*2nd Generation dance. A dance that developed and was disseminated in a non-traditional way. 2G dances are specific – have a fixed format designed to correspond with the arrangement of a particular recording., whereas 1G dances are generic – have a shorter sequence that works with live music – where many different songs are played and arrangements vary according to the tastes of musicians and dancers. For more on the differences between 1st & 2nd G dances click here.
Hora Miresei (pronounced HAW-rah mih-RES-see) means “bride’s hora”. It is still danced at Romanian weddings. The simple, Living version can be seen here.
For RFD groups, a Hora Miresei, was presented by Nicolaas Hilferink, which seems to stem from the pre-wedding tradition of dressing the bride. According to Larisa Lucaci* “the bride, at her house, is being dressed by her maids of honor. It is with great care that her hair is combed and the bridal wreath is made out of coins or natural flowers. During the dressing ceremony very sad songs are sung to the bride… The bride answers also with very sad songs, as if to ease her heavy heart, for it should be known that the Romanians sing especially when they are sad.”
Because I could not find a YouTube example of Hilferink’s Hora Miresei being danced in Romania, and because I have trouble believing the maids of honor would have the space to perform Hilferink’s Hora Miresei in the confines of a peasant bride’s room while carefully dressing her, I have deduced his dance follows the time-honored tradition of creating a choreography to honor a beautiful song.
Below is Hilferink demonstrating his dance in Tuscon:
Folkdance Footnotes 