„Инверсията” в танцовата култура на Гоцеделчевско
“Inversion” in the Folk Dance Tradition of the Gotsedelchev Region

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the ‘inversion’ phenomenon in the folk dance tradition of only the Muslim population in the region of interest. Up to the 1950s their folk dances were clearly divided along gender lines into male and female dances. Influenced by the Islamic norm of limited public appearance of women, the female dances were performed only by unmarried girls and on limited occasions. The author provides detailed descriptions of both the male and female local dances with regard to rhythm, choreography, style, etc. However, his major discussion is on the practice observable today when men and women perform together the formerly purely male dances. This has entailed accordingly changes in the function, style of dancing, visual impact of the dance. These changes are regarded in the context of social transformations, especially the changed position of women after the advent of socialist rule in the country. The author illustrates this gradual transformation and ‘inversion’ that has taken place in Muslim folk dancing in the region in the course of time with concrete examples.

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