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greek dance in messinia and the peloponnese
While it's likely that many traditional dances from Messinia and the Peloponnese have been lost to us, those remaining are among the most popular of all Greek dances.
Sytro / Kalamatianos - danced in many forms throughout all of Greece, the kalamatiano is played in 7/8 rhythm (slow, quick, quick) and the leader can improvise according to the music and his/her individual style.
Tsamikos - Another hugely popular pan-hellenic dance, it was originally a dance reserved for men. Nowadays, it is common to see both sexes participate, although until very recently men and women would have danced in separate lines or in a single line with the men first, followed by the women. Tsamikos is a very personal dance, where the leader can 'freestyle' with variations, kicks, jumps to express themselves in the music. Tsamikos can be in 6/8 or 3/4 (slow, quick) and many dancers have a particular song that they connect with as 'their own'.