The Zorba thread.

[NoncomRetired]

Originally Posted by zormpas

I'm not sure which style we're discussing at this point in the thread. But IN GENERAL, most of the Greek dances have their origins in Byzantium times. As I recall, Hassapiko is a bit newer, something about Greek butchers. The Black Sea region has its own varieties, as do the islands.

From Wiki:

The hasapiko (Greek: χασάπικο, pronounced [xaˈsapiko]), is a Greek folk dance from Constantinople. The dance originated in the Middle Ages as a battle mime with swords performed by the Greek butchers guild, which adopted it from the military of Byzantine era.[1] In Constantinople during the Byzantine times, it was called in Greek μακελλάρικος χορός (makellarikos horos). Some Greeks, however, reserve the latter term only for the fast version of the dance.