Zeibekikos, a photo from Attiki, Attica

Photographer's Note

The relationship between zeibekikos dance and ancient Greece lies in that it was a war dance preparing the soul by reinforcing the morale of the warrior from the inside, like a kind of prayer before entering the battle or before entering the struggle of life in everyday reality..!!
Because the one who steps up to dance this dance makes a sort of prayer coming from himself, without seeking applause or approval by anyone..! It is like getting isolated and projecting himself in an excitement, a transformation, an elevation to space and time..!!
He moves his shoulder blades as if they were wings and oscillates.! Every now and then he stumps his feet to make sure he is not dreaming, that this is not happening in his imagination (although he induces himself to become "an out of this world" being..!!) And from time to time he kneels and hits the ground with his hands or touches it to get its power from his Mother Earth.. to continue this challenge in which he gets involved willingly in order to relax..!! So in the end he returns to his seat feeling relieved from the social pressure that besets him. This dance is a motion transcendental meditation, in short a prayer..!!!

bostankorkulugu, rigoletto has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2010-09-29 16:36

so you're not dead!?!?!...

even playing zeibekikos somewhere out there!...

amazing stuff this is mister... fist class indeed...

hugzzz

krkt;)

Housegaijin (0) 2010-09-29 22:17

Dar, very dark (perhaps too dark...?) but I like it very much - a very classy shot, Kostal, very subtle, and so suggestive of the Greek dance - I can hear the music...

rigoletto (34279) 2010-10-04 11:56

Geia sou Kosta mou! (it has been looong that i haven't written "mou" on TE, LOL!)
As you know, all those enigmatic words about the zeibekikos dance gain much more of its truth, when you have ούζο or raki on the table. Then you feel much like a bird flying over and against the soft breeze of Aegean.
The darker you go the better i like. As always,
Deniz

Juzo (2151) 2010-10-05 9:07

Hi Kostas,
Some here may say it's too dark (too dark for TE perhaps), but, I think it is perfect in it's own way. A subtle hunt for light, contrasts lay out the contours and shapes well, and of course, his movement. Magic shot indeed.
Cheers
Justin

batalay (41261) 2010-10-06 4:01

Hello Dear Kostas,

How good to see that you made a surprise visit to Trekearth. This is a sensational shot, which MUST be in B&W for full effect. I like the shadows and textures, evocative here of a bullfight. This past three months was "the summer of living dangerously." It was all a part of a working vacation that took us to 15 countries. First a 4-day visit to England for a new book, then a cruise in the Baltic, a flight to India and Thailand, then a cruise from Venice to Istanbul, by way of the Black Sea. We did not get to Athens, but stopped in Katakolon and Navplion each for eight hours. I lost your email address. If you will drop me a line at [email protected], I will write to you directly. Warmest regards, Bulent