English | English The "bardjat"-dance is an entertainment dance of the young people. In the centre of the dancing-place stand the drummers, whose number varies in the course of the dance. The "bardjat"-dance is performed in two circles which move anti-clockwise. The women and girls are arranged in an inner circle according to their social status. The boys form an outer circle, but as there are only a few boys taking part in the dance the circle cannot be formed. The dance figure of the girls consists of small rhythmic steps with a bending of the knees and a swinging of the arms. The steps are concluded by a half body-turn, then a series of steps performed on the spot follows, concluded also by a half body-turn, this time in direction of the dance. The figure of the boys corresponds to that of the girls, only the half body-turn is performed in opposite direction so that during the following sequence male and female dancers face each other. The dance is modified by the arrival of a group of boys and girls led by the chief holding a flag in his hand. In the course of the dance the women perform their movements more and more distinctly, the steps are almost leapt and the movements of the arms become more and more intense. The boys, however, keep their slow step up to the end. The film presents the "bardjat"-dance at full length. |