Bibasis (dance)

The Bibasis (Greek: βίβασις) was a common dance at ancient Sparta, which was much practised both by men and women.

[3] The dance consisted in springing rapidly from the ground, and striking the feet behind; a feat of which the Spartan woman Lampito, in the Lysistrata of Aristophanes,[4] prides herself.

[5] γυμνάδδομαι γὰρ[a] καὶ ποτὶ πυγὰν ἅλλομαι.Αn' I can loup an' fling an' kick my hurdies.

[7] The number of successful strokes was counted, and the most skilful received prizes in competitions.

We are told by a verse from an epigram, which has been preserved by Pollux,[8] that a Laconian girl had won by dancing the Bibasis a thousand times, which was more than had ever been done before.

Detail of a pelike , c. 520–515 BC, by the circle of Euthymides , depicting young male athletes dancing and jumping to the aulos . The scene may represent the Greek competitive dance exercise called bibasis , a Laconian dance for both boys and girls. [ 1 ]