Factor Structure Of Dance Patterns In Folk Dances Of Serbia

Authors

Mutavdžić Vladimir, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš

Abstract

In the series of theoretical folk dance (FD) models there are a great number of classifications, based on most varied criteria. For instance, there are classifications of FDs with regard to folk customs and beliefs, and there are types of so-called horo dances, shepherds' dances or village gathering dances. Further classifications into symmetrical and asymmetrical FDs take into account whether the number of steps to the right and to the left is identical or not. The most common theoretical model of the folk dances of Serbia is based on the division by their geographical origin. However, this research responds to the requirement to outline a new theoretical model which will emphasize the dance technique as the basis of classification. The accessible literature concerning dance in general was mostly turned to the research of the connection between music and physical exercise, or between dances and primary motoric abilities; also, there were studies of different relationships between dance and space, of aesthetic issues, or influences of dancing on particular anthropologic statuses of dancers and non-dancers. This research was aimed at building a completely new typology of the folk dances of Serbia based on the representativeness of the elements of the dance technique. The entities (dance patterns) were classified through the application of the mathematical statistical multivariance method of taxonomic analysis, namely, Ward`s analysis of hierarchic classification. Dance patterns were classified upon both the absolute and the relative, i.e., binary presence indicators of a technique. Relative to a posteriori classification precision, the solution which yielded five taxonomic groups of the reduced data was the most fruitful. Based on the results of the research, a FD typology was derived, and it distinguishes the following five types (groups) of folk dances of Serbia:

Folk dances whose performance technique includes slide-in steps,
Folk dances whose performance technique includes steps across and hop steps,
Folk dances whose performance technique includes triple steps,
Folk dances whose performance technique includes slide-in steps, leaps, steps across and spins,
Folk dances whose performance technique includes hitch steps.

Keywords

factor structure, dance patterns, folk dances

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