*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.
Rustem is the Romanian cousin of the Bulgarian Pajduško. Both are primarily asymmetric rhythms in 5; quick-slow, quick-slow. In Rustem the accent is on the second, slow beat, giving the music a skipping quality. Usually a dance is labeled Rustemul plus an identifier, such as Rustemul de la Intoarsa or Rustemul Sucit. When Mihai David was in the Romanian State Folk Dance Ensemble (1963-65) he learned this performance dance from the Oltenia region, set to a Rustem rhythm. In 1972 he introduced it to International Folk Dance groups in North America.
