Since the history of the human species reaches so far back into the past, it is just natural that there are many traditions that get passed on from generation to generation. Dancing, which is a form of self-expression, can be one of these traditional traits. Folk dances, which are often dances that develop over time, often represent whole cultures and countries. But these dances do not only tell us about the culture but also reflect the values and histories of whole nations. A country that has a long and eventful history is Greece, and throughout the many years, Greek people developed over 10,000 different dances. Of course, not all dances are the same, but they all have a different speed, rhythm, and story.

Sirtaki
Sirtaki, which is also called “Zorba’s dance” or just “the Zorba,” is one of the most popular dances that originated in Greece. The origin of the word “Sirtaki” is from the Greek word “syrtos,” which means dragging or leading (the dance). One differentiates between the dragging style and the hopping style, which is called “pidikhtos.” Even though the name of the sirtaki indicates that there is only the “syrtos” part included in the dance, there are also “pidikhtos” parts in there.
This dance was especially created for the movie “Zorba the Greek,” so it is not a dance that developed traditionally over time.
Sirtaki is usually danced in a line or in a circle, where the dancers hold each other’s hands or hold onto their shoulders. Sometimes, it is danced alone, and in this case, the dancers raise their hands next to their bodies. The movements with the legs and feet include a stomping movement on the ground.

Sousta
Sousta is probably the second most famous Greek dance after the Sirtaki. It is a traditional dance for weddings. It is still very popular in the Dodecanese and Aegean Islands, and it was first danced in ancient Greece. Back then, in ancient Crete, people danced it because they worshipped the god of Earth, Rea. At the end of the 19th century, this dance was connected to fertility and love. When danced at weddings, it represented gender roles as well as values that were seen as important in the marriage later.
But not only married couples dance Sousta, but also teenagers dance it. It consists of a three-step movement. When a dancer has a very good style and is skilled, then the people that stand around him show their appreciation and admiration by throwing coins on the ground as well as paper notes. Also, many people can dance it, and two dancers always stand opposite each other. On one site, there are the women standing, and on the other site, there are the men. It was also common that the pairs were holding a white handkerchief, which signaled the pure love in the relationship.
Of course, there is also traditional music that accompanies the dancers during their performance. The instruments that are used for the Sousta dance include a violin, the lyre, the lauoto, and the mandolin.

Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/art/folk-dance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_dances
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousta