The Phalanx: Pyrrhic Dance

Andrew Yamato and John Bracken of the Ancient Greek reenactment group “The Phalanx” perform a speculative interpretation of an Ancient Greek “pyrrhic dance” at the “Across The Centuries” timeline event at Ft. Loudon, Pennsylvania in May 2022. Although they were largely (and often proudly) untrained as soldiers, Greek “hoplite” militiamen are believed to have performed these armed and armored dances as ceremonial displays of martial and athletic prowess. Drawing inspiration from ancient vase art and 19th century paintings, this dance was choreographed to articulate the basic stages of hoplite combat: pre-battle bravado (provoking arrow bombardment), advance under fire, doratismos (spear fencing), othismos (shield to shield pushing), breakthrough, pursuit, and monomachia (single combat). (Performed to “Ritual Dance,” by the Petros Tabouris Ensemble).