ЦЕНТРАЛНО КОСОВО

Central Kosovo represents the central part of the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. This region is surrounded by two mountain ranges, Kopaonik in the northwest and Shara in the southwest. The Kopaonik range stretches all the way to Lab. In this sequence, there are mountains such as Sokolica, Crnuša, Mramor, Prugovac, and others. From Shara, the Sirinić mountains descend, including Nerodimka, Goleš, Grabovačke mountains, and Čičavica.

On the sides, both south and north, these two fronts are closed – on the southeast, Shara with its proud peak Ljuboten, and immediately across Lepenac, the Kačanik Gorge separates two neighboring ranges, while in the north, right above Kosovska Mitrovica, the condensed slopes of Kopaonik and Rogozna with the Zvečan Gorge close that range.

Each generation inherits a great number of achievements from their ancestors for which they must be accountable to future generations. To what extent this has been successful can be seen in the fact that the Serbs from this area, despite very difficult living conditions, have managed to preserve their tradition, nurture games and songs, and maintain their gatherings where they come together: in Prilužje on Transfiguration Day, in Lipljan on Spirits Day, in Gračanica, Ropotovo, Donja Gušterica they celebrate the Slava of the Church of St. Tsar on Vidovdan, in Drajići and Nerodimlje, the capital of King Milutin, whose Slava this society celebrates, is celebrated on the first day after Easter, in Gračanica Velika Gospođa (Velika Gospojina), in Gorazdevac Jerejdan, in Štrpce Ivanjdan, in Priština St. Nicholas, in Podujevo and Lešak St. Elijah, in Leposavić St. Basil. Every year, cultural events with a large number of participants and visitors are held in Kosovo and Metohija:

– Children’s Folklore Festival (annual festival held so far in Zubin Potok, Zvečan, Šilovo, Štrpce, Gračanica),
– Old Serbian Sources (originally held in Istok, now held in Priližje on the day of the Transfiguration holiday),
– Great Virgin’s Day Gathering in Leposavić (which has an international character) and
– Golden Flute of Kosovo and Metohija.

In Kosovo, games played with singing prevail, which are an important part of the choreographic solution. Their content consists of love and wedding motifs, as well as family feelings. The steps and movements in traditional Kosovo games have choreographic elements – these are steps with dragging, lightly emphasized and crossed, then throwing, touching the ground with the tips of the feet, jumps, stomping, waist movements, clapping hands. The greatest wealth of Kosovo games lies in the diversity of their choreographic forms.

The most common form of dance circle is open, but closed and combined circles with solo dance in the center can also be found, as well as male and female oro. In women’s village games, the dance is so peaceful that it appears subdued, and it is long and seems to be there for self-relief, but it cannot free itself from the feelings of suppression and lack of freedom. The rhythm and tempo of dancing Kosovke shows something wavering and uneven, arrhythmic. Men in rural areas dance more energetically, but traces of slavery and great sufferings from the past can be felt in their dance, so there is no playful enthusiasm. This is best illustrated by games from villages in the vicinity of Gračanica. However, it is not the same in cities. The dancing is more temperamental, as in Pristina, some small steps are introduced as decoration, and among women’s dances, a released oro is an example of lively women’s competition.”