Pusteno [Macedonian from Northern Greece] dance history & background

Pusteno (also: Poustseno) is a Macedonian dance from the Levendikos / Bajrace family. Pusteno is from the Kastoria/Kostur region of Greek Macedonia but is considered a Macedonian dance by most folk dancers. This background information was provided by Joe Graziosi:

In the Florina region the Puscheno/Pushteno a/lk/a Levendikos or Litos are the same dance. The Levendiko is also called Lytos in Greek, but the original name and the most commonly heard in the Florina region is the Macedonian (slavic) name Puscheno.

There are numerous tunes for the dance, both instrumental and sung. Within the Florina region the term Beranche or Beratche refers usually to a tune or style of Puscheno, often slower or heavier, so it can also be called Teshko or even Starsko. This last name, meaning old, is often employed as a term of respect for the older generation who would more often lead the dance.

The steps are the same except in the Albanian Christian (Arvanites) villages of the region (e.g. Flambouron/Negovani) where the Beratche or Beratis is a two measure dance based on the motif of a Sta Dhio step. The inhabitants of the villages Alona/ Armnesko, Akritas/Buf and Kratero/Rakovo have the reputation of being among the best dancers for the Puscheno.

In the village of Alona/ Armensko it can refer to a seperate melody (called Gherondikos in Greek), which starts quite slow and evolves into a Puscheno. Among the Florina population which is of Albanian origin (as in the village Flambouro/Negovani) the Beratche, etc. is danced differently - here with a two measure phrase. The usual three measure phrase Puscheno which is also danced by them, is considered a Macedonian dance while their two measure Beratche they consider their own.

Also, in the region of Lake Prespa the Puscheno is danced differently than the rest of Florina. Here, the dance starts with a full weighted step on the right foot whereas elsewhere it starts with a lift of touch of the right foot on the same beat, making for a very different feel. A close listen to most Puscheno or Beratche recordings from Greek Macedonia will show that the most common meter is 16/8 - 2223223; sometimes it can be heard in a meter of 15 or 17; more rarely in 12 - but in each case the grouped pulses are the same: slower, quick.slow, quick.

The further south one goes, towards and beyond Kastoria/Kostur, the more the three measure dance is replaced by a two measure dance, but here the dance starts with a full weighted step on the first beat of each measure (e.g. Zhensko Bairatche), whereas in the Greco-Albanian villages of Florina, the first beat starts with a lift or touch. Local variants also exist in the Vlach village of Vlasti/Blatse and among the Greek villages of Voion (e.g.,the dance Lontzia) in Kozani County.