Set couple dance form
Throughout history the latest dance fashions are introduced to the local dance repertoire at social functions. These are adapted into the village context taking aspects of the local dance style, step patterns, figures or music.
In Romanian dance terms, this category includes all otherwise not included couple dance types, most of which have arrived or developed after the early 19th century.
This "classic" Romanian ethnologist classification gives a few, rather open, distinguishing features;
- a set order, or commanded order of predetermined figures
- couples in a circle
Possibly due to the large fund of older types of dance, these newer couple dances are not so often included in stage choreographies or taught to those studying Romanian dance.
The more recent dance fashions of Waltz and Tango are deeply imbedded in the social dance repertoire, although not normally included in 'traditional dance' studies. For example the Vlaşa region village of Răsuceni in southern Muntenia includes the dances Ceardaşul (Romanian spelling for 'Csardas') and Poloneza.
Set couple dance types
A list of included couple dance types;
- Polca, Polcuţa (Polka) - The polka now has many variants in Moldavia although these look very different to the original lively Czech Polka, and are now believed to be Romanian dances by the villagers.
- Germanic dances such as the Seven Steps (Siebenschritt) are found in Transylvania and Moldavia where Germans were employed in the mining industry - e.g. Roata de şapt paşi (Baia Mare), Porka and Hétlépés (Szek).
- Jurelul quadrille dance form reached Maramures via the Ukraine.
- 'Walking and turning' - for example Ciobănaşul.
- Muşamaua 'Change by command' - found throughout Romania as Spic de Grâu, hop şi alta, Kecsketánc Csango of Moldavia), and with the Bulgarians living along the Danube. Couples move round a circle and at the call of the leader change direction or move on to the next partner.
Polka
Choreographic form, motifs, & music
| type | names | form | structure | motifs | music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| change by command | Muşamaua | ||||
| Turning Polka |
Polca, Polcuţa | ||||
| Germanic | Roata de şapt paşi, Porka and Hétlépés (Szek) | ||||
| walking & turning | Ciobănaşul, Foricica | ||||
| Quadrille | Jurelul |
References
POPESCU-JUDET, G, GAMAN, G. (1961) Jocuri populare din regiunea Bucuresti, Editura Muzicala.
BUCSAN, A. (1971) Specificul Dansului Popular Românesc, Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România.
BUCSAN, A. (1957) Jocuri Din Ardealul De Sud, Editura de Stat.
GIURCHESCU, A. & BLOLAND, S. (1995) Romanian Traditional Dance, "Mill Valley, California", Wild Flower Press.