A Background of Turkish Roman Dance
Despite having settled in Turkey as early as the 11th century, the Roman populations continue to be outcaste from Turkish society. And so traditional Turkish Roman dance is a powerful dance of survival and resistance; its playful and passionate attitude tells a story of resilience.
Danced to an 'uneven' 9/8 rhythm, Turkish Roman is characterized by distinct feet patterns and an upward throw of the pelvis. Not to be confused with other Turkish dances or Oriental bellydance, it is its own style completely. It is a folk dance, enjoyed with friends and shared at weddings, which are usually in the street. Every Roman neighborhood has its own variation of the dance, and every dancer has their own particular style.