The dance takes its name from the Zeybeks, a militia living in the Aegean Region of the Ottoman Empire from late 17th to early 20th centuries - it was first seen at the end of the 17th century in cities such as Constantinople and Smyrni.

Originally it was like a war dance: two armed men facing one another. It later developed into an improvised dance for a single male.

The Greek zeibekiko has no set steps, no particular rhythm – it is all about feeling the music and the emotions rising from the deep words of the typical songs. It requires an inner intensity, because it is an improvised movement that expresses the feelings of the individual who gets up to dance, intermingled with the emotions of the song.

The songs speak of feelings of defeat, of sadness, love lost, life’s despair and unfulfilled dreams, bad luck, the dark throughout and at the end of the tunnel. After all, its origins are in Asia Minor, the place of displaced Greeks, a homeland long lost, along with lives and fortunes. So, it is almost a sacred experience not to be taken lightly, as he/she will dance alone, facing his ‘demons’.

Originally, zeibekiko was strictly a man’s dance, but women have joined the dance floor with their own heartaches, to take part in the expressive movement, breaking gender roles. A real man is not embarrassed to manifest his pain or vulnerabilities, he understands the duality of being strong and brave, fighting wars or navigating careers but also knows he is just human, capable of heartache.

Dancers pick the song and the lyrics that they best relate to / expresses his/her personal situation or state of mind, which has lead to the “ritual of song ownership” and ‘special requests’, specifically for that dancer at events - so, he/she is the one to pick the song and take the floor to dance.