Kostilata

History

A Greek dance, the second half is essentially the same as Kalamatianos.
I learned this at the Northern Teachers' Gathering in 2009.

Rhythm

The dance is in 7/8 (split 3-2-2) - slow, quick, quick.

Steps

First part (verse)

Start in a circle, arms in a V hold, facing centre.

Take three steps forward starting with the right (slow, quick, quick).
Step forward with the left, then close with the right with a small stamp but without putting your weight down (slow, slow).
Do this in reverse moving back out of the circle, staring with the right.

Do the first part twice.

You can do the first part in a W hold.

Second part (chorus)

Bring the arms up into a W hold.
Step to the side with the right, cross behind with the left, then step to the side with the right (slow, quick, quick).
Turning to face right with a little hop take three steps forward starting with the left (slow, quick, quick).
Step forward with the right, forward with the left, then replace the right while turning to face centre (slow, quick, quick).
Step to the side with the left, cross in front with the right, then replace the left (slow, quick, quick).

Do the second part four times.

During the second part you can replace any of the slow-quick-quick parts with a turn - clockwise for the first three, anticlockwise for the last one. Turn in three steps in the same slow-quick-quick rhythm.

The dance sequence matches the music, usually the second part is played through as an introduction.

Music

Kostilata by De Boca En Boca (this version doesn't match the dance sequence, I had to edit it).

Dance description by Andy Bettis 3/2014