Turkish Style - 9/8 Karsilama
History
This wonderful dance (Turkish Folk Dance), whose parentage boasts of the Roma
(Gypsies) of Turkey, the harems of the sultans and the turn of the century theaters of
Istanbul continues to thrive in Turkey and now in Europe and the United States. It was once
described as the dance that could "melt a stone.” The multifaceted arts from Turkey were
influenced by the ancient Greeks, the Romans and the Persians and later in history by the
Selçuks, the Mongols, the Central Asians and the Egyptians. The Ottoman Empire
encompassed the Balkans, Hungary, Greece, Anatolia, Egypt, southern Europe, Syria,
Palestine, Algeria and Cyprus and there were cultural exchanges in all the performing arts
During the Ottoman Empire Roma (Gypsies) were popular entertainers for the people
and in the courts. Even today many of Istanbul's famous musicians are Roma. They perform
at restaurants, in well-known spots such as Çiçek Pasajı, or in the Roma neighborhood of
Suluküle. In addition to Çiftetelli, Roma are masters of dancing in 9/8, a rhythm called
Karşılama or Roman. Roman is not danced with wild leaps and tambourines, as is often
portrayed in "gypsy dances", but rather with exquisite, fine movements, that play with the
varied possibilities for accentuation of the 9/8 rhythm.
Kasilama refers to a dance where couples dance face-to-face. Derived from the root karş,
meaning to oppose or be opposite to, or in your face. The evolution of the 9/8 Turkish
karsilama into today's dance does involve, especially in America, skirt and tambourine
accents. Most likely due to the "dreams of Araby" or "orientalism" influences in the early
part of the 20th century. The dancers of that time "theatricalized" the dance by adding in
swishing, large 10-yard skirts, and other stereotypical costuming and props like a
tambourine. Although there are no cultural references to these props and additions they
have become common in the United States.
Turkish Style - 9/8 Karsilama
Rhythm
The karsilama rhythm is very unfamiliar to the Western ear because Western music simply
doesn't use it. The rhythm originated in Turkey, and has 9 beats per measure. The word
"karsilama" means "face to face", which is a reference to a Turkish folk dance that was
traditionally done to music using this rhythm.
Kasilama (basic)
Kasilama (variation)
1
One
2
Two
One
3
Three
4
Four
Two
5
Five
6
Six
Three
7
8
Seven, Eight, Nine
"Do something"
Typical Costuming
Romany women generally dress very conservatively, even for performance. Costumes vary
according to location. Typical costuming includes long, full skirts with a deep ruffled edge,
blouses with sleeves, and a head scarf . in Turkey, Romany women would dress like their
more conservative countrywomen, probably in a Yemini headscarf and perhaps a large,
flowered, crochet-edged Yazma scarf over her head and shoulders. Colorful fabrics and
mixing prints seems to appeal to the Romany woman's eye.
Womans’ Romany Folk
costume
Womans’ Romany
Theatricalized costume
Romany Women