Aegean Islands Region

Foties: The name, meaning "fires", refers to the lit candles held while dancing. This comes from Mytilini (Lesvos).

Hiotiko: a Ballo (couple-dance) from the isle of Chios, which is known for its flavorful Mastich (gum).

Ikariotiko: from the isle of Ikaria, the mythical landing spot of Icarus, who flew too close the sun and fell. The syncopated beats/steps of this dance are very unique.

Kapetanissa: this means "female captain" and is an upbeat dance.

Kalymniko (Leriko): in this dance done on both the island of Leros and Kalymnos, dancers are linked by a basketweave handhold, and the line moves forward and back, reminiscent of the tide.

Mihanikos: Meaning the "machine", the name refers to what sponge divers of the isle of Kos called the infamous diving bell which allowed them to dive deeper for sponges, but which left many crippled from the effects of the bends.

Samiotiko: from the green isle of Samos.

Plataniotiko Nero: Means "Water of Platanos" which is a village on Samos known for its spring water.

Sousta Naxos: The word "sousta" means spring and refers to the bouncy movement of this dance from the isle of Naxos. Many islands have their own version of a sousta, but this one is unique in that it is danced with 2 lines led by one leader.

Asia Minor/Pontus (modern-day Turkey) Region

Hasapiko: This literally means "of the butcher" and was danced by the Butchers' Guild of Constantinople

Karsilamas: A couples' dance of Asia Minor where the partners face each other and dance mostly improvised steps.

Kotsari: The name of this well-known Pontian dance refers to the repeated kicking step of the dance;"kots" means ankle in the Pontian dialect.

Laziko: Pontian dance which has many variatons of steps.

Syrtaki: Also commonly referred to as "The Sailors' Dance", this Asia Minor dance was popularized by the film "Zorba the Greek."

Tik: Pontian dance which includes sweeping arm movements along with the steps.

Tsifteteli: Also commonly referred to as a "belly dance", this improvisational Asia Minor dance is now the most common form of dance in modern-day clubs in Greece.

Zeimbekiko: This dance was born in the 1920s in the Rebetika clubs of the Asia Minor refugee camps in Greece. Rebetika songs are typically slow, and are danced by only 1 or 2 people at a time, in a totally improvisational manner.

Region: Crete

Kritiko Syrto: the basic line dance of Crete is unique in that it moves both to the right and to the left.

Pentozali : this very fast dance (zali means dizziness) was once done by Cretan soldiers as part of their endurance training.

Epirus (Northwest Greece) Region

Arapikos: From the village of Zitsa

Berbis: From the village of Zitsa

Fissouni: Greek for "bellows", as is seen in the forward and backward movement of the line and comes from the town of Preveza.

Polemikos: This means "warlike" and was danced by "klephtis" or guerrilla fighters from the village of Pogoni.

Tsamiko: A well-known dance of the Klephtis and is danced at Greek events.

Ionian Islands Region:

Kerkyreiko: Coming from the island of Kerkyra (the Greek name for Corfu), it is danced to one particular song, and can be done in a single-file line or as couples, reflecting the long-time Italian influence on the island.

Macedonia (Northern Greece) Region This mountainous area was Alexander the Great's home kingdom and boasts the second largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki, which is located near this region's tri-peninsula coastline.

Gaida: This is the Greek word for "bagpipe" which, in this mountainous region of shepherds, was an instrument easily acquired.

Kastoriano: This comes from the town of Kastoria, known for its many Byzantine churches and its lake.

Menousis: This dance is done to one specific folk song about a jealous man, Menousis, and his friends.

Peloponnisos: (Southern Greece) Region The home of ancient Olympia, Corinth and Sparta, was once attached to the mainland but is now technically an island thanks to the deep man-made cut in the Isthmus.

Kalamatiano: The most universal Greek dance, this syrto (line dance) came from the town of Kalamata.

Tsagonikos: One of the oldest known dances of Greece.

Sterea Ellada (Mainland Greece) Region

This region includes the cities of Athens and Thebes, as well as the archaelogical site of the Oracle of Delphi.

Kaggeli: This is traditionally danced by men and incorporates an improvisational style.

Koftos: This word literally means "cut off" and refers to the stops in the music, when the dancers also pause.

Pos Stoumbizoun to Piperi: This dance incorporates the slow 1-2-3 step during the chorus of the song which asks "How is the pepper ground?" while the steps done to the verses of the song reflect the answers: "It is ground with...the knee, the elbow, etc." with the body-part mentioned "stomping" in the middle of the circle.

Thessalia (Central Greece) Region The landlocked plains of Thessalia are Greece's bread basket.

Karagouna: The word refers to the black coats worn by the region's women; the dance is done to one specific folk song which a woman so beautiful that the poor shepherd is willing to sell off his livestock in order to buy her jewelry.

Thrace (Northeastern Greece) Region

Baidouska: This is an upbeat dance with skipping steps, in which the arm movements are as important as the feet.

Zonaradikos: The name of this dance refers to the unique hold in the line dance: holding on to a 'zoni' or belt, instead of hands.