Relations of dance culture and social structure in a Moldavian rural community

Abstract

The social structure of the Moldavian Csángó settlements and the social systems that form in the dance scenes significantly determine the possibility of participation in dance occasions and the formal and stylistic performance of dances. The gender, age, and marital status of community members, as well as the specific position of dancers and the relationship between them, are revealed in dance forms and practices of space use on the dance floor, individual dance construction, and dancers’ behaviour. Through the study of local dance cultures, a social structure is observable that is held together by gendered and generationally defined norms, rules, and obligations. This makes dancing a socially defined collective activity in rural communities in Moldavia, Romania. The aim of this study is to interpret the representational practices of age and social status in dance culture, which are constantly changing, through the example of dance events, especially weddings, in a single Moldavian Csángó village.