Nikolos - Greece

Nikolos
(Νικολός)

Town of Siatista, Kozani Prefecture, Macedonia, Greece

Pronounciation: Nee Koh LOHs /nikolos/

Notes by Andrew Carnie, October 29, 2005, as taught by Elias Politis, Opa in the Desert Symposium, Tucson Arizona.

From Elias Politis’ comments on the Dance “This is a Carnival tune of the Siatista area in 7/8 and 4/4 time). in times past, this song was performed and danced to by women on Grand Carnival Sunday. The theme of the song was considered to have exceeded the morality boundaries of the local society and thus is characterized as a carnival song” (Αποκριάτικος οκοπός από τη Σιάτιστα σε 7/8 και 2/4. Στο χωριό Γαλατινή χορεύεται το Πάσχα οτο χορό της Ρόκασ, από τις γυναικες. Χαρακτηριοτική ειναι η λαβή των χεριών από τον ώμο κατά το πρώτο μέρος, του χορού, νου αργόσ συρτός.)

There are two parts to the dance. The 7/8 part moves to the right and then to the left, the 2/4 part travels to the right and in and out. Arms are in “Zemer Atik” hold for part 1 (Left hand on own left shoulder, keep elbow in; Right hand on the left hand of the person in front of you. You are in single file facing LOD). Arms drop to V position in part 2.

Dance:

Part 1: 7/8 (SQQ); 5 bar musical phrases

1 Long step R forward in LOD (S), short step L (Q), short step R (Q)
2 Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork, but continuing LOD
3-4 Repeat bars 1-2
5 Step R forward in LOD (S), Step L forward in LOD (QQ)
6 Repeat bar 1, but on S count turn 180° to face RLOD, don’t Drop hands, R hand comes to sit on own right shoulder.
7-10 repeat bars 2-5, but in RLOD; on last count of bar 10 turn to face center and drop hands to V position

Part 2: 2/4 time; 6 bar musical phrases

1 Facing center, step R to R (1), hop on R, bring free left foot slightly behind Right (2)
2 Step L to L (1), hop on L (2)
3-6 Repeat bars 1-2 two more times
Nikolos Continued:

7 Still facing center step R forward (1), hop on R (2)
8 Step on L backwards (1), hop on L (2)
9-12 Repeat 7-8 two more times.

The dance alternates between parts 1 and parts 2