Mar 6 2019

Dance? Did You Say, Dance?! Unleash Your Inner Zorba

 

One of the Greatest Scenes in the History of Cinematography

The whole philosophy and emotions of Life is in that special all saying smile and arms opening looking at the Horizen at 1:30 sec. its a look at the Eternity, saying;

Here I Am with Everyting I Got with All my Deeds I’m Ready……this is Me..My Way…………..

 

16 comments on “Dance? Did You Say, Dance?! Unleash Your Inner Zorba”

  1. In one of the most memorable and meaningful scenes from the Academy Award-winning movie, “Zorba the Greek,” the title character Alexis Zorbas (played by Anthony Quinn), is asked by his uptight, existentially-challenged boss, Basil (played by Alan Bates) to teach him how to dance after their mining venture literally collapses at their feet. With a look of surprise, the spirited Zorba responds with the words: “Dance? Did you say, ‘Dance’?!” And the story famously ends with both men dancing enthusiastically on the beach.

    It is hard to imagine anyone in today’s world unfamiliar with the story of Zorba the Greek. Based on the novel written by Nikos Kazantzakis, who is arguably Greece’s most important author and philosopher of the 20th Century, the Michael Cacoyannis film made “Zorba” a household name and brought global recognition to the extensive and profound work of Kazantzakis.

    The film’s music by Mikis Theodorakis, especially the main song, “Zorbas,” also known as “Zorba’s Dance” or “Horos Tou Zorba,” is equally—if not more so—well known in popular culture. Moreover, the dance choreographed by Giorgos Provias at the end of the movie later became a popular cliche of Greek dance called Sirtaki (συρτακι). If, by chance, you haven’t seen or remember the movie, I’m sure that you are at least familiar with its main song which, among other things, has been used at various athletic events for years to incite crowds to root for the home team (for example, the New York Yankees). Indeed, just thinking about this inspirational song makes most people want to dance like Zorba!

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    • Πες μου Μαρίνα όταν ακούς αυτό το τραγούδι δε νιώθεις τα πόδια σου να χορεύουν και τη ψυχή σου να πετά?????

      Φιλάκια!!!!

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      • Και όχι μόνο Έφη μου! Νιώθω σαν να είμαι γλάρος που πετά πάνω από τα γαλάζια ακρογιάλια μας, την αλμύρα της θάλασσας, μία περίεργη ευφορία να με πλημμυρίζει…
        Πολλά φιλιά!!!

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    • “A man needs a little madness or else he never dares cut the rope and be free”

      That is the meaning of Syrtaki dance and tune. That is what all of these people around the world want to burst out by performing Syrtaki when dancing like kids in dance halls, in tourist tavernas, in bars, even in serious music halls. Then what of that has to do with Greeks? The life of a Greek always has to do with life and death, even when he is not aware of that.

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      • Dear Efi, could you explain: I read that this dance is called as pseudo-folk dance, and was created in 1964 just for the film Zorba Greek. And after that movie, Zorba dance became famous.
        I always thought it is an old Greek folk dance!!:)

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      • Sirtaki, also spelled syrtaki, is probably one of the most famous Greek dances known around the world. However, few people know that sirtaki only dates back to the 1960s. In fact, eminent Greek musician Mikis Theodorakis created the dance for the movie Zorba the Greek. By alternating slow and fast steps from the hasapiko and hasaposerviko dances, sirtaki was born. Its most famous characteristic is the acceleration, moving from a 4/4 tempo to a 2/4 pace. It is danced in a line or circle formation, with hands placed on their neighbor’s shoulders.

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    • Syrtaki is a media invention. When Anthony Quinn taught Alan Bates to dance in Zorba the Greek, he was performing a combination Vari Hasapiko and fast Hasapiko, choreographed by Giorgios Provias, to match the musical score written by Mikis Theodorakis.

      Starting slow and building up to a frenetic climax, it was a triumphant way to end a movie. Quinn had learned a more difficult dance, but sprained his ankle before shooting, so the final product is hardly a Greek dance at all.

      But everyone knows now the syrtaki because of him!!

      Kisses Laleh!!!!!

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