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„Vágóson vagy pattogóson” – II.
A nagyecsedi oláh cigányok tánchagyománya – II.
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Information was collected for this study in the 1980s when the author was a starting ethnographer and avid folk dancer.
Amongst the Nagyecsed Gypsies, dance was part of everyday life. It was important for a person to have a certain dance ability. Dance knowledge and ability gave prestige. Almost all the local forms of Gypsy dance are solo for both the men and the women. Couples dance "together" without holding on to one another - one couple at a time, then giving over their dance space to the next couple. Developing the courage to get out there and dance alone was important. The children learned to dance by watching and imitating their parents, relatives, neighbors – just as children learn to talk. There was no formal teaching, though a family member may demonstrate a figure for the children. Good dancers were recognized within their communities, but an endless enthusiasm for dancing was almost as important as ability. A woman had to be able to ’dance her partner out of the dance space’–she could tire him out or outdance him, then another man could take over dancing with that woman. A man from the community usually invited the woman to dance. If an outsider wanted to dance with a girl or woman, he should ask the girl’s parents, or thewoman’s husband for permission. By Rátkó Lujza, includes notes and photos from 1986 by the author.
Amongst the Nagyecsed Gypsies, dance was part of everyday life. It was important for a person to have a certain dance ability. Dance knowledge and ability gave prestige. Almost all the local forms of Gypsy dance are solo for both the men and the women. Couples dance "together" without holding on to one another - one couple at a time, then giving over their dance space to the next couple. Developing the courage to get out there and dance alone was important. The children learned to dance by watching and imitating their parents, relatives, neighbors – just as children learn to talk. There was no formal teaching, though a family member may demonstrate a figure for the children. Good dancers were recognized within their communities, but an endless enthusiasm for dancing was almost as important as ability. A woman had to be able to ’dance her partner out of the dance space’–she could tire him out or outdance him, then another man could take over dancing with that woman. A man from the community usually invited the woman to dance. If an outsider wanted to dance with a girl or woman, he should ask the girl’s parents, or thewoman’s husband for permission. By Rátkó Lujza, includes notes and photos from 1986 by the author.