PLOHARY FROM CIRKOVCI

If none of village maiden got married (until) during the Carnival, all the girls from the village were punished by pulling richly decorated log (usnually the pine one). On the log "rulling", there was a chap of straw, chosen by the village lads for a gusband to the oldest village maiden.

The procession through the village on the Shrove - Tuesday was fallowed by the farewell of the lads and maidenes from the bride and bride-groom, the funeral of the chap of straw and in the end cheer, song and dance took place.

In general, for this part of country songs are more typical than dances, which are very similar to many dances of the Alpine region, but in certain respect, they are unique.

They are cheereful, roguish and gentle. Many of them are connected with carnival customs wich are a very special characteristic of the region of east Styria. The carnival is a time when joy and dances are strongly expressed.

The central figureis certainly the "Kurent" of Ptujsko polje. With a terifying mask on his head, in a sheepskin coat with bells on his belt and with a stick in his hand he is jumping, hurring from village to village and from house to house bringing good luck to the inhabitants. The queen with a crown on her head collects above all money but other gifts as well. After an exhausting period of dancing the young men and girls, the "Kurent" and the carnival masks meet in inns where playing jokes, dancing, singing, making toasts and playing different games. Well known games from this period are "Rihterja bit" and "Pojštertanz". The dance with a broom is also present.

Somewhere in the hills Slovenske gorice, older boys gather by the willage chapel and make the feast "Florjanovo" cherful. They entertain the others and have to get ready to accept the joung boys into their company. The jounger ones have to respect the older ones and have to show them their skills. They are tested by the older boys. After they are accepted, they dance "Štajeriš", and at the end they all dance gallop.

WEEDING DANCE FROM KOROŠKA

Is a very old wedding custome from the valley of Zila. Its characteristic is interlacing of three main couple so that only in the third round the bride and the bride-groom dance together. At the end of the widding dance all the other couples join them dancing "Običajen rejc" and "Matjažev rejc" (plain dance and Matjaž's dance).

"CVRČA" - THE DANCES FROM MEŽIŠKA VALLEY

In Mežiška valley the landlady puts some eggs and sausages in a head at the "Florjanovo" feast. She puts the must into a pitcher. In the night the boys from the village come and sing songs. They also take all the goods.

Next day they prepare a feast "cvrčarija". They all have fun together, they sing and dance waltzstep, "Rakova polka", "Mazulka", "Tramplan", "Veverca", "Pastirica".

DANCES FROM REZIJA

Completely different dances from other Slovene dances are those performed by the "Rezijani", Slovene people living in the alpine valley under Kanin on the italian side of the border.

The origin of their dances is not yet determined precisely. By its form and structure they resemble mostly to mediteranean ones. Dancers take place one opposite to the other then dancing all the time change places swinging continually and beatinng the ground with a foot at the end of the melody.

DANCES FROM PRLEKIJA

The custom of "Prleško gostuvanje" (wedding) represents a richness of old customs that should not become extinct. The symbol that is hidden in "pozavčin" (type of mask, marriage leader), masks, the dances of the dancers ("Židana marela", "Po zelenoj trati", "Odprti valček") songs, farming works, represents a type of people that throught their history are living in diversity and try to find meaning in it.

DANCES FROM GORIČKO

In the north of Prekmurje Ravensko is sloping to Goričko. Near the Hungarian border some dances influenced by the Pannonian and the Alpine dance - area were described. "Gorički valček" (waltz), "Cepel polka" and "Rejzl polka" are tyypical representatives of Goričko, while "Sotiš" resembles to dances from Prekmurje. Funny and quick - handed play with hats is influenced by the neighbouring Štajerska.

DANCES FROM GORENJSKA

Gorenjska dances are comming from our Alps area. They consist of wedding and work dances. Full of live power and very old beliefs they show love courting. "Potrkana" is a vivid love dance. A dance called "Mrzulin" follows. Among the spring ceremonial dances are "Koutre šivat" and "Žakle šivat", where one row of dancers dance under the arms of their partners. This folk dance entertairment often includes the game known as "Metla", where a young man remains without a girl and therefore he has to dance with a broom.

"ZELENI JURE" FROM BELA KRAJINA

People in Slovenia have been dancing mostly at weddings and also at the time of sowing and harvest. The last two have been certaily the most important moments of paysants lives. The people from Bela Krajina pay a special attention to the spring. The central figure is a symbol of the spring - "Zeleni Jure", to whom the ceremonial songs are dedicated, becouse the people believe he would give them a rich crop. The older dances of this area are "Lepa Anka", "Carska kasa" and "Ivanič kolo".

DANCES FROM PREKMURJE

In Prekmurje area near Hungarian border a dance is preserved wich has not been danced elsewhere. It is a male dance "Tkalečka", an old guild dance of weavers. Nowadays this dance has only a skilly character when the dancers complete between themselves. Dance "Po zelenoj trati" is an Slovene variant of Hungarian Chardash.