Mandili Madness

Mandili Madness!

At the Mandili Madness workshop, each participant was given the opportunity to deocrate their own mandili. A mandili is a small handkerchief that is often worn in Greek costumes and can be used in dances. The children were encouraged to look around the museum and get ideas from the Ancient Greek artwork.

Linus was inspired by the vase paintings of Greek monsters and decided to come up with his own. He even learned how to write his name in Greek!

Between the two workshops, six Greek dances were taught:

Tsakonikos

A dance from the Peloponnese, this is the oldest Greek dance that exists. It is said that this dance originated from Theseus' celebration after defeating the Minotaur and escaping from the labarynth.

Tsamikos

Originally from Epirus, this is one of the three Pan-Hellenic Greek dances that are now danced throughout the country. Tsamikos is associated with the Greek Revolution of 1821, and it can be danced to the Greek National Anthem.

Syrtos

Another dance that is Pan-Hellenic, syrtos originally came from the islands. Syrtos has a flowing movement that is supposed to represent the waves in the ocean surrounding the islands.

Kalamatianos

A dance named after the city of Kalamata, Kalamatianos is the third Pan-Hellenic Greek dance. It is similar to the syrtos, but the steps are usually bouncier. Kalamatianos is one of the most popular Greek dances today.

Fast Hasapikos

Known as the "Zorba" dance, Hasapikos is oringially from Asia Minor. The name means the "butcher dance," and its fast beat makes it a favorite at Greek dances today.

Mandilatos

A dance from Thrace, Mandilatos is a couples' dance that takes its name from the mandilia that are held while performing it. Mandilatos is often performed in Thrace during wedding processions.