DANCES - ROMANI GYPSY

Turkish Romani Gypsy, or Roman, dance is characterized by an energy and expressiveness that matches the rich and powerful 9/8 rhythms and melodies that can be heard all over Turkey as people dance and play music in the streets, at parties, and at wedding celebrations. As in other folkloric dance forms, the steps comprise the major part of the dance, including tapping, stamping, twisting, shimming the shoulders or a lot of abdominal and hip movements, sometimes rising up on the toes–usually during the third part of the rhythmic phrase.