Hasapiko is a traditional Greek dance with roots in Constantinople, where it was performed by members of the Butcher's Guild. It is a line dance of strong, deliberate movement, danced to slow, steady music and often speeding up as it goes. Over the centuries it moved from a guild dance to taverns, weddings and stages across Greece, and it became the basis of the world-famous Syrtaki. This guide explains what hasapiko is, where it comes from, how to dance it, what it sounds like and how it differs from other Greek dances.

What Is Hasapiko? Meaning of the Name

Hasapiko means “the butcher's dance.” The name comes from the Greek word for butcher, hasapis (χασάπης), which itself traces back to the Turkish kasap. You will find the dance spelled many ways in English: hasapiko, hassapiko, hasapikos and hasapico, and the Greek form is χασάπικο. All of them refer to the same dance. The plural, hasapika, refers to the family of related dances and tunes.

Origin and History of the Hasapiko

The dance is traditionally traced to Constantinople, where it was performed by the Butcher's Guild, with the tradition reaching back to the Byzantine period. The guild link is often said to be reflected in its strong, grounded movement, and it was carried to mainland Greece as people and trade moved between Constantinople and the Greek world. There it became part of the urban music culture of ports and taverns and a standard of rebetiko music. Rather than a village folk dance tied to a single region, it grew into a social dance enjoyed throughout Greece.

Hasapiko, Hasaposerviko and Syrtaki: What Is the Difference?

These names are closely related and are often confused.

• Hasapiko is the slow version, danced to a steady, measured beat.
• Hasaposerviko is the fast version, with a quicker tempo and livelier steps. Its name combines hasapiko with serviko, meaning “Serbian.”
• Syrtaki (also spelled Sirtaki) is the best-known combination. It was created for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek and links the slow hasapiko with the fast hasaposerviko, speeding up as it goes.

So when someone asks how to do the “Zorba dance,” they are asking about Syrtaki, which is built from hasapiko steps.

How to Dance the Hasapiko: Steps and Technique

Hasapiko is danced in a line or semi-circle, with dancers resting their hands on each other's shoulders, arms outstretched. The movement is smooth and controlled, with a grounded feel that suits the dance's heritage.

• Basic step: a deliberate forward step followed by a quicker step back, repeated in time with the music. In the slow hasapiko the footwork alternates steadily with the beat.
• Rhythm: counted in four, which keeps the movement clear and easy to follow.
• Formation: the line moves together as one, led by the dancer at the head, who can add improvised turns and flourishes.
• Building up: in the longer versions, the tempo increases gradually and the steps become faster, which makes it forgiving for beginners who can follow the group.

Beginners can learn the basic step in a few minutes by dancing next to an experienced partner and copying their rhythm.

Hasapiko Music: Songs and Instruments

Hasapiko is danced to rebetiko and other Greek urban music. The signature instrument is the bouzouki, a long-necked string instrument, joined by the baglamas (a smaller, brighter relative), guitar and accordion, with the clarinet sometimes adding a melodic voice. Many hasapiko songs have a mid-tempo, driving feel. The music has evolved over the years, and modern versions add electronic and contemporary sounds while keeping the traditional rhythm.

Hasapiko Costume: What Do Dancers Wear?

Unlike regional folk dances, the hasapiko has no single required costume. It is an urban tavern and social dance, so people usually dance in everyday or festive clothes. Stage performances may use traditional Greek dress to add color, but the pleated foustanella kilt belongs to other dances such as the tsamikos, not to the hasapiko. If you are going to a class or a taverna, wear comfortable clothes and shoes with a flat sole.

Hasapiko vs Other Greek Dances

The hasapiko is one of several dances you are likely to see at a Greek celebration. This is how it compares:

Where Hasapiko Is Danced Today

Hasapiko stays a living social dance in Greece and the Greek diaspora. People dance it at weddings, festivals and tavernas, and tourists often meet it at restaurants and dance evenings on the islands. Staged versions turn it into a choreographed performance with rehearsed lines and costumes, while the social version is spontaneous and open to anyone who wants to join the line. Both keep Greek heritage visible and bring people together.

Hasapiko FAQ

Can anyone learn the hasapiko?

Yes. Its slow, repeating pattern makes it one of the easier Greek dances to start with, and a class or a friendly line at a taverna is the quickest way to learn.

Is hasapiko the same as sirtaki?

Not exactly. Syrtaki is a later creation that combines the slow hasapiko with the fast hasaposerviko.

Is hasapiko a Byzantine dance?

Tradition traces it to the Butcher's Guild of Constantinople in the Byzantine period, but the form we dance today developed over many centuries.