Ais Giorgis

AIS GIORGIS
Greek

PRONUNCIATION: ah-ees YOR-gees

TRANSLATION: Saint George

SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned Ais Giorgis from Stan Isaacs, who observed the dance in an exhibition in Pireus, Greece. He taught it at the 1964 California Kolo Festival. Morley Leyton also learned the dance from Stan and presented it as "Saint George of Skyros" at the Richland (Washington) Festival Institute in 1967.

BACKGROUND: Ais Giorgis is from the Ionian island of Kefallinia (Kefalonia). Originally a women's dance, it was danced with each dancer holding opposite corners of a large silk kerchief folded once to form a large triangle. Holding the kerchief low in front in "V" position, the line was formed by hooking little fingers. Stan relates that there was a particular fascination in the swaying of the long dresses worn by the women.

MUSIC: Folkraft (45rpm) 1466x45
Folkraft (LP) LP-6
Capitol (LP) T-10219

FORMATION: Mixed line or open cir, hands joined and held at shldr height, elbows bent, in W pos.

METER/RHYTHM: 2/4

STEPS/STYLE: Steps are light. Other variations of the dance have been notated.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

1 INTRODUCTION - 1 meas. Begin dance on vocal.

THE DANCE

1 Facing diag R, step R (ct 1); step L (ct &); step R (ct 2); step L (ct &);

2 Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct &); step fwd L twd ctr (ct 2); close R to L without wt (ct &);

3 Step diag bwd R (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct &); step L swd (ct 2); close R to L without wt (ct &);

4 Step R swd (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct &); step L swd (ct 2); close R to L without wt (ct &).

Repeat entire dance from beg.

PERFORMANCE OPTION.

Originally, Ais Giorgis was danced only by W with each dancer holding opposite corners of a large silk kerchief low in front. The line was formed by hooking little fingers in "V" pos, with heads and eyes lowered. If danced in this formation, here are head and hand actions associated with the dance, as noted by Dr. Chris Tasulis.
Meas 2, ct 2: Bring joined hands up to just above eye level, raising head and eyes.
Meas 3, ct 1: Move head and hands slightly R.
Meas 3, ct 2: Move head and hands slightly L.
Meas 4, ct 1: Move head and hands slightly R.
Meas 4, ct 2: Bring joined hands down to starting pos, lowering head and eyes.

Source : Dick Oakes

AIS GIORGIS Greek

PRONUNCIATION:	ah-ees YOR-gees

TRANSLATION:	Saint George

SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned Ais Giorgis from Stan Isaacs, who observed the dance in an exhibition in Pireus, Greece. He taught it at the 1964 California Kolo Festival. Morley Leyton also learned the dance from Stan and presented it as "Saint George of Skyros" at the Richland (Washington) Festival Institute in 1967.

BACKGROUND:	Ais Giorgis is from the Ionian island of Kefallinia (Kefalonia). Originally a women's dance, it was danced with each dancer holding opposite corners of a large silk kerchief folded once to form a large triangle. Holding the kerchief low in front in "V" position, the line was formed by hooking little fingers. Stan relates that there was a particular fascination in the swaying of the long dresses worn by the women.

MUSIC:	Folkraft (45rpm) 1466x45 Folkraft (LP) LP-6 Capitol (LP) T-10219

FORMATION:	Mixed line or open cir, hands joined and held at shldr height, elbows bent, in W pos.

METER/RHYTHM:	2/4

STEPS/STYLE:	Steps are light. Other variations of the dance have been notated.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


1	INTRODUCTION - 1 meas. Begin dance on vocal.

	THE DANCE

1	Facing diag R, step R (ct 1); step L (ct &); step R (ct 2); step L (ct &);

2	Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct &); step fwd L twd ctr (ct 2); close R to L without wt (ct &);

3	Step diag bwd R (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct &); step L swd (ct 2); close R to L without wt (ct &);

4	Step R swd (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct &); step L swd (ct 2); close R to L without wt (ct &).

	Repeat entire dance from beg.



	PERFORMANCE OPTION.

	Originally, Ais Giorgis was danced only by W with each dancer holding opposite corners of a large silk kerchief low in front. The line was formed by hooking little fingers in "V" pos, with heads and eyes lowered. If danced in this formation, here are head and hand actions associated with the dance, as noted by Dr. Chris Tasulis. Meas 2, ct 2: Bring joined hands up to just above eye level, raising head and eyes. Meas 3, ct 1: Move head and hands slightly R. Meas 3, ct 2: Move head and hands slightly L. Meas 4, ct 1: Move head and hands slightly R. Meas 4, ct 2: Bring joined hands down to starting pos, lowering head and eyes.

Source : Dick Oakes