Exasa Mantili - Konitsa

[Panaghs]

I absolutely love the song Exasa Mantili from Konitsa and I happened to stumble upon this clip of it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqdXL16grWY
I've seen it danced before but in a line going back and forth. I was wondering if anyone could share some light on the dance, where it is danced and in which manner (line/coupled)? Is the following example of the motif proper in the link posted?
Thanks for the input

[Makis42]

As far as I know:
Rhythmically it is a composition of Zagorisios and Tsamikos. And the music is like the Syngathistos in Metsovo. And there it is danced in couples. But I'm not from Konitsa or Mastorochoria to know *exactly*!

[STAVRAETI]

Metsovo dances this Rythem in couple and a line...so does vovousa, alot of vlach villages grevena area pretty common...many cases couple and a line dance just diffent songs...not sure with zag/tsamiko refrence I dont feel that dancing it...

[Panaghs]

I think that the Zagorisio/Tsamiko reference would probably be in reference to the beat? (5/4 of the Zagorisio + 3/4 of the Tsamiko) ... Also the way I've seen it danced in a line resembles a Tsamiko of Konitsa moving front (123 step) and then steps on the spot like Zagorisio from the region too (all that being done frontwards and backwards) ... Nonetheless I thank you Dean for the info on the surrounding areas... I had also seen something similar to the video I posted from the Grevena area so it made me wonder

[STAVRAETI]

yeah i have some nice violin sygathista from grevena, kylekas playing with same rythem...
Funny that beat has a pause or half beat in it...there is a swing to it very hard to play...I was talking about metsovo/vosouva dances...i am headed up to konitsa this summer to see what i can dig up hehe...

[Panaghs]

If i manage to get down to Greece this summer who knows might see you there