Jocul Moşilor (Romania)

Jocul Moşilor 

Romania

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie.

This dance was originally taught by Cristian Florescu and Sonia Dion. I learned it from Shirley Hauk. The dance name means "Old Man's Dance", but it's part of a tradition where the dancers dress up like caricatures of old people or animals and pantomime dancing like old people. Similar dances from other parts of the Balkans are listed below in under "see also".

Music: unknown source
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle hands down in V position, facing LOD
Introduction: 8 bars

Part 1

Bar 1: Facing LOD, with body bent over and with knees bent, step forward in LOD and to the R on the R (1), Step forward in LOD and to the L on L (2)
Bar 2: Step R forward in LOD (1), Close L next to R (&), Step R forward in LOD (2)
Bars 3-4: Repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork
Bars 5-8: Repeat bars 1-4

Part 2

Bar 1: Turning to face center, step on R to R (1), Close L next to R (&), step on R to R (2)
Bar 2: Stamp L (1), Stamp L again (2)
Bar 3: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork and moving to the L
Bar 4: Stamp R (1), Stamp R again (&), Stamp R (2)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4

Alternate the steps until the end of the music

Tucson Video

 

Other videos on the web

This video does not show the dance described above, but it shows the kinds of costumes worn for this dance.

Other instructions on the web:

• (2017) Stockton Folk Dance Camp (forthcoming)

See also:

• Bătrîneasca din Vicov - Romania
• Moşu Şi Baba - Romania
• Starčeska Râčenica - Bulgaria

Also spelled: Mosilor