Căluşarii

Kah-loo-sha-ree
Oltenia, Southwest Romania
Source: This choreography is by Martin Koenig as he saw the dance steps here arranged, being performed by different villages in the province of Oltenia. Additional notes by Tom Deering who learned a number of steps from Valeriu Buciu, director of Ensemble Maramureşul.
Formation: Men dancing individually in a semi circle (sometimes circle, sometimes line) facing LOD (CCW), holding a stick in R hand. The stick is about 3/4" to 1" in diameter, about 38" long. Traditionally there were always an odd number of men (5, 7 or 9), the leader of whom is called the Vataf. The costume is elaborate and festive, based on white pants and shirt (reminiscent of the English Morris dance costume). Leggings usually have bells and the shoes or boots often have spurs with bells. The effect is that each step and click is accompanied by a definite ringing rhythm. The steps are fluid and continuous and become very energetic as the music speeds up.
Recording:    Balkan-Arts LP "Cintec Şi Jocuri Populare Romînesti" BA-6H - 2/4 meter
Note: "The Căluş is one of the oldest rituals in traditional Romanian culture." (Anca Giurchescu). The ritual itself was originally up to two weeks long and took place during Whitsuntide (in early summer). The dance is only part of the ritual and is characterized by many virtuosic steps performed at blinding speed. For more information on other aspects of the ritual see these references:
  • "Căluş: symbolic transformation in Romanian ritual" by Gail Kligman, University of Chicago Press, 1981.
  • "Căluş" by Anca Giurchescu, Living Traditions Magazine, 1974.
Meas Ct   The Dance
 
 Figure 1 - Walk 6 + "and Stamp and Stamp" + "Both Click and Stamp"
1-6 Facing moving CCW, take 12 deliberate striding steps beginning with R, with a marked accent on the first step.
71 Hop on L in place
& Stamp R next to L, no weight
2 Leap onto R
& Stamp L next to R, no weight
81 Jump onto Both with feet slightly apart
& Jump up Clicking feet together directly under body
2 Land on Left foot
& Stamp L next to R, no weight
9-32 REPEAT Figure 1 three more times
Variation: Close both feet together at the end of measure 8
 
 Figure 2 - Walk 4 + "and Stamp and Stamp" + "Both Click and Stamp" (3x)
1-4 Repeat Figure 1 meas 1-4 (8 striding steps)
5 Repeat Figure 1 meas 7 ("and Stamp and Stamp")
6-8 Repeat Figure 1 meas 8 three times ("Both Click and Stamp")
9-32REPEAT Figure 2 three more times
Variation: Turn 180 deg in place in meas 6 & 7 (two turns ending facing LOD)
 
 Figure 3 - "and Heel Step" (4x) + "& Click Step Click Step Stamp Step" (2x)
    (Stick over R Shoulder)
11 Hop on L extending R up and slightly out, R knee bent and turned slightly in
& Touch R heel forward, no weight
2 Slight Leap forward onto R foot
2 REPEAT Meas 1 with opposite footwork
3-4 REPEAT Meas 1-2
    (Stick over shoulder or Stick down with tip on floor, R hand over upper end)
51 Turning to face center, Hop on L extending R leg out to R
& Click R to L, displacing L foot slightly to L
2 Step L to L
& Click R to L, displacing L foot slightly to L
61 Step L to L
& Stamp L next to R, no weight
2 Accented Step forward on R
7-8 Facing LOD, REPEAT Meas 5-6 with opposite footwork and direction moving away from center
9-16 REPEAT Figure 3
 
 Figure 4 - "and Step, Close Step and Close" in and out (4x)
    (Stick down with tip on floor, R hand over upper end)
11 Facing diagonally left of center, Hop on L in place
& Accented Step sideward R on R
2 Hold
& Close L to R with click
21 Accented Step sideward R on R
& Turning 1/4 CW to face diagonally R of center, Step L to L
2 Close R to L with click
3-4 REPEAT meas 1-2, but starting facing diagonally R of center and turning 1/4 CCW to finish facing diagonally L of center
5-16 REPEAT Figure 4 three more times
 
 Figure 5 - Sirba "Step Close Step Close Right Left Close" (8x)
    (Stick down with tip on floor, R hand over upper end)
11 Facing Center, Slight Leap to R on R extending L to L to begin CW circling motion
& Hop on R clicking L to R
2 Slight Leap to L on L extending R to R to begin CCW circling motion
& Hop on L clicking R to L
21 Leap to R on R
& Leap to L on L
2 Close R to L with click
3-16 REPEAT Figure 5 seven more times
 
 Figure 6 - Sirba sus
    "Step Close Step Close Both Click Left Close" +
    "Step Close Step Close Right Left Close" - (4x)
    (Stick down with tip on floor, R hand over upper end)
1 REPEAT Meas 1 Figure 5 ("R Close L Close")
21 Jump onto Both, feet apart
& Jump up Clicking both feet together
2 Land on Left, extending R to R to begin CCW circling motion (knee bent)
& Hop on L Clicking R to L
3-4 REPEAT Figure 5 meas 1-2 ("R Close L Close, R L Close")
5-16 REPEAT Figure 6 three more times
 
 Music speeds up
 
 Figure 7
    "Hop Step - Hop 1 2 3, Hop Step - Hop 1 2 3 (forward)"
    "Hop Slap... R L R Scuff, L R Both Click L & Click"
    "Hop Step - Hop 1 2 3, Hop Step - Hop 1 2 3 (back)"
    (Stick held horizontally in both hands)
11 Moving forward, Hop on L
& Accented Step forward on R
2 Hold
& Hop on R
21 Step forward on L
& Step on R directly behind L
2 Step forward on L
&
3-4 REPEAT meas 1-2
51 Hop on L
& Slap R forward with straight leg
2 Hold
61 Step on R to R
& Step on L behind R
2 Step on R to R
& Stamp L next to R (a slight scuff with L forward)
71 Step on L to L
& Step R behind L
2 Step onto L leaving R in place
& Jump up Clicking both feet together directly below body
81 Land on Left extending R to R to begin CCW circling motion
& Continue circling motion
2 Click R to L (R is moving slightly back in preparation for next movement)
9-12 REPEAT Meas 1-4 moving backwards to starting position (Hop R - Hop L R L 2x)
13-36 REPEAT Figure 7 two more times
37-47 REPEAT Meas 1-11
481 Leap to Left in place
2 Stamp R forward, no weight


Dance Description by Tom Deering after notes by Ruth Miller and Marcel Vinkur for Martin Koenig.