A Greek traditional song ; Vassiliki

A Greek traditional song , Vassiliki, is at the same time a traditional dance ; the zonaradikos.
The ideal combination to learn some Greek vocabulary, learn about Greek music, while enjoying a Greek line dance.
By listening to the song, or watching the video of the dance, most likely many of our students who attended a Greek Language and Culture course in Nafplion, Lefkada or Syros, will recognize it 🙂
After the Greek lessons in the morning, a Greek dance lesson and learning a Greek song, is the ideal relaxation and entertainment for the afternoon!

Greek Traditional Song; Βασιλική

Traditional Greek Dance : Ζωναράδικος

Μουσική: Νίκος Ζιώγαλας

Ερμηνευτής: Νίκος Ζιώγαλας

Greek Lyrics

Βασιλική τον έρωτα πολύ βαρύ τον πήρες.

Και στο Μαρίφ κατήντησες εκεί να ξεψυχήσεις

Δεν έπρεπε Βασιλική το Στέργιο ν’αγαπήσεις

Μον’ έπρεπε Βασιλική να τον απαρατήσεις

Βασιλική ’σουν όμορφη ξανθιά σαν το κουκλάκι

Πώς έκανες απόφαση και πήρες το φαρμάκι

Εγώ το φαρμάκι το ’κανα ωραία λεμονάδα

Το σήκωνα και το ’πινα με τόση νοστιμάδα

English Translation of the song

Vasiliki, you took love too seriously.

And you ended up dying in Marif

Vasiliki, you shouldn’t have loved Stergios

Vasiliki, you should have left him instead

Vasiliki, you were blonde and beautiful like a doll

How come you decided to take the poison

I made a nice lemonade out of the poison

I was raising the glass and drinking it with such delight

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What means Zonaradikos Dance ( Ζωναράδικος)

It is a traditional Greek fold dance, originally from Thrace, Northern Greece. It is a Greek line dance, and the name comes from the Greek word “zoni” = belt).
Normally the dancers hold each others belts during the dance, but nowadays, with the lack of belts, you cross the arms/hands. (see photo above)

Depending where you dance the zonaradiko, it will look somewhat different, but the basic structure is essentially the same.
Since Omilo is not a dancing school, we keep it as easy as possible, so everybody can quickly learn the steps and enjoy joining the circle.
Read more info about this dance here.