Gypsy Dancing: Separating Fact From Fiction
Gypsy dances have been portrayed in different mediums such as films, paintings and theatrical productions. Many of these depictions have elements of fiction and fantasy and it's not always easy to tell the difference.
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One Gypsy Dance Style
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Gypsy dances share similarities, but there is no one single "gypsy" dance. The Roma culture it hails from has a large variety of folk dances.
Seduction
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The 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love" portrays a gypsy camp where a woman seduces men with dance. Gypsy women don't typically dance to entice men. Men and women in the Roma culture dance as a social activity.
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Costume
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The glittery two-piece "cabaret costume" of belly dance is commonly identified with gypsy dance, but it is not a traditional gypsy costume. The costume was created for the performance of belly dances in nightclubs and Hollywood films.
Sword Dances
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Gypsy dances do not traditionally include swords. Belly dance troupes who claim to perform "gypsy" dances often balance a sword on the head while dancing. This practice is not part of the Roma dance tradition.
Tambourines
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Gypsies are often portrayed dancing with tambourines, though these are not common in gypsy dances. Roma-based dances do use hand-held instruments, such as wooden spoons, which make noise to accompany the dance.
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References
- Photo Credit tambourin 1 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com Hand and Sword of Woman in Middle Eastern Dance image by NorthEnder from Fotolia.com
