Rustem dance form
This category includes all dances with a musical rhythm based on "short-long", usually written in 5/16 (2+3). The timing is not perfectly in 5/16, sometimes it will drift nearer to 3/8, and in some areas it looses the asymmetry getting close to 2/4, this being common in the sub-Carpathian regions.
Most of these dances are performed in a circle with low hand hold and arms which swing forward and back with the steps. The steps include many crossing steps and galloping steps.
There are many features of Romanian folklore that are common to both the Romanian and Bulgarian sides of the Danube. The uneven rhythm dances are part of this shared tradition.
This 5/16 asymmetric rhythm is found in some of the Căluş and Drăgaica customs, the slow Hora in south Romania and north Moldavia, and some of the women's songs in the north of Romania. This suggests that this form of asymmetric rhythm could be a old musical rhythm of the Danubian regions and people.
Rustem dance types
Some of the regional variants of Rustemul are;
- Bugeacul, Bugeagul are variants of the Oltenian Rustem found in the Muntenian villages within the Teleorman and Vlasca regions, and may be in the adjacent villages to this region in Olt. Versions are found in the villages of Râioasa, Ţigăneşti, Roşiori, Vârtoapele, Conţeşti, Suhaia, Zimnecea, Bacea-Olt.
- Paiduşca in Dobrogea is similar to the northern Bulgarian version called Pajduška. This choreographic structure of steps hops to the right, crossing steps to the left, and a few crossing steps in place has spread across Bulgaria, to the Slavs of Macedonia and also to the Greeks who call it Baidouska. In common with some other shared dances, the Greek version is quantised to a regular rhythm, in this case 3/8.
- Oltenian men's line version uses steps typical of the local Brâuleţ.
- Resteul, Rustemul and Murguleţul from the sub-Carpathians regions of Gorj, Vâlcea, Argeş and Dâmboviţa, tend to be in 2/4, but otherwise have the same dance characteristics.
- Baluţa from Teleorman and Argeş regions of Muntenia, and to a lesser extent Resteul from Dâmboviţa, has a lively 3-measure travelling step in either direction. This is most similar to the Vlach dance Shira from north west Bulgaria.
Choreographic form, motifs, music
| type | names | form | structure | motifs | music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rustemul | Rustemul, Resteul, Ghimpele, Bugeacul, Murguleţul, Paiduşca, Baluţa | circle, hand hold (normally low hand hold) | bi-directional Hora | crossing steps, hops, swinging arms | 5/8 |
References
BADEA, M. (1971) Folclor Coreografic Oltenesc, Centrul Creatiei Dolj.
BUCSAN, A. (1971) Specificul Dansului Popular Românesc, Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România.
GIURCHESCU, A. & BLOLAND, S. (1995) Romanian Traditional Dance, "Mill Valley, California", Wild Flower Press.
CONSTANTINESCU, M. (1980) Folclor Coregrafic Din Vâlcea - Vol 1, Centrul Creatiei Vâlcea.
CONSTANTINESCU, M. (1993) Folclor Coregrafic Din Vâlcea - Vol 2, Centrul Creatiei Vâlcea.
POPESCU-JUDET, G. (1967?) Jocuri Populare Din Dobrogea, Casa Regionala.
POPESCU-JUDET, G. & GAMAN, G. (1961) Jocuri Populare Din Regiunea Bucuresti, Editura Muzicala.
SEVER, T. V. T. (1972) Folclor Coregrafia Românesc, Comiletul Pentru.