Vlaško (Horo)

Somewhat of a generic name, signifying the ethnicity of the dance styling, there are several dances that go by Vlaško in various combinations. There is an “extended version” of this particular Vlaško as well. Vlach is an historical term for the ancient Balkan Romance-speaking (Latin-based languages) people, who tended to be sheepherders in the time. Doesn’t that make the Vlach Romanians? That’s why Vlach dances with Vlaško in the name have geographical origins in Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Macedonia, and not Romania, right? Did they kick all the sheepherders out of Romania? The fact of it is, the Vlach people preceded the political boundaries, and as such, their culture is distributed throughout the Balkans. You just can’t tie ethnicity to geography and have it work out nicely all the time. And then there is the obvious that if you are Vlach, you aren’t going to call your dance a Vlach dance, you are just going to call it a dance! Read more about Romanians & Vlachs on Folkdance Footnotes.