Rugovo (sword Dance)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Albanian war dances ( or ) are
war dance A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare. Martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like setting ...
s performed by the
Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
people. They have been historically performed before Albanians' departure for the battle front, but in recent times they have been traditionally performed during particular events and feasts. The war dances differ in both form and content according to the Albanian ethnographic area.


War dance in circle around fire

Early descriptions of the Albanian war dance in circle around fire was provided in the early 19th century by western travellers who visited southern Albania. The dance is practiced for several hours with very short intervals, acquiring new vigour from the words of the accompanying song that starts with a
battle cry A battle cry or war cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same combatant group. Battle cries are not necessarily articulate (e.g. "Eulaliaaaa!", "Alala"..), although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religio ...
invoking
war drums Military drums or war drums are all kinds of drums and membranophones that have been used for martial music, including military communications, as well as drill, honors music, and military ceremonies. History Among ancient war drums that c ...
, and which is of a piece with the movement and usually changed only once or twice during the whole performance. The ritual purifying fire ( Zjarri) is traditionally used by Albanians, in particular singing and dancing around it, to gain protection and energizing from its supernatural power.


Sword dance

The Albanian sword dance type has been commonly performed in the northern Albanian highlands. From there this type of dance spread in the lowlands of the Lezha area and the Mati valley by the mountain shepherds. In its primordial form it is danced silently with free-flowing, only following the rhythmic movements of the body that are improvised by the dancer(s) (hence without instrumental music or vocals). Sword dances are also those performed in certain areas of northwestern Kosovo, which are accompanied by instrumental music and referred to as "contest to win the maid". Also the Albanians of Italy – the
Arbëreshë Arbën/Arbër, from which derived Arbënesh/Arbëresh originally meant all Albanians, until the 18th century. Today it is used for different groups of Albanian origin, including: * Arbër (given name), an Albanian masculine given name *Arbëres ...
– perform the sword dance, albeit in a different way. Into the late 1400s Albanian sword dances were imitaded by Italian
tarantella Tarantella () is a group of various Southern Italy, southern Italian Italian folk dance, folk dances originating in the regions of Calabria, Campania, Sicilia, and Apulia. It is characterized by a fast Beat (music), upbeat tempo, usually in Ti ...
s. The Albanian folk tale "
Skanderbeg Gjergj Kastrioti (17 January 1468), commonly known as Skanderbeg, was an Albanians, Albanian Albanian nobility, feudal lord and military commander who led Skanderbeg's rebellion, a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what is today Albania, ...
and
Ballaban Ballaban is a village and a former municipality in the Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Këlcyrë Këlcyrë ( sq-definite, Këlcyra) is a town and a municipalit ...
" narrates about the Albanian sword dance, which is sung and danced by Skanderbeg's soldiers before battle.


Sword dance of Rugova

The Rugova war dance ( or ''Loja Luftarake e Rugovës'') is a traditional Albanian
sword dance Weapon dances incorporating swords or similar weapons are recorded throughout world history. There are various traditions of Solo dance, solo and mock-battle (Pyrrhic dance, Pyrrhic) sword dances in Africa, Asia and Europe. Some traditions use ...
named after the Rugova region in
Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...
. Rugova dance is a relic of the
war dance A war dance is a dance involving mock combat, usually in reference to tribal warrior societies where such dances were performed as a ritual connected with endemic warfare. Martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like setting ...
s, the remnants of pantomimic dances performed in the re-enactment or preparation of battles. The dance is performed by two male dancers who fight a mock battle for the hand of a girl (a "maiden's dance"). It was made internationally famous by the
Kosovo Albanian The Albanians of Kosovo (, ), also commonly called Kosovo Albanians, Kosovan Albanians or Kosovars (), constitute the largest ethnic group in Kosovo. Kosovo Albanians belong to the ethnic Albanian sub-group of Ghegs, who inhabit the north of ...
Rugova clans (hailing from Kelmend in Albania). The dance is also found in mountainous
Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...
, where a tribe of shepherds settled in the 18th century. Based on the war dance of the Rugova clans, Slavko Kvasnevski created in 1971 the Rugova choreography, which was part of Yugoslav folk dancing ensemble. In 1982, it was noted that "in the last time the Rugova dance has gained wide popularity".


See also

*
Albanian tribes The Albanian tribes () form a historical mode of social organization (''farefisní'') in Albania and the southwestern Balkans characterized by a common culture, often common patrilineal kinship ties and shared social ties. The ''fis'' ( sq-defi ...


References


Bibliography

* * * * *{{cite book, last=Xhemaj, first=Ukë, chapter=Zjarri në besimet popullore shqiptare, trans-chapter=The Fire in Albanian Folk Beliefs, title=Trashëgimia dhe tranformimi i kulturës popullore: materiala nga sesioni shkencor, mbajtur në Prishtinë më 7-8 shtator 1979, editor=Mark Krasniqi, Ukë Xhemaj, publisher=
Albanological Institute of Prishtina Albanological Institute of Pristina ( or ''Instituti Albanologjik – Prishtinë'') is the main Institute of Albanology in Pristina, Kosovo. It is an independent public institution. Together with the Centre of Albanological Studies in Tirana, th ...
, year=1983, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lGgKAQAAIAAJ, pages=104–121 Culture of Albania Albanian folk dances War dances Circle dances Mock combat Music of Albania