Newsflash

33rd annual Croatian Canadian Folklore Festival West
is hosted by
DOMAGOJ
in Edmonton, Alberta
May 21-23 2010.

 
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Dances with jumps Print E-mail

The dučec, kozatuš, staro sito, and the nebesko are dances with energetic jumps and are found in the northern part of Croatia. They are regarded as being part of the older traditional layer, while in the past they were connected with the fertility cult and had parallels in other European countries. These dances were mostly performed during Carnival. In some places they have survived until the present day and are danced even when a "magical" consequence is not hoped for any more. They became symbols of a cultural identity. It used to be believed that by forcefully striking his foot on the floor and leaping high in the air, the performer could increase the yield of the turnip, flax, hemp and other harvests.

 
© 2010 Croatian Canadian Folklore Federation West