Romanian dances - Women's dances

Most of the traditional dances of Romania are for men only, or men and women in a circle or as couples. There very few dances specifically for women so this dance type does not form a distinct category. There are, however, a number of dances traditionally danced by women connected with rituals and customs, as well of non ritual vocal women's' dances, and a few men's' dances now danced by women.

Vocal dances - part of an old stratum found throughout Europe, and still frequent in south east Europe. Within Romania these are sung only by women and are limited to the Roata femeilor of Maramureş and north Moldavia, and the Coconiţa of central Transylvania.
Developed vocal dances;
- Non-ritual vocal dances called Purtata de fete are found in the Târnava valley, central Transylvania
- Învârtita, the regional asymmetric variant, danced in a small circle to a song
Fecioreşte is danced by women in two regions;
- two villages of the upper Olt valley near Brasov (Ticusu Nou and Crihalma). The Crihalma variant was first recorded as a women's dance in 1972 and has subsequently been staged with many newly created showy variants.
- in Bihor women sometimes imitated the men's Fecioreasca.
In some Hungarian communities the girls dance a version of the round dance whilst the men perform their lad's dances. The round dance was fashionable in Hungary during medieval times.
The Dragaica ritual was performed by young girls who danced at every house and corn field in the village This custom used to be common throughout the Balkans, but is now restricted to a few villages in south Muntenia. The Paparuda or Dodoloaie is also performed by young girls, in this case often gypsies, to invoke rain. In Transylvania the Cununa happens after harvest during which a garland of wheat is worn by a girl. Other Vocal dances survive in ceremonies, particularly weddings, in north Transylvania, Maramures and Bucovina. Choreographies to these songs are very popular with international folk dancers.

Women's dances

References