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{{About||the fictional character named Ballos|Cave Story|the storm|2021–22 European windstorm season#Ballos}}
{{Music of Greece}}

The '''Ballos'''  ({{langx|el|Μπάλος}}) is a [[Culture of Greece|Greek]] [[Greek dances|folk dance]] and a form of [[sirtos]]. There are also different versions in other Balkan countries.

The Ballos is of Greek origin, with ancient Greek elements.<ref>[http://utopia.duth.gr/~mvoutsin/7.htm Utopia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930212825/http://utopia.duth.gr/~mvoutsin/7.htm |date=2011-09-30 }} Ballos of ancient Greece.</ref>  The name originates in the [[Italian Language|Italian]] ''ballo''<ref>[http://www.greek-language.gr/greekLang/modern_greek/tools/lexica/search.html?lq=%CE%BC%CF%80%CE%AC%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82&sin=all "μπάλος"], Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής, ed. Institute of Manolis Triantafyllidis</ref> via Latin "ballo"<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3Dballo ballo], 
Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, ''A Latin Dictionary'', on Perseus</ref><ref>Chantrell (2002), p. 42.</ref> which derives from the [[Greek language|Greek]] verb "βαλλίζω" ''ballizo'', "to dance, to jump").<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dballi%2Fzw βαλλίζω], 
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref><ref>[https://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ball ball (2)], Online Etymology Dictionary</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111029164649/http://www.myetymology.com/latin/ballare.html ballare]}}, myetymology.com</ref>

The melody of a ''ballos'' is generally joyous and lyrical which is typical of the music of the [[Aegean Islands]]. This couples' dance incorporates all the elements of courtship: attraction, flirtation, display of masculine prowess and feminine virtue, pursuit, and rejection followed by eventual capture and surrender.

Its origin is in the island culture of Greece. Men could not approach women easily, so they created this dance in order to "flirt" with them. There are various forms of the ''ballos'' around the islands. The simplest is one in which a single couple goes through a series of spontaneous figures. In another version many couples dance simultaneously as if alone on the dance floor. Yet another version is introduced by a [[Sirtos]]. In its most complicated form, a number of couples go through various figures, somewhat reminiscent of the European minuet. ''Ballos'' songs are popular and there are many of them. One of the most popular ''Ballos'' song from Asia Minor is: Τι σε μέλλει εσένανε; {{Transliteration|grc|Ti se mellei esenane}} ("What do you care?") etc. In [[Cyprus]] the ''ballos'' is a men's dance and is interwoven with an amane type song based on the byzantine scale. The songs are always sad and require a very talented singer.

==See also==
*[[Greek dances]]
*[[Ikariotikos]]
*[[Kalamatianos]]
*[[List of dances]]
*[[Music of Greece]]
*[[Sousta]]
*[[Syrtos]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081002035335/http://www.lesvosonline.gr/Lesvos/culture/music/mpalos.mid Ti se mellei esenane]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060420214810/http://www.dunav.org.il/music/greece/047_Syrtos_(Chios).mp3 Ballos Syrtos Chios]
*[http://www.imeem.com/people/xNjjikx/music/fzde5QHJ/muammer-ketencoglu-06-to-salvari-the-shalwar Muammer Ketencioglu - Ti se mellei esenane(To Salvari)]

{{Greek dances}}

[[Category:Greek dances]]
[[Category:Music of Greece]]