Arcan (dance) - Verses

Verses

The dance is accompanied by specific verses. For example:

Arcaneaua, brâul verde,

Vai, că bine i se şede,

I se şede cui se şede,

Codrului cu frunza verde.

Approximate translation: "Arkan, green belt, / Oh, it suits him well, / It suits whom it suits, / the green-leafed forest". The "green belt" is a kind of belt used by men to identify themselves as having emerged from adolescence and having become eligible. A man who has danced the arcan is sometimes called arcănit ("arkaned"), bun de oi ("good for sheep", i.e. good to be a shepherd), bun de însurat ("good to be married").

As the dance progresses, some repetitive recitations are to be shouted. These are meant to give choreographic directions and codify the dance description:

Trii bătute, trii,

Trii să le punem,

Trii să le bătem,

Trii şi pentru mine,

Trii şi pentru tine;

Încă trii că n-o fost bune,

Alte trii pe loc le-om pune;

Trii bătute, trii gătite,

Un genunche şi-nainte.

or

Tot acelea trii,

Trii pentru Ilii.

Once the boy had danced the Arcan, he is acknowledged by the whole community as belonging to the eligible group of men - this is conditioned by precision in performing the dance. Hence, there is yet another group of verses, cautioning the participants:

Foaie verde papanaş,

Câte-un pinten, fecioraş.

Luaţi sama, feciori, bine,

Să nu păţim vreo ruşine,

Că ne văd cele copile.

Translation (approximation): "Green leaf harefoot, / A spur at a time, virgin boy, / Take good care, virgin boys, / Not to disgrace ourselves, / Because the girls are watching us".