THE BUNJEVCI DANCES

Choreography: Sulejman Muratović
Music: Đorđe Begu

Historical migrations of the population led to the displacement of Croats outside their homeland. But the Bunjevci, who live in the north of Vojvodina, have maintained their Croatian identity through the preservation of the language, rich costumes and a number of folk customs in which dance has a special place. Their most famous dance is the ‘Bunjevačko momačko kolo’ (Bunjevac bachelor’s dance). In this dance, bachelors compete in dance tricks with the aim of seducing young women. They have bells on their boots to achieve special rhythmic sound effects. The opulent women's costume, once made of Lyon silk, reflects the influence of Western Europe and bourgeois fashion on traditional dress.