Stereotype n° 3: Music and dancing

Especially in literature dancing is considered a genuine feature of Roma traditional culture and used to represent them as being ‘exotic’. Roma, however, do not habitually dance, unless dancing is a common tradition of the country they live in (for example in Spain and in South Eastern European countries).

Music is much more a skill or trade which served as a survival strategy than a main feature of Romani culture. Not all Roma are musicians but certain groups have specialized in it. Some have become famous after carrying out studies for making of music a profession. In many countries Roma musicians are often hired for weddings or other special occasions by the majority population. At these events they play whatever the ‘Gadje’ want to hear rather than traditional Roma music. In addition specialists draw a clear distinction between the non-Roma folk music played in the Romani manner and real Romani traditional music – Romane purane gilia.