Figure 1.--Here we see a group of Yugoslav girls, probably Serbian, preparing for a performance as part of a dance / musical festival in 1933. Modern dance propelled by Isadora Duncan and others became very popular in the inter-War era. This would not have been a school group, at least a public school group. Yugoslav schools like most European scgools were highly academic with few extra curricular activities. Children like these received dance tuition from dancing masters that ran small dance schools. The inscription on the back seems to be in German so the dancers may be from the German minority in Sebia which came to be called the Banat. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the group.

The Balkans in General and Yugoslavia in particular, one of the five Balkan countries, are geographically and ethnically a very complex part of Europe. The rugged, mountaneous terrain acted to isolate the tribal groups that settled there even before the fall of the Roman Empire. And the Slavic tribes that came after were no exception. The mountonous terraine and years of conquest and occupation that followed acted to form many destincrive folkways even within small areas. These factors are all reflected in the diversity and complexity of Balkan music and folk dances. The Music and dance of each Balkan countries have many differences along with and underkying imilarity because of the commonality of extpeiences such as the five century Turkish occupation. A variety of traditional instruments used in this music, including tamburitza, frula, and accordion. One important dance is the circle-based kolo, an important traditional dance that originated in Serbia but was widespread throughout Yugslavia and is even danced today among Southern Slavic communities in America. There are many kolos, including Užičko kolo and Moravac as well as other popular dances include Kokonješte, Žikino kolo and Vranjanka. This is not to say that there was any uniform dance tradition in Yugoslavia. As with most aspects of Yusoslav culture, different forms of dances originated in different parts of the country. Any there were also differences within the various constinuent parts of the country such as Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosia,and Macedonia. They all developed according to the local traditions various influenced by the separateness imposed by gepgraphy and the varying historical experinces. Associated with the dance are folk cosumes. Performers commonly wear the associated folk costumes. Perhaps because of Hollywood, the Balkan dance most familiary to Americans is Greek dance. But there are similarities. These traditions were formed over the centuries. With the decline of Ottoman power and the rise of indepedent countries we begin to see the introduction of modern European dance forms, both social dances as well as performing forms like balet and modern dance. Boys participated in most of these dance forms, although usually in smaller numbers. Modern dance like the activity seen here seems the least popular among boys. A reader in Serbia writes, "It is still the same today. Many children attend music school, ballet classes outside of their regular schooling. In Belgrade there are at least four music schools. some are private and teach academic subjects as well as the music programme. There are many ballet groups in all parts of the city. The musical education is taught to a very high level. it is not unusual to see children traveling across the city carry their musical instrument to their lessons. Choir, ballet, piano and orchestral instruments are taught. There is a music school in Belgrade which also teaches folk singing and dance as well as piano, instuments and choir. These groups can be seen performing in a range of civic and cultural events. Many singing groups are associated with the Serbian Orthodox Church."

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Created: 4:30 PM 10/15/2016
Last updated: 2:41 PM 10/17/2016