The syrto is one of the most fundamental forms of Greek dance. ''Syrtos'' derives from the word ''serno'' meaning "to drag" and refers to the way in which the dancers' feet brush against the ground.

With each beat you step on the other foot.  So it's always left-right-left-right and so on.  However, the beat is slow-quick-quick.  (ta-ti-ti) 

Syrto is always danced in a circle and regardless of the movement of the line always maintain the slow-quick-quick step.  The leader can choose whether to have the line move forward in the line of direction or to have the line stopped while the dancers move back and forth. (Forward-2,3 Back-2,3)

Every region has some version of a syrto and the style varies immensely from one region to the next. On the coastal regions and on the islands the syrto is danced with "soft knees" that mimic the waves. The mainland and mountainous areas have less of this style of bounce, but often incorporate a skip - see kalamatiano.