(From the journalist Giannis Poulakis in his book about Poros)

The dance of Chasapikos of Poros

The Chasapikos dance is coming from Minor Asia. It was originally a male dance and owes its name from the Chasapides or the Makelarides of Byzantio.

While it was a clearly traditional dance, after the great popularisation of bouzouki and baglamas, it began to be danced in different ports and in cities.

It was choreographed and was developed in something entirely different from its initial origin. Nowadays, it is danced by men and women and has been promote in such a range that is regarded, mostly by the foreigners, as the most representative Greek dance, also known as syrtaki.

In Poros, a different choreography prevails, known as ''the Chasapikos of Poros''. It is influenced by many places of Greece and is enriched with the phantasy of the ''Meraklides'' (people with talent, will and eagerness) of Poros.

The Chasapikos of Poros, since the beginning of the 50's, was danced by local inhabitants on boats, in taverns, celebrations and festivals also for reasons of living.

It is very impressive and manful dance and is regarded today as one of the most beautiful dances of chasapikos in Greece.

The choreography of Poros is consisted, except of the classic steps of chasapikos also of the following figures: Halfs | in/out | ''surta spasta'' | Pireaus | Sotiris | half closed | Koulouri | ntoulpes

Other older figures are: Stavreas | jumped or seated ntoulpes No 1 or No 2

The dancers are choosing what figures they want and with any row. The musical meter of Chasapikos is 2/4.

Music - Bayianteras

One of the greatest pages of the history of the Greek music was written at the yards of Piraeus and at the islands of the Saronic, by Mitsos Gkogkos.

Dimitris Gkogkos was born in 1903 in Piraeus. He was the 22nd child of the non-commissioned officer of the Port Corps, Yannis Gkogkos.

Dimitris started learning music from a very young age, from 7 years old; he started playing the mandolin, then the guitar, the violin, the bouzouki and the small bouzouki. He was educated (certificate of an electrician).

Since 1925, when he made a new version of the Italian operetta “Bayantera” of Erich Kalman for a public orchestra, he took the nick name “Bayanteras”. Just a while before the decade of 1930, he plays in the Piraeus’ industrious pitches of the port.

He obtains a tight relationship with the protagonists of the rempetiko, Markos Vamvakaris, Stratos Pagioumtzis and the Methanian George Batis.

In 1937, he records his first disc and since then he composed unforgettable hits, like “Chatzikyriakeio”, “A fish boat starts”, “I was leaving alone without love”, “My mind twinkles like it would be enchanted” etc. In 1941, Bayanteras lost his vision, while he was singing on the stage, by a fast evolvent glaucoma.

During the German Possession, he participates in the Resistance with his lyrics, his music and his rebellious heart, by composing rebellious songs.

He died in his home, in Saint Ierotheos, with only companion, his “lady” Despoina Arampatzoglou, smoke worker and lyricist, in 1985.