choros

ancient Greek dance

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June 24, 2026

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In ancient Greece, choros referred to dance, and it was a fundamental element of early drama and religious rituals. Greek tragedy originated from choral performances where groups of men would sing and dance. The philosopher Plato distinguished between dances that enhanced bodily beauty and those that were awkward, while dances connected to the cult of Dionysus were ecstatic and frenzied.123

Weapon dances, like the pyrrhichē, and dignified round dances performed by choruses of virgins were also part of Greek culture. In comedies, a lively dance called the kordax was popular, while tragedies featured the more dignified emmeleia. The term choros is also the root for words like "choreography" and "chorus".31

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carole
…remotely, in the ancient Greek choros, or circular, sung dance. Mentioned as early as the 7th century, the carole spread throughout Europe by the 12th century and declined during the 14th century.
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…remotely, in the ancient Greek choros, or circular, sung dance. Mentioned as early as the 7th century, the carole spread throughout Europe by the 12th century and declined during the 14th century.
Read More