| Document : Kageleftos , Dance in Ierissos of Chalkidiki. |
| Source : Encyclopaideia of Greek Dance , Index : E-D7A2F |
| . -[Karakasis, 1958-59, 335] Ierissos: Especially in Ierissos we find Kageleftos as a local dance whose establishment, as people recount, is connected by the popular tradition with a certain historical event. The Turks, in order to suppress the rebellion of Ierissos, which had taken part in the revolution of Chalkidiki in 1854, burned down and destroyed the city completely. The women and children managed to escape, before the destruction, to the Holy Mountain, where for the first time in history the entrance was permitted for women. After 7-8 months there was an agreement with the Turks, who allowed the citizens of Ierissos to return to their homes, after they pass first, as a sign of submission, under two crossed swords in the form of an arch, which would be held by Turk soldiers. It’s referred that this incident took place in Kassandra during the Revolution of 1821 (Chronicles of Chalkidiki 1, 1961, p. 21). This ceremony took place in the position “Mavro Aloni” (“Black Threshing Floor”) of Ierissos. There, a young man refused to bend and pass under the arch (other mention that there were many young men who refused) and the Turks slaughtered him in the eyes of the crowd. Thus,until this day there is a custom, according to which on the third day of Easter all citizens of Ierissos go to “Mavro Aloni”, in the place of this sad event, and dance the Kageleftos, men and women alike. The two who lead the dance have their hands raised and with the kerchief that they hold they form an arch, which symbolizes the Turks’ swords. The other dancers, while they are singing the relative dancing chant, they pass dancing under the arch of the “first kageleftis”. During the Turkish Domination, on the day of the performance of Kageleftos dance a shooting competition was conducted. The text and the chant’s melody during the performance of this dance are quoted: “You, first leader, to hear, and you first kageleftis”. StathisMetallinos (MacedonianJournal 15, 1939, pp. 269-272), describing this dance and the accompanied melody, mentions that the incident of the proud young man’s slaughter by the Turks took place during the Revolution of 1821. A. G. Giannios, in an article on Chalkidiki written in the Great Greek Encyclopedia, 4, p. 246, mentions a relevantincidentduring this revolution, which can be connected with the beginning of this dance. D. Tertilinis (L.A., 2312, pp. 10-13) mentions that in Kageleftos dance 5 songs are chanted, among of which is the song of Labros Katsonis, that this dance is performed with “slow and quite rhythmical” steps and that the dancers keep their hands crossed. -[Papachristos, 1972, 61] Ierissos: The dancers are held arm-in-arm with their right hand, while they bend the left to the elbow and bring it totally free on their waist. They project their left foot and place it on the heel. Description of steps, shape of soles and record of melody in 2/4. -[Kokkinos, 1987, 165] Ierissos: The older ones start the Kageleftos dance and the younger enter slowly in the circle forming the shape of a snail. The musical bar is 2 and the steps are 6 which are completed in 2 musical bars. Description of steps and shape of soles. |