Group dance form
The European men’s dances derived from a ritual past have a number of common features that separate them from the social dance repertoire and other types of men’s dances, these being:
- performed by the dancers in unison
- the dancers are not linked by hand or arm holds
- sometimes dancers hold a stick or swords, but do not perform fighting movements
- danced by a group with a leader
- often there are a fixed number of dancers (usually an odd number)
- mostly still be linked to rituals, customs and other traditions
These are sometimes called "corps dances" or in Romanian Ceată de feciori. Note that this category does not include fighting imitation dances solo or improvised stick dances which are found elsewhere in Europe.
Men's group dances with the key features of ritual dances are found along the Carpathians and in Transylvania. The Carpathian variants such as Trilişeşti and Ţânţăroiul from Moldavia and Bărbătescul and De sărit from Maramureş include only the most basic features whereas the De bâtă, Haidău, and Fecioreasca of Transylvania are very close to the Căluşeri with the later addition of more complex motifs.
Romanian group dance types
The "classic" Romanian ethnologist classification of group dances is into basic types;
- Ritual stick dances categorised by a retained ritual function (Căluş, Căluşeri, Irozi)
- Fecioreşte lad's dances of Transylvania, including stick dances without a retained ritual function (De bâtă, Haidău, Fecioreasca)
- Carpathian springing dances encompassing all remaining group dances, plus other shepherd's dances (Trilişeşti, Ţânţăroiul, Bărbătescul, De sărit)
- Sometimes the girl's ritual Drăgaica is put into the group dance category more because of the ritual basis that dance choreography
An alternative classification would be;
- Ritual stick dances categorised by a retained ritual function (Căluş, Căluşeri, Irozi) and stick dances without a retained ritual function (De bâtă, Haidău)
- Carpathian group dances (Trilişeşti, Ţânţăroiul, Bărbătescul, De sărit) including the Transylvanian Fecioreşte.
- "Leaping over sticks" which are common throughout Europe and are probably separate in development to the other Romanian group dances.
group dances
lad's dances
girl's ritual
stick dances
Choreographic form, motifs, & music
The features characteristic to Romanian type ritual dances are:
- starting figure of walking (plimbări), or a basic step, in a circle moving anticlockwise
- more complex figures (mişcare) performed in place between walking steps
- figures formed from combinations of elements, often with a beginning-middle-end structure
| type | names | form | structure | motifs | music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritual stick dances | Căluş, Căluşeri, Irozi | group | walking (plimbări) and figures | syncopation, stamps, leaps, hops, heel clicks | 2/4 |
| Carpathian group | Trilişeşti, Ţânţăroiul, Bărbătescul, De sărit, Ceanunul, Brânza, Siminicul | group | walking (plimbări) and figures | syncopation, stamps, leaps, hops, heel clicks | 2/4 |
| Lad's dances | Fecioreşte, De bâtă, Haidău, Barbunc | group | walking (plimbări) and figures | syncopation, stamps, leaps, hops, heel clicks | 2/4 and asymmetric |
| Leaping over sticks | Ciobăneasca peste Băţ, Pre bât | solo, dual | dance around an object: crossed sticks or bottle | leaps, hops | 2/4 |
References
ALEXANDRU, T. (1980) Rumanian Folk Music, Musical Publishing.
AMZULESCU, A. (1973) Folk Dances at Desa, Gottingen, Institut fur den Wissenschftlichen Film.
BACANU, G. (1971) Horelor Surorilor, Galaţi, Casa Creaţiei Popularea Judeţul Galaţi.
BACANU, G. (1965) Jocuri Populare Din Vrancea, Centrul Creatiei Galati.
BACANU, G. (1969) Jocuri Populare Din Sudul Moldovei, Casa Creatiei Galati.
BACIU, G. (1956) Dansuri, Populare Romanesti - Volume 1, Casa Creatiei Populare.
BADEA, M. (1971) Folclor Coreografic Oltenesc, Centrul Creatiei Dolj.
BALACI, E. & BUCSAN, A. (1969) Jocuri Din Transilvania De Sud - Monografie Coreografica, Brasov, Casa Creatiei Populare Brasov.
BÂRLEA, O. (1982) Eseu Despre Dansul Popular Românesc, Bucaresti, Cartea Romaneasca
BUCSAN, A. (1957) Jocuri Din Ardealul De Sud, Editura de Stat.
BUCSAN, A. (1971) Specificul Dansului Popular Românesc, Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România.
CIPRU, C. (2002) Nunta Bănăţeană, Timişoara, Centrul de Cultura si Arta, Timiş.
CIPRU, C. (2004) Instructorul De Jocuri Populare,Timişoara, Centrul de Cultura si Arta, Timiş.
CONSTANTINESCU, M. (1980) Folclor Coregrafic Din Vâlcea - Vol 1, Centrul Creatiei Vâlcea.
CONSTANTINESCU, M. (1993) Folclor Coregrafic Din Vâlcea - Vol 2, Centrul Creatiei Vâlcea.
COSTEA, C. (1990) Aspecte Ale Diversitatii Si Unitatii in Dansul Popular Romanesc, Revista de Etnografie si Folclor Tomul 35 nr 2, 35, 190-93.
