Tsakonikos
Associations---Greece Crone Men
Tapes Found On---DC II, Turning Around, LongDance Vol
One
Origin---Greece
Choreographer---traditional
Notes
The only ancient Greek dance we know of that is danced by men and
women together
The rhythm is in 5/4
count 1-2-3-4-pause
This dance is thought by many to be the Crane Dance, which Theseus
learned from Ariadne just before he left her on the Isle of Delos, never
to return. It was Ariadne who, according to the more recent patriarchal
mythic thought, gave the thread to Theseus so that, when he entered the
Labyrinth in search of the Minotaur, he may find his way out again. It
should be noted that the name of the palace on Crete was the "Labyrinth",
a name which refers to the double headed ax (The Labrys) which was used
to behead the Sacred King at the end of his time of rule. The
name of the title king (the husband of the Sacred Queen) was "Minos".
The name of the Title Kings heir was Minos' Taur ..."Minotaur" ... or "Minos'
Bull". It was Ariadne who was the last living representative of the
Mother Goddess on Earth when Crete fell to Greek marauders about 1350 BC.
(see also The Kritikos)
.
: The most famous of the Greek "labyrinth" dances (Stratou notes
dozens done in different villages of Greece), in a slow 5/4 meter. Labyrinth
dances were recorded back in ancient Greek times, giving this dance a particular
connection with the Greek past. The variety comes not from the steps but
from the many patterns which the line of dancers may trace. As the name
implies, the dance comes from the isolated Tsakonia region of the Peloponnesos
and it is significant as one of the few local Peloponnesian dances which
is still actively danced; otherwise, the panhellenic dances dominate the
region. The hold is unusual, with one dancer's right arm hooked in another's
crooked left elbow.
.
Theseus was, it is believed, an actual historic character who was
a petty king who originally united the area about his little kingdom.
He was perhaps one of the first petty sea marauders who raided Crete after
Crete was weakened by a series of serious earthquakes about 1350 BC.
In light of this, he may very well have made off with Ariadne who, as crown
princess of Crete (then the last Mother Goddess Society on Earth) was the
last living 'representative' of the Mother Goddess on Earth. If there
is any truth to this, then Ariadne had been raised in a very enlightened
society, a society whose artistic capacities have yet to be equaled in
many an area, and she would have been deeply steeped in the ways of direct
knowledge that were a part of the society. As such, she would have
been well aware of the barbaric and confused nature of Theses and his society.
The dance and the song which she taught him as he left her on the Isle
of Delos never to return would have held within it a message for distant
generations to come upon.
.
It is significant that this is the only ancient Greek dance that
is danced by both men and women together. In light of this, I have
taken the liberty of re-creating new words for the song which goes with
this dance. I believe the words I have created for this dance are
much more true to the nature of the message which the wise Ariadne would
have given to her lover, the world blind Theses.
.
Words in English
I told you, mother
to marry me to someone,
to marry me to someone,
so that I would become a housewife.
But on no account
marry me to an old man,
marry me to an old man,
because youíll regret it.
Because an old man
is always examining everything,
is always examining everything,
and has nothing but words.
Words in Native Tongue
/Su ipa, mana, kale mana
su ipa mana, pandrepae me./
/su ipa, mana, pandrepae me
spitonikokirepaeme./
/Yeron andra, kale mana
yeron andra me mu dhosis,/
/yeron andra mi mu dhosis,
yati tha to metaniosis/
/Yati o yeros, kale mana
yati o yeros ta ksetazi/
/yiati oyeros ta ksetazi,
sto psilo ta loghariazi/
.
Alternative words
perhaps more closely aligned with what Ariadne was giving to Theseus
.
One Earth, One Heart/ In Loveis our art
One Earth, One Heart/ Never far apart
One Earth, One Heart/ Never apart
Though we may dream/ upon the stars
.
Listen, Listen/ O, Heart, deep within
Listen, Listen/ to your origin
Listen, Listen/ to your origin
There deep in the Sea/ May You Touch Me
.
Listen, My Friend/ O, Heart, deep within
Listen, My Friend/ to where you begin
Listen, My Friend/ to where you end
Silhoette on Sea Sand/ Come Touch My Hand
.
Hand in Hand/ Circle round and
Hand in Hand/ Become the land
Hand in Hand/ Become the land
Earth, Sun, Air, Sea, and/ Woman and Man
----- Shaker
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