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The Ballos Syrtos (Greek: Μπάλος, from the Italian ballo, dance) is one of the best known island dances in Greece. Another version, known as Burçak tarlası oyunu in Turkey, is popular in the İzmir, Tokat, Amasya and Yozgat regions. There are also different versions in other Balkan countries. The melody of a ballos is generally joyous and lyrical which is typical of the music of the Aegean Islands. This couples' dance incorporates all the elements of courtship: attraction, flirtation, display of masculine prowess and feminine virtue, pursuit,and rejection followed by eventual capture and surrender. Its origin is in the island culture. Men could not approach women easily, so they created this dance in order to "flirt" with them. There are various forms of the ballos around the islands. The simplest is one in which a single couple goes through a series of spontaneous figures. In another version many couples dance simultaneously as if alone on the dance floor. Yet another version is introduced by a Syrtos. And finally, in the most complicated form, a number of couples go through various figures, somewhat reminiscent of the European minuet. Ballos songs are popular and there are many of them. Some of the more popular Ballos songs are Ti se mellei esenane ("What do you mind?", Greece), Burçak Tarlası (Turkey), Ka mi ispadnala moma Katerina (Republic of Macedonia), etc.

[edit] See also

• Kanto (music)
• List of dances
• List of dances sorted by ethnicity
• Skyrian Ballos

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ti se mellei esenane
• Ka mi ispadnala moma Katerina(Burcak Tarlasi)
• Ballos Syrtos Chios
• Burcak Tarlasi
• Muammer Ketencioglu - Ti se mellei esenane(To Salvari)