Ta Dakria - Τα Δάκρυα - Weisburd Version(Greece)

Ta Dakria - Weisburd Version

Τα Δάκρυα

Greece

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. This is the dance taught (and probably choreographed) by Ira Weisburd. There is a different dance which was taught Dansend Aanleren, by the same name.  The title translates as "The tears". The dance is clearly a hasapikos variation.

Music: So there are many many different Greek recordings with this name, I have been unable to figure out the source of the one Ira uses for his choreography.
Meter: 4/4
Formation: Open circle in W position. Leads to the R
Introduction: Start with any musical phrase

Bar 1:  Facing center, cross L over R (1), Step on R to R (2), Step on L behind R (3), Step on R to R (4)
Bar 2: Step on L into the center (1), tap R toe behind L (2) Step back on R (3). Kick L forward low (4)
Bar 3: Step on L to L (1). Step on R across in front of L (2), Rock back on L in place (3), Step on R to R (4)

Repeat until the end of the music.

Other Videos on the Web

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Korakianítikos - Κορακιανίτικος Greece

Korakianítikos

Κορακιανίτικος

Greece

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. The dance is a traditional dance from Corfu. The version described here has a little bit of extra choreography added by Ira Weisburd to make it fit the recording he used. I'll transcribe the traditional dance first then add in Ira's choreographic changes.

Music:

• https://youtu.be/1YzHv1fO5NE
• https://youtu.be/Xr5CcUdgJnE
• https://youtu.be/qGVALTgbTvg

Meter: 4/4 and 2/4
Formation: Open circle in either shoulder hold or hands down in V position. Ira's version has the hands down in V position
Introduction: Start with slow music

Traditional Versions of the Dance

Part 1: Slow music (4/4)

There are a couple of different ways to do this step, see the various videos below. This is one of them:
Bar 1: Step R (1), L (2), R(3) in LOD, touch L toe forward (4)
Bar 2; Step on L in place (1), Touch R toe forward (2), Step on R in place (3), Touch L toe forward (4)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction.
repeat these steps until the music speeds up. 

Part 2: Fast Music (2/4)

Again there are a couple of different ways to do this step. The leader can choose or the group can always just do one of the variations.

Version 1: Step lifts 

Bar 1: facing center Step on R to R (1), Lift L up slightly in front (2),
Bar 2: Step on L to L (1), Lift R up slightly (2)
repeat until the end of the fast music

Version 2: Chiotikos step
Bar 1: Step on R to R in LOD (1), Cross L over R (2),
Bar 2: Step on R to R facing center (1), Lift L in front (2)
Bar 3: repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction
repeat these three bars until the end of the fast music

Version 3: Long Chiotikos Step
Bar 1: Step on R to R in LOD (1), Cross L over R (2),
Bar 2: repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Step on R to R facing center (1), Lift L in front (2)
Bar 4: repeat bar 3 with opposite footwork and direction
repeat these four bars until the end of the fast music

Ira Weisburd's Version

Part 1: Slow music (4/4)

Bar 1: Step R (1), L (2), R(3) in LOD, touch L toe forward (4)
Bar 2; Step on L in place (1), Touch R toe forward (2), Step on R in place (3), Touch L toe forward (4)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction, except on the last count of bar 4, cross the R toe across in front of left instep, touching toe to floor.
repeat these bars until the music speeds up. 

Part 2: Fast Music (2/4)

Bar 1: Step on R to R in LOD (1), Cross L over R (2),
Bar 2: Step on R to R facing center (1), Cross L over R (&), step on R in place (2) (Pas-de-basque)
Bar 3: repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction
repeat these three bars until the end of the fast music
Bars 4-15: repeat bars 1-3, four more times (five in total)
Bar 16: drop hand and make a complete CW turn to the R, stepping R (1), L (2)

Alternate the steps to fit the music

Other Videos on the web

Ira's version

Traditional versions


















Also spelled: Korakianitikos

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Tsamika Tria (Greece/USA)

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.

