Shota (indefiniteAlbanian form:Shotë),Vallja e Shotës orK'cimi i Shotës is anAlbanian dance originating in northernAlbania andKosovo. It is an important symbol ofAlbanian sentiment and patriotism.[1][2]
A professional ensemble fromPristina was established in 1950 by ethnicAlbanians of Kosovo as one of the ensembles ofYugoslavia, and was named 'Shota' after the Albanian traditional dance.[3] The Albanian traditional dance was originally coreographed by the Shota ensemble. Along with theRugova sword dance, Shota is among the Albanian traditional dances that were adopted and performed by other ensembles of Yugoslavia, such as Kolo fromSerbia and Tanec fromMacedonia.[2][4] It acquired popularity and was also adopted by many amateur groups within Yugoslavia, also spreading in other regions ofSoutheast Europe.[4]
The dance involves synchronised steps and a strong rhythm. It is commonly played at weddings, folk festivals and other events.[5]
Shota originated as a traditional Albanian dance from Kosovo. It was originally coreographed in Yugoslavia by the Shota professional ensemble fromPristina, named after the dance.[4] The Albanian traditional dance of Shota was choreographed by Olga Skovran for the SerbianEnsemble "Kolo" in 1952, and a song based on its melody became widely popular in the 1970s inYugoslavia. The popularization of the dance in Yugoslavia helped the dance spread to the southern Danube Gorge in the 1970s, reach the northern side in the 1990s after borders opened, and more recently gain popularity at Romanian events in Banat.[5][6][7]
In March 2013, the Assembly of Republic of Kosovo approved a law which makes the Shota ensemble a part of the cultural activities of the National Ensemble of Songs and Dances.[3]
Since the time of its inception the community keeps organising events that replicates the dance form Shota and are socially very active in areas of cleanliness, awareness about the dance form and the dress codes related to it.[4]
Шота, кореографија Олге Сковран, музичка обрада Милана Тодоровића
... folklornega ansambla »•Sota«<, ki bo izvajal pesmi in plese narodov in narodnosti Kosova
Shota (Šota) has its origin as a popular dance of the Albanians from Kosovo. This dance was popularised in a choreography of the Serbian national ensemble "Kolo" by Olga Skovran in 1952 and a resulting song to the same melody in the 1970s became very popular at events.