Pontic Greek folk dance

[3] Today, few Pontians remain in the Pontus region, but those living in the diaspora worldwide still perform folk dances to preserve their cultural heritage and group identity.Pontian dances are characterized by shoulder tremors, abrupt pauses, synchronized arm swinging, knee bends, and precise steps.Their ancestors came to Greece as refugees fleeing the violence in the late Ottoman Empire or as exchangees following the Greek-Turkish population exchange.[citation needed] Pontian traditional dances have been incorporated into gym classes at Greek public schools.Anthropologist Valerie Liddle argues that Pontians also dance to commemorate the loss of their former home in Pontos.In Romeika, omal means "regular" or "smooth," as the dances have simple steps without much jumping or stomping.
Circle of people in folk costume dancing
Pontic Greek group performing a dance, likely kotsari
Relief of nude men with shields dancing.
Pyrrhichios dance in ancient art, Vatican Museums .
Dancers in traditional Pontian clothes
Enosi Pontion Pierias , Pontian dance group in Greece, performing a mixed dance
Pontic men dance in a government building
Pontians performing a dance, probably serra, during a Christmas celebration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece
kotsariPontic GreeksPontic culturePontosCuisineRomeikaTurkishBlack Sea coloniesKingdom of PontusMithridatic WarsByzantine EmpireEmpire of TrebizondFall of TrebizondOttoman EmpireWorld War IPopulation exchangeModern TurkeyGreek Orthodox ChurchSunni IslamCaucasus GreeksCrimean GreeksGreek genocidePontic Greek genocideAmasya trialsAmele taburlarıPonticPontian culturePontus regiondaoulidankiyoGreek danceCaucasianPyrrhichiosVatican Museumsviolence in the late Ottoman EmpireGreek-Turkish population exchange2004 Olympic GamesVermio MountainsMelbourneguitarsdrum kitsPontic AlpsGümüşhane ProvinceTrapezuntaEnosi Pontion PieriaskemaneAkdağmadeniŞebinkarahisarMatsoukaTrapezountaTrabzonAkçaabatGümüşhaneMinistry of Foreign AffairsAtsiapatTrabzon ProvinceMatzoukaHoron (dance)Serra (dance)KarsilamasKerasuntaSampsuntaAlmaty, KazakhstanLetsinaNikopolisPodarakiCherianaSyrtosKerasounda