CUC, M. (2003) Biografia Unui Miracol - Cununa De Pe Somes - La 35 De Ani, Bistriţa, Editura George Coşbuc.
CULTURA, C. (1998) Cununa De Pe Somes 1968 - 1998, Casa Cultura.
DANCE, I. (1971) Jocuri Populare Codrenesti, Centrul Creatiei Satu Mare.
DEJEU, Z. (2000) Dansuri Traditionale Din Transilvania, Clusium.
DOBRESCU., A. L. (1930/1946) Manual De Dansuri Nationale, Craiova, Editura Scrisul Românesc.
DUMITRU, E. (1966) Brâuri Din Munti Banatului, Timşoara, Casa Regionala a Creatiei Populare Banat.
GAFIAS, R. (1984) Dance among the Urban Gypsies of Romania. Yearbook for Traditional Music.
GAL, E. (1998) Seara Buna-N Sezatoare, "Editura ""Augusta""".
GEORGESCU, C. D. (1984) Jocul Popular Românesc - Tipologie Muzicale, Editura Muzicale.
GHUIR, G. B. G. (1973) Jocuri Populare Din Ţara Lapusului Si Ţara Chioarului, Comitetul Maramureş.
GHUIR, G. B. G. (1973) Jocuri Populare Din Ţara Lapusului Si Ţara Chioarului - Chioar, Comitetul Maramureş.
GIURCHESCU, A. (1957) Jocurile Din Vrancea. Revista de Folclor, Anul II, 55-76.
GIURCHESCU, A. (1983) The Process of Improvisation in Folk Dance. In LANGE, R. (Ed.) Dance Studies Vol 7. St Peter, Jersey, Centre for Dance Studies.
GIURCHESCU, A. (1992) A Comparative Analysis between The "Căluş" Of the Danube Plain And "Căluşerul" Of Transylvania (Romania). Studia Musicologica, 34, 31-44.
GIURCHESCU, A. & BLOLAND, S. (1995) Romanian Traditional Dance, "Mill Valley, California", Wild Flower Press.
LATCU, I. M. A. (1971) Folclor Coreografic Din Vaile Timisului Si Bistrei, Centrul creatiei populare Caras-Severin.
LONEUX, J. (1996) A Propos Des Danses Roumaines, J Loneux.
MARTIN, G. (1974) Hungarian Folk Dances, Corvina.
NICULESCU-VARONE, G. T. (1938) Jocurile Nationale Romanesti, Editura Ziarului Universale.
NICULESCU-VARONE, G. T. & GAINARIU-VARONE, E. C. (1979) Dictionarul Jocurilor Populare Romanesti, Editura Litera.
POP, M. (1974) Folk Dances at Campu Lui Neag, Gottingen, Institut fur den Wissenschftlichen Film.
POPESCU-JUDET, G. (1963) Jocuri Populare Din Oas Si Maramures - Volume 1, Centrul Creatiei Maramures.
POPESCU-JUDET, G. (1963) Jocuri Populare Din Oaş Si Maramureş - Volume 1, Casa Regională a Creaţiei Populare
POPESCU-JUDET, G. (1967?) Jocuri Populare Din Dobrogea, Casa Regionala.
POPESCU-JUDET, G. (?) Jocuri Din Banat, Bucuresti, Editura de Stat pentru Literatura si Arta.
PRICHICI, V. N. C. (1963) Cintece Si Jocuri Populare Din Moldova, Editura Muzicale.
PROCA-CIORTEA, V. (1969) On Rhythm in Rumanian Folk Dance. Yearbook of the International Folk Music Council, 1, 176 -99.
PROCA-CIORTEA, V. (1970) Kinetic Language and Vocabulary. Yearbook of the International Folk Music Council, 2, 133-41.
ROTARIU, G. N. (1996) Folclore Coreografic Din Judeţul Neamt, Editura Nona.
SEVER, T. V. T. (1969) Folclor Coregrafia Românesc, Comiletul Pentru.
SEVER, T. V. T. (1972) Folclor Coreografic Românesc, Consiliul Culturii.
SOMESAN, I. (1978) Dantul Din Oaş.
STANCU, C. (1997) Căluşul - Anthologie De Studii, Tiparg.
STANESCU, T. (1971) Jocuri Populare Moldovenesti, Centrul Creatiei Populare Iasi.
VASILIU, I. C. (1966) Trei Suite De Jocuri Populare Ardelenesti, Brasov, Casa Creatiei Populare Brasov.
WOLF, E. (Ed.) (1974) Calusari Priseaca, Gottingen, Institut fur den Wissenschftlichen Film.
WOLF, E. (Ed.) (1976) Calusari Priseaca - Match between 2 Groups, Gottingen, Institut fur den Wissenschftlichen Film.
WOLF, E. (Ed.) (1976) Calusari Priseaca Setting up Flag and Dance in Courtyard, Gottingen, Institut fur den Wissenschftlichen Film.
WOLF, E. (Ed.) (1976) Calusari Priseaca Dance & Death Game, Gottingen, Institut fur den Wissenschftlichen Film.
Additional information:
More than 20 visits to Romania: ethnographic tours, museums, festivals etc. between 1988-present
Record, tape & CD collection (~3000 titles)