Kalamatianos: Greek Circle Dance in Seven Beats

The kalamatianos is a Greek open-circle dance done at weddings and festivals, in a seven-beat meter that feels like slow-quick-quick. The first dancer in line leads the circle and can show off by twirling a scarf.

How to play

1. Seated in a circle: count the 7/8 with claps, loud on the slow and soft on the two quicks (4 min).
2. Walk in a line to slow-quick-quick, holding hands at shoulder height (5 min).
3. The basic twelve-step pattern to the right, with the backward steps at the end (6 min).
4. Leader role: the first dancer holds a scarf in the free hand, chooses the path and adds simple turns; rotate each round (6 min).
5. Several lines at once winding around the yard without crossing (4 min).

Rules

• The line travels to the right; the leader picks the path and everyone follows.
• The leader only turns when the hand holding them is steady.
• If the line speeds up, slow the beat down; nobody runs.
• The scarf twirls above head height, never hitting anyone's face.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: a classmate gives a hand squeeze on each slow beat.
• Students with limited mobility: take the leader or last spot, where the line adapts more easily.
• Students overwhelmed by the seven: quietly say "ka-la-ma-tia-nos" to feel the rhythm.

Learning goals

• Feel and dance an uneven seven-beat meter.
• Take the leader role and follow someone else.
• Learn about a dance done at celebrations in Greece.

Equipment for a class of 25

• scarves: 6
• speaker: 1

Teacher tip

The name comes from the city of Kalamata. Spend time on the clapping first: if they can't feel slow-quick-quick, the pattern won't work. Make lines of 6–8 so everyone gets a turn leading.

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