A newspaper has triggered a new cultural dispute between Greece and Turkey after claiming that Greeks are attempting to appropriate the zeibekiko (Greek: Ζεϊμπέκικο), a dance that Turkish media says has roots in Anatolia.
The Istanbul-based newspaper placed the issue on its front page, asking whether the zeibekiko should be considered a Greek or Turkish dance. The report quickly gained attention in both countries and added another layer to the long-running cultural disagreements between Athens and Ankara.
The newspaper framed the issue as a dispute over cultural ownership, reviving earlier debates over foods, music, and traditions shared across the Aegean region.
Differences between zeybek and zeibekiko
Greek journalist Manolis Kostidis discussed the controversy on the Greek television network SKAI. He said the debate was being viewed with some irony in Turkey but noted that it had still entered the broader list of sensitive issues between the two countries.
Kostidis said Turkish television dramas frequently feature actors performing the “zeybek,” a traditional folk dance associated with western Anatolia. He noted that the Turkish version differs noticeably from the Greek zeibekiko often portrayed in Greek films and stage performances.
Οι γείτονές μας, οι 🇹🇷Τούρκοι, προσπαθούν να κλέψουν το 🇬🇷ελληνικό ζεμπέκικο με αυτόν τον χορό. Αυτός ο τούρκικος χορός δεν έχει απολύτως τίποτα κοινό με το ελληνικό ζεμπέκικο και δεν πρέπει να συνδέεται με αυτό με κανέναν τρόπο. Λυπάμαι. Ο τούρκικος χορός δεν έχει καμία σχέση με… pic.twitter.com/mHVuySL61z
— Ε🇬🇷Λ🇬🇷Λ🇬🇷Α🇬🇷Σ (@GRHellasGR) May 20, 2026
Although the dances share similarities in name, their rhythm, movement, and style appear different. The Turkish zeybek is commonly performed in groups and follows a more formal folk tradition. In Greece, zeibekiko is usually danced alone and is strongly connected to emotional expression and rebetiko music.
The journalist compared the latest disagreement to previous cultural disputes between Greece and Turkey involving baklava and yogurt. He suggested that the newspaper was attempting to place the zeibekiko among other contested cultural symbols claimed by both nations.
Ancient Greek roots?
The most iconic part of the Zeibekiko dance is when the dancer stretches out his arms and twirls, sways, and moves with deep feeling and emotion.
This movement is often linked to the eagle, a traditionally solitary and powerful bird, but it may have a connection to a different bird—the crane.
Called “Geranos” in Greek, the crane is a beautiful bird with long, graceful wings. In antiquity, Greeks were known to perform a solitary dance called “Geranios,” which was modeled after the bird’s movements.
Most famously, as mentioned by Plutarch, the ancient Greek hero Theseus performed the crane dance on the island of Delos, which was very sacred as it was the site of Apollo’s birth, after freeing a group of young Athenians from the Minotaur’s Labyrinth.
The dance involves slowly moving in circular motions while holding one’s arms outstretched, much like the wings of a crane.
The movements of the crane dance described by ancient authors certainly resemble the Zeibekiko, which means that the ancient Greek dance may be linked to the modern one.
Shared cultural roots in the Aegean
Zeibekiko is widely associated with Greek music and nightlife culture today, especially through the rebetiko tradition that developed in the early 20th century. Some historians trace the dance’s origins to the Zeybeks of western Anatolia during the Ottoman era.
Researchers have long noted that many traditions in the Aegean region evolved through centuries of interaction between Greek and Turkish communities. Music, cuisine, and dance styles often crossed cultural boundaries long before modern national borders were established.
Cultural disputes between Greece and Turkey are not uncommon and regularly draw public attention in both countries. Debates over the origins of traditional foods, folk customs, and historical symbols have repeatedly fueled nationalist discussions on both sides of the Aegean.
Despite the political arguments surrounding the issue, many historians and cultural researchers view such traditions as part of a shared regional heritage shaped by centuries of coexistence, migration, and cultural exchange.
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