Moreška
Moreška
History
The Moreška in Korčula dates back to at least the mid-17th century,[4][5] with its roots in the Middle Ages, from the several hundred years of battle between Muslims and Christians (Moros y cristianos) in Spain, specially in Catalonia where exist a traditional dance called La Morisca de Gerri de la Sal, during the Reconquista. Multiple European festivals and pageants have their roots from that period.[6] By the 16th century the conquest theme with mock battles was introduced into the Americas and other world areas administered or culturally influenced by Spain. The version that is danced in Korčula appears to be the only one in modern times which uses two swords held by each soldier (Moreškanti) in the elaborate mock battles.
Performances
The Moreška was originally performed on special occasions only, perhaps once every few years, especially on the Feast Day of "Sveti Todor" (
Primary characters
- Bula: The captured maiden[8]
- Moro: The Black King
- Osman: The White King (who wears red)
- Otmanović: The Black King's father
Plot
The Black King enters dragging the captured Bula maiden in chains. He tries to persuade her to respond to his advances, but she replies that she is in love with the White King. The two kings and their armies confront each other, and battle escalates from taunts, to the kings in battle, to both armies clashing, with a mixture of solos and varying rhythms through seven different dances. The Black soldiers are eventually surrounded and defeated, and the White King rescues the Bula.
Sword dance societies
There are two societies (groups) which perform the Moreška in the town of Korčula, and other societies on the island which perform another variant of sword dance, known as the Kumpanija.[9] Certain towns and villages have Kumpanija groups, which perform on the respective village feast day, as well as on other festive dates during the summer tourist season:
- Vela Luka, performed March 19, St. Joseph
- Blato, performed on April 28, the day of Saint Vincenca and during the summer months
- Čara, performed a few times per year, including June 29, Saint Peter's Day
- Pupnat, August 5, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snow
- Feast of the Assumption
- Žrnovo, August 16, on Saint Roch's Day
Acknowledgements
- Croatian Post released a commemorative stamp "PUmed, Mediterranean Festivals – Moreška", depicting Moreška, created in collaboration with the Association of Postal Operators of Mediterranean Countries and designed by Dean Roksandić, in July 2023.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "The Moreška Dance". korculainfo.com. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ "Moreška". korcula.net. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- National Geographic Hrvatska(in Croatian). 8 (70): 96–107.
- ^ Max Harris; Lada Cale Feldman (2003). "Blackened faces and a veiled woman: The early Korcula Moreska". Comparative Drama. 37.
- ISBN 953-95471-0-5.
- ISBN 978-0-292-73132-5.
- ^ "Moreska Sword Dance". croatiatraveller.com. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ Niemčić, Iva (2008). "When the stage lights go down: On silenced women's voices, dance ethnography and its restitution" (pdf). Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research, Zagreb. pp. 167–182.
- ^ "Kumpanija Sword Festival". korcula.net. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ "Korčula's famous Moreška dance honoured on new stamp". croatiaweek.com. Croatia Week. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
External links
- "Videos of performance on St. Todor's Day". about-croatia.com. 2003. Retrieved December 31, 2009.