Syrtaki - Song of Joy (Greece) ~ Othaters

Syrtaki - Song of Joy
Συρτάκι
Greece

These notes ©2018 Andrew Carnie. This is a choreographed Syrtaki, which is a medley of various Hasapikos and Hasaposervikos steps.

Music:

Worldtone 10008
Philips 8445

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle, shoulder hold, leads right
Introduction: If starting with the fast music start right away doing part 1, otherwise start with the slow music, doing the first transition.

Part 1: Fast Hasapikos

Bar 1: Run R (1), L (2) in LOD
Bar 2: Facing center, step R to R (1), Swing L leg up in front (2)
Bar 3: Repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction.
Bar 4-15: Repeat bars 1-3, four more times.
<This step is often omitted, using this fast music as an introduction>

Part 2: Transition 1: Slow strummed music

Bar 1: Facing center, Step R to R (1), Close L next to R, no weight (2)
Bar 2: repeat bar 1, with opposite footwork and direction, except take weight on R foot on the close

Part 3: Basic Slow Hasapikos

Bar 1: Step forward on L foot into the center, with a bent knee (1), tap R toe backwards in place (2)
Bar 2: Brush R foot forward (1), lift R knee up (2)
Bar 3: Step backwards on R foot out of the center (1), lift L knee up slightly (2)
Bar 4: Step backwards on L foot out of the center (1), Lift R knee up slightly (2)
Bar 5: Step on R to R (1), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 6: Step on R to R (1), pause (2)
Bar 7: Tap left heel slightly forward (1), pause (2)
Bar 8: Repeat bar 7
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

(Note that most of the notes I can find on the web describe a different 3 measure basic hasapikos, this is not what i learned or is what is in the John Chu Video below -- see the linked notes below for this)

Part 4: Crossing

Bar 1: Cross L foot over R (1), Step R to R (2)
Bar 2: Cross L foot over R (1), Swing R foot around to front (2)
Bars 3-4: Repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction
Bars 5-8: Repeat bars 1-4
Bar 9: Repeat bar 2 (cross L)
Bar 10:Repeat bar 6 (cross R)
Bar 11: Repeat bar 2, but gently tap R foot, instead of swinging it around (2)
Bar 12: Step on R to R (1), gently stamp L next to R (2)
Bar 13: Take big step on L to L (1), pause (2)
Bar 14: Close R next to L, no weight (1), pause (2)
Bars 15-16: repeat bars 13-14 with opposite footwork

(note that most of the notes I can find on the web, have this step done on exactly the opposite feet, so the first "threes" goes to in RLOD starting with the R foot -- see the notes below)

Part 5: Slow hasapikos 2

repeat the footwork of part 3

Part 6: Crossing 2

repeat the footwork of part 4, except take weight on L foot on last count

Parts 7-8: Fast Hasapikos and transition

Repeat the footwork of parts 1 and 2

Parts 9-10: Slow Hasapikos and Crossing

Repeat the footwork of parts 3 and 6 (take weight on L foot on last count)

Part 11: Fast Hasapikos

Repeat the footwork of part 1 two times

Ending: Stamp L foot 3 times (or stomp L R L), raise hands up in the air, still joined and yell "Hey"