biographies

Kastrinos
Typically associated with Heraklion, this dance takes its name from Kastro, as the city was once known. The alternative name Maleviziotis derives from its close association with the district of Malevisi, though it is now danced all over the island. Yet another epithet, Pidichtos, is used on account of the springing step involved in the dance.

The Kastrinos has been equated with the ancient Pyrrhic, and is well known for its fast pace and impressive figures. Local versions exist in many places on Crete, with variations in music and dance motifs typically being named after their place of origin, such as the Anogeianos Pidichtos, the Stiakos Pidichtos, the Ethianos Pidichtos, the Mochianos Pidichtos etc.





Local variant of the pidichtos as danced in Sitia (Yiorgos I. Panayiotakis Collection)
Local variant of the pidichtos as danced in Mochos, Pediada District, 1962
The Kastrinos or Maleviziotis. The lead dancer is preparing to perform a dance figure (Yiannis Harkoutsis)
The Kastrinos or Maleviziotikos, 2000 (G. Kouyioumoutzis Folk Dance Workshop)
The Ethianos Pidichtos, 2000 (G. Kouyioumoutzis Folk Dance Workshop)