Maleviziotikos: From the Depths of Malevizia. Dance with Seal of Mystery!
Maleviziotikos choros or Maleviziotis is a Cretan dance which was named so as it was first danced in the province of Malevizio. We may also meet him as Kastrinos, taking his name from Heraklion which used to be called Kastro.
It is even said that it came from the ancient Orsitis war dance (a kind of Pyrrhic term) or from some other kind of war dance that represents scenes of the battle or the attempt to capture the castle of Heraklion.
The pace of the Maleviziotic dance is usually moderate to fast, involves alternating turns and walking in straight lines, and is danced in a circle, with the hands held by the palms at shoulder height and the elbows bent. It is one of the fastest and most lively Cretan dances.
This dance is accompanied by music from the Cretan lyre, ascomandura, violin, lute or mandolin.
