions their headscarf will most likely fall... I have seen it happen and it's not a pretty sight!
That's because greasy hair is actually causing friction that helps the headscarves stay in place.
So next time you see a Greek folk dancer, I know you will be looking at them armed with some insider's knowledge.
I am so intrigued to know that you thought of those little facts about Greek traditional dancers. If you are a dancer yourself, do you have similar things you do?
Don’t hesitate to contact me and let me know.
