*1 stands for 1st Generation dance.
Yvonne Hunt, in her landmark 1996 book on Greek dances Traditional Dance in Greek Culture, writes [Podaraki is]“related to all the stamping dances done throughout the Balkans which are found with different names in various places: Alunelul, Tripatos, etc. Even here in Western Thrace it is sometimes known as Daktirdi. Its rhythm frequently confuses those unacquainted with the dance and they mistakenly dance baidouska.”
Podaraki (Pontic Greek: Ποδαράκι) is a Greek dance from the Pontos region. The dance dates to the 10th century. It is now danced in modern-day Turkey as well as the northern Thrace. The dance is called Podaraki (meaning “small foot” in Greek) because it involves much stomping with the Podia (feet) of the dancer. It is danced both by men and women, usually in an open circle, and rarely in a straight line. Andreas Aristidou; Ariel Shamir; Yiorgos Chrysanthou (November 2019). “Digital Dance Ethnography: Organizing Large Dance Collections”. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage (29): 19. doi:10.1145/3344383.
Podaraki melody, sheet music, and lyrics
Podaraki, (or Daktirdi) is a traditional Greek melody, used to accompany numerous sets of lyrics. I show eight YouTubes, all with the same melody in a variety of instruments, but with five different sets of lyrics, only two of which have translations, only one of which is satisfactory. Any Greek translators out there want to help?
Lyrics Google translated from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K6rrvKmFXs
Σαν καζαντίσω το φλουρί, San kazantíso to flourí, As I pour the flour,
δεν παίρνω χώρο χωριανοί, den paírno chóro chorianoí, I don't take up space villagers.
δεν παίρνω χώρο χωριανοί, den paírno chóro chorianoí, I don't take a villagers place,
θα πάρω μια Μεσημβρινή tha páro mia Mesimvriní, I'll take a Mesimbrini.
Θα πάρω μια Μεσημβρινή, Tha páro mia Mesimvriní, I'll take a Mesimbrini
που 'χει τα σπίτια τα ψηλά pou 'chei ta spítia ta psilá, which has the highest houses.
Που 'χει τα σπίτια τα ψηλά, Pou 'chei ta spítia ta psilá, Which has the highest houses
στα παραθύρια κρύσταλλα, sta parathýria krýstalla. with crystals in the windows.
Στα παραθύρια κρύσταλλα Sta parathýria krýstalla, Crystal windows
και τα μπαλκόνια δίπορτα kai ta balkónia díporta, and double-door balconies.
Έχει χρυσές τις κλειδαριές Échei chrysés tis kleidariés She has golden locks and youth
και μέσα νιάτα και ομορφιές kai mésa niáta kai omorfiés and beauty inside.
Μεσημβρινή μου κοπελιά, Mesimvriní mou kopeliá, My midday girl
που 'χεις τα νιάτα τα πολλά pou 'cheis ta niáta ta pollá, you have a lot of youth.
Που 'χεις τα νιάτα τα πολλά, Pou 'cheis ta niáta ta pollá, Where you have a lot of youth,
αρμάθα έχεις τα φλουριά. armátha écheis ta flouriá. armatha you have the glory.
Μεσημβρία, Καστρούπολη, Mesimvría, Kastroúpoli, Mesimvria, Kastropoli
Μπάνα και Άσπρο και Μονά Bána kai Áspro kai Moná Bana and Aspro and Mona
Μπάνα και Άσπρο και Μονά, Bána kai Áspro kai Moná Bana and Aspro and Mona
Αγχίαλο και Κόζακα Anchíalo kai Kózaka Anghialo and Kozaka
Βλάση, Σωζόπολη, Ραβδά, Anchíalo kai Kózaka Vlási, Vlasi, Sozopoli, Ravda,
Τσίμο και Αγαθούπολη Tsímo kai Agathoúpoli, Tsimos and Agathoupoli,
Τσίμο και Αγαθούπολη, Tsímo kai Agathoúpoli, Tsimos and Agathoupoli,
Βάρνα και Πύργο και Νταουτλί Várna kai Pýrgo kai Ntaoutlí, Varna and Pyrgos and Dautli
Θαλασσινή μου κοπελιά, Thalassiní mou kopeliá, My sea girl,
γεμάτη νιάτα κι ομορφιά gemáti niáta ki omorfiá full of youth and beauty
Γεμάτη νιάτα κι ομορφιά, Gemáti niáta ki omorfiá, Full of youth and beauty,
χαρά το νιο που σ' αγαπά. chará to nio pou s' agapá. joy is the youth who loves you.
Στο τραγούδι η Αποστολία Ουλιανούδη the song Apostolia Ulianoudis (Google translated)
Ντάχτιλης πάει μωρ’ Ντάχτιλη Dakhtilis goes baby Dakhtilis
Ντάχτιλης πάει στου μαχαλά, Dakhtilis goes to the palace,
//Ντάχτιλης πάει στου μαχαλά //Dakhtilis goes to the palace,
πάει να βρει ‘κείν’ του κουρίτσ’. // he goes to find 'that' of Kurits'.//
Του βρήκε του μωρ’ Νταχτιλή He found his baby Dachtilis
του βρήκε του χουρατιβι, he found his hurativi,
//του βρήκε του χουράτιβι //he found his hurativi,
Μαρία μ’ ‘γώ σε αγαπώ.// Maria, I love you.//
Κι θέλω να μωρ’ Νταχτιλή And I want to give birth to Dakhtili
κι θέλω να σε παντρευτώ, and I want to marry you
//κι θέλω να σε παντρευτώ //and I want to marry you
κι να σε νοικοκυρευτώ. // and to marry you.//
Podaraki dance
COMMENTS:
John Uhlemann wrote: As is mentioned in the introduction, this dance is similar to many stamping dances in the Balkans – the folk dancer’s Alunelul, obviously, but also Chukanoto, the Moldvai Csángó dance Nhyelu, and the dance the late Yves Moreau used as a warmup dance (Kukuvichka?). Despite the notes, this is very unlike any Pontic Dance, and I would like to see a video of any dance similar to it being done by Pontic Greeks who did not learn it after the great exchange of populations of 1921-22. Step patterns do get around.
Folkdance Footnotes 