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Welcome to the Zeibekiko Festival Australia !

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Our festival holds a series of events dedicated to "Zeibekikos song , dance , history and related topics".

Included is a variety of shows, taverna nights, music workshops, dance workshops, lectures, theatre, etc.,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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 We celebrate ZEIBEKIKOS because it one of the oldest traditional dances, It is the most emotionally charged, historical, expressive, soulful, powerful, most danced today in Greek society. ​

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Many have the incorrect belief, or have been misinformed , that Zeibekikos is a modern dance. Quite the contrary,

ZEIBEKIKOS is definitely a traditional dance which has evolved into the form as we commonly know it today.

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It belongs to the "ZEIBEKIKO FAMILY OF DANCES". which include not only Zeibekiko in its traditional form but also APTALIKO dances, KASRSILAMA dances and VRAKOFORA ZEIBEKIKA. They are all governed by the rhythm of 9/8.

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VRAKES were the traditional baggy pants, knee length attire, worn by men mainly in the Greek Islands , Asia Minor and especially coastal areas (as most men were fishermen). Hence the Zeibekika in coastal areas or in the isles were at times referred to as "VRAKOFORA" ie., Zeibekika danced by men wearing the Vraka pants. 

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Zeibekikos, is still danced and celebrated in various parts of Greece in its traditional form.  It was especially danced in its traditional form in the early 19th century in Asia Minor in towns or cities such as Smyrna, Aivali, Constantinople, Aidoni, Meli, and Cappadocia etc.

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Research shows that it has ancient Thracian -Phrygian origin. Further research suggests its existence in the Greek Island of Syros since the 16th century, 

It became a shared dance between cultures in Asia Minor, prior the Asia Minor Catastrophe.

It was danced by Greeks Turks and Armenians in different forms.

 

Asia Minor then fell under Ottoman rule and saw the biggest exodus or Greek people and genocide in early 19th century. 

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In 1922 the official treaty of Lausanne was signed, and a massive exchange of populations was forced by Turkish authorities. No Orthodox Greeks were allowed to live in the lands their families owned for hundreds of years.  At the same time no Turkish that lived within the Greek borders were also not allowed to stay in Greece.

Asia Minor would become the now Turkey as we know it today.  The Greek population that lived there for hundreds of years had a choice to either converted to Muslim or to leave, otherwise would be killed.

This forced exchange of populations and uproot of people, led thousands of Asia Minor residents to become refugees in Greece and other nearby lands. So horrible that Greek people that lived in the geographical region of Asia Minor would become refugees in Greece!

Despite all hardships, the Greeks of Asia Minor ( now refugees in Greece), brought to Greece their traditional songs and dances. Amongst these were KARSILAMATHES, APTALIKOI and ZEIBEKIKA dances.

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The refugees expressed their woes through song. This led the road to the Rembetika song era. The first REMBETIKA also referred to as the "Pireaus Blues Songs" were in reality traditional songs of Smyrna.

In the ports of Piraeus, we see a growing number of tavernas or "koutoukia" sounding a new era of music. REMBETIKA or GREEK BLUES.

Initially rembetika songs were songs from Asia Minor Eventually new ones were written in the newborn REMBETIKO genre. The new songs expressed hardships the refugees from Asia Minor experienced in Greece, the poverty, the sadness, loss and the political climate of that time.​

The later REMBETIKA ZEIBEKIKA also depicted the trouble men would get in with the law, their love life, and life in general Later came the songs of hope.

The Rembetika songs left an era which the Zeibekiko song and dance were a very important part.

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Today, Zeibekiko dance gives us the freedom to self-improvise and to express ourselves through movement. We can speak our passions & soul while we dance.

For me, Zeibekiko transcends the history of the Asia Minor Catastrophe 1922-23. It is one of the main reasons I run this Zeibekiko festival. I wish to enlighten all, with the history of Asia Minor Greeks "ROMIOUS" and their connection to the massive umbrella of traditional Zeibekika dances.

 

​Zeibekiko at this point becomes more than just a dance. It is a status or mental condition one enters, where the dancer may experience or relive a certain situation with intensity while listening to a song and dancing Zeibekiko to it.

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In the underground "koutoukia" tavernas of Piraeus for example, it was not uncommon to hear about the "maxairomata"" - to hurt or kill someone with knives on the dance floor. This is because Zeibekikos had become a SOLO dance. It was almost a religious experience when a male tipped the band to play his song so he can dance. It was understood that the dance floor for those few minutes was his! If another man dared to get up to dance while the initial person was dancing, it was an insult!

Hence the initial dancer had every right to kill anybody that cramped his style.

Thank God this is no longer in practice today.

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Today, for me, ZEIBEKIKO is a living museum of history and emotions from the Asia Minor Hellenic past, assimilated into our modern life and danced by Greeks and non-Greeks living around the globe. It gives the individual the space and freedom to express their true nature, talent and spirit. It is the height of every Greek party/glendi!

It is no longer a dance of sorrow but of celebration of life!. It is danced by men and women at Greek weddings, christenings and other celebrations.

Mother's & father's dance it at their son's or daughter's weddings with pride and with happiness. Families create memories clapping around their loved ones in a cirlce, calling out "OPA!!!" 

Zeibekiko  dance is a CELEBRATION for all Greeks not only living in Greece but in diaspora around the world!

 

I hope you participate and enjoy the exciting journey I am planning for all lovers of Greek culture and dance.

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Join in one of our classes/workshops led by the famous international folklorists and dance teachers.

Book in one of our events for a great ZEIBEKIKO & GREEK DANCE EXPERIENCE!

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Sophia Ventouris

Curator of Zeibekiko Festival Australia

www.zeibekikofestivalaustralia.com.au

www.schoolofgreekdance.com.au

Ph: 0413114930

​info@zeibekikofestivalastralia.com.au​