The Dance of the Călușari
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The Dance of the Călușari -Jocul călușarilor
 
For the invocation of fertility, but also with an aim of the healing of certain diseases, the dance of the Călușari is danced at Whitsuntide. It was also described for the first time by Dimitrie Cantemir, and known in olden times in all the regions of Romania. It has completely disappeared in Moldavia but not without leaving certain traces in some men's dances of the region, while in other regions it was put aside and replaced by a drawing-room dance.

Generally the custom has the following aspect: after having bound themselves by oath to dance together for a certain numbers of years and to respect the discipline imposed by tradition, the dancers begin their rehearsals.  The team, under leadership of a captain, is generally composed of an old number of dancers. One of them is masked. He is nowadays the buffoon of the troupe, but it seems that formerly he had a much more important role. The Călușari wear a special festive costume and hold sticks, while the ''mut'' carries a sword in his hand. According to Dimitrie Cantemir, in his time all the Călusari held swords. The troupe carriers a banner: a pole adorned with coloured ribbons and a bunch of wormwood and garlic at its top, healing herbs sought by the onlookers. The dance of the "Călus'' is performed during a whole week, White week or "Călus week" as it is also called, during which the team also visits some neighbouring localities.

The dance composed of a circular promenade of the dancers, which alternates with more and more intricate figures, has special dynamic and is extremely spectacular.
In the course of time this dance seems to have absorbed into itself several other ritual dances- war dances, fertility, healing dances, hence its complex character. Of recent years, the dance of the Călusari, relieved of its former magic function, has been taken over and turned to account by a number of amateur and professional artistic teams, sometimes with resounding success in performances.
Mădălin Chiricuță, Ionuț Trif, Cosmin Tănase
Midi file: Maria Dumitru
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