Tsamika Tria (Greece/USA) ~ Folk Dance Musings

Tsamika Tria
Greece/USA

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. This is a modern choreography based on traditional tsamikos steps. The dance was choreographed by Ira Weisburd. Ira calls it "Tsamika Tria" (tria means "three") because you do the basic step three times before the turn.

Music: Michalis Terzis.
Meter: 3/4
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, leads to the right
Introduction: Wait through the piano solo, do introductory foot tap through the base guitar. Start the basic step with lah lah lah singing.

Introductory Toe Tap

Bar 1: Turn R foot out to R (1,2), Turn R foot in to face center (3)
Bars 2-4: repeat bar 1, three more times.

Basic Step

Bar 1: Step R to R, leaving L in place (1), gently shift weight to L leaving both feet in place (&), gently shift weight to R leaving both feet in place (2), Cross L over R (3)
Bar 2: Step on R to R (1,2), hop or rise on R lifting L in front (3)
Bar 3: Step backwards on L, out of the center, leaving R heel in place, rocking R toe up (1,2), rock forward on R, pulling L up behind R calf (3)
Bar 4: Point L toe to L side (1,2), cross L over R (3)
Bar 5: Step on R to R (1,2) point L toe forward (3)
Bar 6: Drag L toe around in a CCW circle on the floor around to the back (1,2), lift (čukče) on R, bringing L up behind R calf (3)
Bar 7: repeat bar 1 but with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 8: repeat bar 2 but with opposite footwork
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8
Bars 17-24: repeat bars 1-8

Interlude

drop hands with neighbors and hold above head at a comfortable height. In this step you trace a complete CW circle on the floor, starting by pulling your R shoulder back and stepping out of the circle.
Bar 1: Pulling R shoulder back, step on R out of the circle towards the back, snap fingers (1,2), Step on L towards the outside, snap fingers again (3)
Bars 2-3: repeat bar 1, completing the CW circle, end facing in where you started the circle in place.