Home » TNFD Dances » Info & Learning Pages » Greece » Ikariótikos [Traditional] • Chain Folk Dance • Greece/Ikaria

Ikariótikos is a traditional Greek chain folk dance from the island of Ikaria in the North Eastern Aegean Sea. Ikaria is the mythical home of first-in-flight famed Icarus, whose father, Daedalus, crafted wax wings for him that were no match for a flight too close to the hot Mediterranean sun (Icarus flew too close to the sun). Some dance specialists say that the traditional Ikariótikos was slow and the quick “version” of it is more of a Ballos. The name ‘Kariótikos is mostly used by the locals of Ikaria. (Wikipedia) There are several possible variations to the basic step.

Re­source Links:
Dance Name:Ikariótikos
O­rig­i­nal Script:Ικαριώτικος
Pro­nun­ci­a­tion:ee-kah-ree-OH-tee-kohs
Trans­la­tion:Dance from Ikaria
A­li­as­es:‘Kariótikos, Karia, or Nikaria (used by locals)
Coun­try of Or­i­gin:Greece
Re­gion:Ikaria, Aegean Sea, north of Dodecanese Island group
Cho­re­o­graph­er:Traditional
Dance Type:Non-Partner | Circle/Chain
Dance Cat­e­go­ry:Village Traditional
Folk Stat­us:Living
Skill Lev­el:Easy w/ Intermediate variations
En­er­gy In­ten­si­ty:Moderate to Lively
Song:“Ikariótikos” (traditional)
“I Agapi Mou Stin Ikaria” (new, slow versions)
Time Sig­na­ture:2/4
Pat­tern & Rhythm:3 bars
SQQ SQQ SQQ
R,Rh,L RLR LRL (h=hop)
In­tro­duc­tion:Sta Tria/Hasaposervikos (hora), until music picks up
Danc­er For­ma­tion:Open Circle
Hand Hold:T Shoulder Hold
Leads to:R w/ R leap & L swing
Styl­ing:Light & Bouncy. Weight on balls of feet.
Date Taught:
Teach­er:Sophia
Pub­lished:July 29, 2023
Up­dat­ed:May 3, 2025

Variations come in the 3rd bar on S or on QQ.

Fun fact: Icaria is considered one of the world’s five Blue Zones; places where the population regularly lives to an advanced age and one in three makes it into their 90s. This is due to healthy diets and lifestyle, which, of course, includes dancing Ikariótikos!

Dance Notes:

Teaching

Greek Boston
Variations

Village Examples

Ικαριώτικος Λαγκάδα 2015 Ikariotikos Lagada
IKARIA – DROUTSOULAS (IKARIAN FESTIVAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – JUNE 2007)
Ικαριώτικος Νέγια 2017 Negia Ikariotikos

Performance Examples

Joe Graziosi’s Picks

Here in the States, among the finest examples of Ikarian danceare those presented by the the dance troupe The Olympian Dancers of Long Beach, CA under the directorship of Vasilis Contos, for the annual FDF (Folk Dance Festival) of the San Francisco Metropolis

2015 FDF Olympian Final
2014 FDF Olympian Final
Ikaria – Olympian Dancers FDF 2022 Presentation
Note: the Zeibekiko is an adopted and adapted dance in Ikaria. In the early years, local musicians would take well known tunes , as in this very old Asia Minor melody, and not experienced in the 9/8 meter of the tradition (despite the close proximity of the island to the Asia Minor coast) would reinterpret it as a 2/4. The same thing happened on the island of Mykonos where old time tsabuna (bagpipe) players took popular Zeibekika of the 50s and played them as Syrta.
Amoraza Enseble, plays a slow Tsamourikos and then Ikariotikos (Palios)
Γιάννης Πάριος Ικαριώτικο / Giannis Parios Ikariotiko
I Agapi Mou Stin Ikaria · Nasia Konitopoulou · Dimotiko Paradosiako Sygrotima Elatos · Giorgos Konitopoulos
H agapi mou stin Ikaria (Ikariotiko Ικαριώτικο) (First Version) – Giorgos Konitopoulos
Ikariotikos – Stella Marnelaki · Dimotiko Paradosiako Sygrotima Elatos
Ικαριώτικος (Παλαιός) (Ikariótikos “Old”) – Νίκος Οικονομίδης (Nikos Economides)
Ikariotikos (Fanariotikos) – Leonidas Tsantiris
Ikariotikos With Lyra – Leonidas Tsantiris
Ikariotikos – ‘Kariotikos; Ikaria – John Pappas & Yiannis Pappayiorgas
Love those dancin’ heels…