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Nijemo Kolo



Nijemo Kolo is a type of silent dance. This tradition is practiced by communities living in the Dalmatian hinterland, in southern Croatia.

Though this dance does not include music, there is plenty to listen for. On the dance floor, the heavy, but rhythmic sounds of up to twenty leather peasant shoes opanci indicate whether to quicken or slow down, based on inspiration. A particular aspect of the silent circle dance is the simultaneous jumping of the dancers and their changing of steps. A traditional song called ojkanje might accompany this style of dance sometimes, another instance of protected intangible heritage. It makes this type of dance into a display of local traditions and customs.

Many believe that the silent circle dance is the oldest, but there are countless variations, steps, and dance figures, including a wide range of names, suggesting it is an international practice. It is unknown where such a distribution of dancers comes from, but possibly it can be attributed to the romantic element of the silent circle dance. When this practice was more common, the silent circle dance was performed during traditional festivities known as Dernek, a festival honoring local saints. The young man would dance towards the girl and slowly come up next to her as he courted her, making it clear he owned the girl.

It is usually performed in a closed circle with male and female dancers leading one another in energetic and spontaneous steps – the male dancer publicly testing the skills of their female partner. The movements, which can be quite aggressive, are dependent on the mood and desire of the participants. Its defining characteristic is that it does not perform to music, though instrumental or vocal performances may precede or follow it.

The folk dance Nijemo Kolo is traditionally performed at carnivals, fairs, feast days, and weddings, allowing young women and men to meet each other and get to know one another. Different ways in which the Nijemo Kolo is performed from village to village helping the residents identify themselves. Dancers pass it down from generation to generation, although increasingly this occurs through cultural clubs where the movements of the dance have been standardized. In some Dalmatian hinterland villages, however, the steps and figures are performed spontaneously.

Today, Nijemo Kolo continues to be performed most by local village groups and can be seen in regional or international festivals, as well as at local shows or celebrations.


References

(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/nijemo-kolo-silent-circle-dance-of-the-dalmatian-hinterland-00359) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nijemo_kolo) (https://croatia.hr/en-gb/unesco/nijemo-kolo-silent-circle-dance-dalmatian-hinterland)


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