Anyone who has seen the movie “Zorba the Greek” knows what Greek music and dancing is all about. However, the dance called “sirtaki” was created in 1964 for the movie and is not a traditional Greek folkdance. The “Greek Zorba” is a combination of slow and fast versions of the hasapiko dance. The dance has become so popular in Greece that tavernas all over the country put up shows for the tourists.

But sirtaki is popular outside Greece too. In the Balkans it’s common to see people dance it at parties and weddings even if no one in the room is of Greek origin. I still remember the fun we had at my wedding dancing “the Zorba”.

Greece music

The Greek music’s roots go back to Ancient Greece when music was part of the theater. The instruments used included the double-reed aulos, the lyre and the special kind of lyre called kithara. Music was such an important part of the Greeks’ education that they started learning it in early childhood.

When the Romans came to Greece they had so much respect for the Greek culture that the Roman music was influenced by the Greek one.

During the Byzantine Empire, the tradition of eastern liturgical chant was based on the classical Greek music but different influences were present.

By the beginning of the 20th century, during the Ottoman Empire, music cafes were popular Greece. The bands were typically led by a female vocalist accompanied by a violin and a sandoúri.

The traditional Greek folk music has its origins in the ancient Greece. The instruments used are guitars, tambourines, clarinets and violins. There are several styles of music, often accompanied by dances. The Greek folk music can be found all over the country. The Greek communities in Cyprus and Turkey have, however, developed their unique style of music and dance.

Greek dances

There are many styles of Greek dances all over the mainland and the islands and we can find over 4,000 traditional dances which come from Greece. The Pan Hellenic dances – tsamiko, syrtos, and kalamatianos – have been adopted all over Greece and are popular outside the country as well. It is believed that hundreds of Greek dances have been lost long before anyone had a chance to record them.

Here’s the well known dance scene from the movie “Zorba the Greek”:

Greek artists

Two of the most well known Greek artists are Nana Mouskouri and Vangelis.

Nana Mouskouri was born in 1934 in Chania, Crete and is a popular artist all over the world. She recorded songs in many languages, including Greek, English, French and Italian. She retired in 2008 after touring Europe, Australia, Asia, South America, the United States, and Canada. Her last concert was in Athens (July 24, 2008) at the ancient Herodes Atticus theatre. Nana’s record label (Universal Music) claims that Nana has sold more than 230 million discs worldwide.

Vangelis was born in 1943 in Volos and is a world renowned, Greek composer of electronic, new age and classical music. He is best known for winning the Academy Awards for the music he composed for the film “Chariots of Fire”. Other huge successes were the movies “1492: Conquest of Paradise” and “Blade Runner” for which he also wrote the soundtrack.