Ep 119. Alex Marković: Dance & Music of the Balkans

Alex Marković holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He spent 17 months conducting ethnographic field work on Romani ethnic identity and musical performance in Vranje, Serbia, for his doctoral dissertation. His general research interests involve music, dance, and ritual in the Balkans, ethnic identity and nationalism, the anthropology of performance, and ethnomusicology. Currently, Alex is co-instructor and performer with the Greek dance group “Ellas,” and a guest instructor with the Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society of Chicago. He also offers public dance workshops and presentations on his research in dance and anthropology. He recently contributed a fascinating article to EEFC’s Forum Folkloristika:  “Beat That Drum! Exploring the Politics and Performance among Roma Brass Musicians in Vranje, Serbia.”

In this episode you will learn about:

• What the Balkan region is

• Historical connections between the Ottoman Empire and Balkans

• Cultural practices vs national borders

• Dances of the Black sea

• The role of Romani culture in the Balkan region

Show Notes to this episode:

Check My Inner Dancer, online store for belly dancers: www.myinnerdancer.com.

Find Alex Marković on Facebook, or via email amarko2@uic.edu. Also, check videos kindly provided by Alex Marković to compliment this interview below.

Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, Youtube, website .

Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Roma from Macedonia, dancing čoček (line dance form) to zurla and tapan music

Roma from Kumanovo, Macedonia: wedding celebration, dancing čoček (line dancing with some solo dance

Roma from Bujanovac, south Serbia: dancing čoček (line and solo style) at wedding celebration, to amplified (newer-style) wedding music

Roma from Vranje, south Serbia: wedding celebration with brass band (multiple dances, in order: groom’s mother’s ritual dance in 7/8, solo čoček by groom’s mother, čoček in 9/8, followed by other local Romani slow line dances)

Kosovo Romani family celebrations, women's solo čoček dance to frame drums and singing

Kosovo Romani family celebrations, women's solo čoček dance to frame drums and singing

Turkish (Thracian) Roman dance at wedding celebration, solo in 9/8 (women)

Turkish (Thracian) Roman dance at wedding celebration, solo dance in 9/8- man and woman pair (shows gendered styling)

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