Tradycyjne tańce rumuńskie c.d. (ang)

Couple dance form

Romanian couple dances have developed from European couple dances as the fashions in dances have changed, but within these formations other local steps and figures have been incorporated.

A possible historic order might be;

1. The processional walking dance is performed in couples standing side by side with their partner, arranged in an arc,  with a lead couple. Variants across eastern Europe and Scandinavia include Polish Chodzony, Moravian Starodavny, the försteg of the Swedish Polska, SwedishGanglåt, Norwegian Gangar, and Romanian Purtata. It looks likely the Polish Empire was key to the distribution, and maybe the dances originated in the northern Slavic states.
2. Ardeleana, is found in Banat and Crişana, west of Transylvania, although the name indicates a Transylvanian origin. This  has a similar formation to the processional dance but is danced at a greater tempo. Ardeleana may be related to the Haţegana of southern Transylvania, but it does not include any turning figures.
3. The turning couple dance which is thought to have developed after the processional walking dance, and has variants across eastern Europe and Scandinavia: the Polish Oberek, Bohemian Polka, Austrian Waltz, Moravian Starodavny, Swedish Polska and Pols, Romanian Învârtita, and Hungarian forgatós. It is thought that the oldest forms are turning in place and the later forms move around the dance space. The Transylvanian version, and older style Swedish slängpolska have turning in place.
4. Set dances, based on the central European dances of the 19th century, which are mainly couples in a circle, often with Polka type steps.

Romanian couple dance types

The "classic" Romanian ethnologist classification of couple dances is into basic types;

• Breaza categorised by the q-s-q-s-s rhythm, but can be separate couples, or couples in a circle
• Purtata processional walking dances (Romaneşte, De a-lungul, Purtata)
• Învârtita turning dance in either asymmetric (Învârtita, De-nvârtit, Haţegana) or straight rhythm (Învârtita, Bătuta, Harţagul, Haţegana)
• Ardeleana of Banat and Crişana in straight rhythms (Ardeleana, Polca, Ţarina), fast (De doi, Mânânţel), syncopated (Pe Picior) and asymmetric (Sorocul) rhythms
• Set dances derived from more recent European fashions, including variants of the turning polka (Polca), dances with couples side-by-side in a circle. These are found both as recognisable European dances, and as locally created dances.

Couple dances

Breaza

Purtatawalking

Învârtitaturning

Ardeleanacolumn

set dances

Purtata

Învârtita
asymmetric

Ardeleana
straight

 Turning polca

De-a lungul
 

Învârtita
straight

De doi, Mânânţelfast

Set dances

 Pe Picior
syncopated

 Sorocul
asymmetric

Choreographic form, motifs, & music

Dance rhythms explained:

• Straight - a basic 2/4.
• Asymmetric - where the beats of each measure are of different lengths, but not exact multiples. This is common in all families of Romanian dances from Transylvania and Banat.
• Syncopated - the step is shifted by less than a beat after the expected timing. This is used throughout Romanian dance, including asymmetric rhythm couple dances.

type	names	form	structure	motifs	music
Breaza	Breaza, Ca la Breaza, De doi, Ungurica, Mocăncuţa, Kettös	chain dance, couples in circle, scattered couples, short lines			2/4 (q-s-q-s-s)
Purtata	Purtata, De purtat, Româneşte de purtat, Româneşte cu fete, De-nceput Purtata, Pe sub mână De-a lungul, P-a lungul, De-a mână Împiedecata	crescent of couples with a lead couple, side by side with their partner			10/16 (4+3+3) and others
Învârtita	Învârtita, De-învârt, Bătuta, Învârtita, Tropotita, Bătuta, Învârtita, De-învârtita, Harţagul, Haţegana, Romanca	scattered couples, trios, or small circles	turning as a couple, resting figure	can include women's pirouettes, men's heel clicks, men's stamping, men's leg slapping	2/4 (also 10/16,
Ardeleana	Ardeleana, Sorocul, Pe Picior, De Doi, Mânântel, , Lenţa, Duba,Ţarina, Polca, Poarga, Luncanul	couples arranged in a column	dancer moving to the side and back, either in the same or opposite direction as their partner	men have stamping steps, and leg slapping sequences, interweaving and encircling arm patterns with the women performing rapid turns,	2/4
set dances