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.
