VALLJA E DUKATIT SI VARIANT I VALLES LABËRISHTE
The Labe Dance of Dukat as Variant of the Laberishte Dance

Summary/Abstract: In the bosom of the Labërishte dance of the region of Labëri (as archetype) an important place eccupies the Labe Dance of Dukat (as a variant). The labe Dance of Dukat belongs to the genre of dancies accompanied with polyphonic music. The music as well the dancing belong to an early time. In its structure we find ancient choreographic elements in the content, spirit, characteristics of a live and manly execution and interpretation which springs from the history of the region, the rough mountainous land and the continental climate. The labe Dance of Dukat is executed in a half circle where take part up to ten dancers, hand by hand. The first two or three accomplish the function of the “front of the dance” (coryphaeus, leading figures) which is dictated also by the structure and function of the dancers (who are also singers during the dancing): the first who leads the dance, he plays also the role of the marrës (the person who receives), first voice, the second, who supports the first dancer, plays, executes the role of the kthyes-it (second voice, the person who answers, makes echo to the first), and the other dancers who accompany the first two-three in dancing, play the role of mbushës-it (the persons who give full expression to the song and dance). In this structure, melody, text, dance is woven the dancing. The texts of the songs are of an epic character, and coincide with the spirit of the dance and music. The Labe Dance of Dukat, as form, varies from the “mother” type because of the fact that the trio of the first dancers, in a given moment, is displaced towards the middle of the circle of the dance, around them dance the other dancers. This is an early form witnessed by the scholar J.C.Hobhouse (in the 18-th century). On the Labërishte Dance (as archetype) have written such other authors as: Ami Boué, Byron, Smilar, Sathas, Holland as well as many native authors.

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