Sequence

Introductory toe tap
Basic Step
Interlude
Basic Step
Interlude
Basic Step
Interlude
Basic step until the music fades out.

Videos on the web

 (Many of these videos are from Ira, the choreographer)

See Also:

• Tsámikos (12 count) - Greece
• Tsámikos (16 count) - Greece

Also spelled: Tsamiko, Tsamikos, τσαμικος, τσαμικα, τρια

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Primavera En Salonico (Sephardic/Greece)

Primavera En Salonico 

Sephardic/Greece

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Choreographed by Steve Kotansky, who based the steps on a Greek Zeibekikos.  The song is sung in Ladino.  The title means "Spring in Thessalonika"

Music: Primarvera en Salonico is the name of the group and the song. It appears on Savina Giannatou's album Spring in Salonico (1994)  track B6 (LYRA 4756), Track 16 on the CD.  (https://youtu.be/UQnGeNOdeuY)
Meter: 17/4 counted as SSSQQSSSQQQ (1,2)(3,4)(5,6)(7)(8)(9,10)(11,12)(13,14)(15)(16)(17)
Formation:Solo dancers in a circle
Introduction: During bouzouki taxim, walk forward in a circle.  Start the dance immediately when the regular beat starts.

Bar 1: in LOD step R (S),  L (S), R (S); Rock back in RLOD on L (Q), Rock forward in LOD on R (Q); Grapevine: Cross L over R (S), Turn to face center, step R to R (S), Step on L behind R (S); Sway to the R on R (Q), Sway to the L on L (Q), Sway to the R on R (Q) [Alternately the last three quicks can be done as a sway on R (Q),  pause (Q), and a hop on R turning to face RLOD, and lifting L up behind R calf (Q)]
Bar 2: repeat bar 1, with opposite footwork and direction (moving in RLOD)
Bar 3: Into the center step R (S), L (S), R (S);  Rock onto L into the center (Q), Rock back out of center on R (Q); Pulling L shoulder back, take 3 steps (LRL) to make a complete CCW circle on the floor arms are up high like the eagle pose in Zeibekikos; facing center sway to the R on R (Q), Sway to the L on L (Q), Sway to the R on R (Q)
Bars 4-6: repeat bars 1-3 with opposite footwork and direction

repeat until the end of the music

Other Notes on the web:

• http://folkdancesac.org/uploads/3/4/8/4/34848615/cfest_2015_steve_syllabus.pdf

Videos on the web 

Because of copyright restrictions on the music these videos can't be embedded 

• Steve Kotansky teaching and doing the dance: https://youtu.be/P_0394BjkWc
• Calgary Folk Dance Fridays Group: https://youtu.be/BSLAMdXunzQ

Lyrics

from the notes on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQnGeNOdeuY

Primavera en salonico

Primavera en salonico
halli al cafe Maslumuna 
nina de ojos pretos
que canta y sona ud.

No me manques, tu Fortuna,
del cafe de Avram Maslum.
Tu quitas los muestros dertes,
que cantas y sonas ud.

El ud tomas en la mano
con gilves y con sacas.
Los tus ojos relucientes 
a mi me hacen quemar.

Άνοιξη στη Σαλονίκη

Άνοιξη στη Σαλονίκη
βρήκα στου Μαζλούμ τον καφενέ
μια κοπέλα μαυρομάτα
που τραγουδάει παίζοντας ούτι.

Αχ, Φορτούνα, μη μου λείψεις
από του Αβράμ Μαζλούμ τον καφενέ.
Εσύ διώχνεις τους καημούς μας
που τραγουδάς και παίζεις ούτι.

Το ούτι παίρνεις στο 
χέρι σουμε νάζια και καμώματα.
Τα μάτια σου τα φωτεινά
μεγάλη μ'άναψαν φωτιά.

Also spelled: Salonika

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