One of the most famous Cypriot dances is the kartilies, a lively circle dance where dancers link hands or hold handkerchiefs and move in a flowing circular pattern. Another well-known dance is the tatsia, where dancers balance small trays or glasses on their heads to show their skill and balance. The audience claps along to encourage the dancers.
Traditional Cypriot costumes are works of art in themselves. Women's dresses are often decorated with silk embroidery in bright colours - geometric patterns and flowers stitched by hand. The embroidery of different villages has its own distinctive style, and an expert eye can tell which village a dancer comes from by looking at the patterns on her dress.
Folk dances are usually performed to live music, with the bouzouki, violin, and sometimes a small drum called the toumbeleki. Schools in Cyprus teach children folk dances as part of their curriculum, so the tradition is kept alive by young people. At the Anthestiria flower festival and other events, you can watch children and adults dance together across all generations.