Travel: Ethnomusicology in Clocusna (AFRF)

Deadline for Applications: October 25, 2018

Ethnomusicology – Folklore – Drama – Cultural Anthropology

Space is available on a research team headed to Clocusna, Moldova from January 4-16, 2019 to study and document the New Year’s rituals of “Malanca”. Malanca includes elaborate masquerading and an ancient folk drama performed door-to-door, accompanied by traditional songs, music, and dance.

The expedition will be led by Dr. Svetlana Sorokina (a specialist in East European folk drama) and Dr. Yelena Minyonok, both of Russia’s Gorky Institute of World Literature (National Academy of Sciences). Under their guidance, participants will interview local informants about the history and significance of Malanca, observe the performers’ preparations and rehearsals, and document the holiday performances. Research team languages will be Russian, English and Moldovan/ Romanian.

Participation is open to both academics and enthusiasts. Participants pay a fee, estimated $2300 which covers all food, lodging, local travel, translation, instruction and accompaniment by expedition staff for the duration of the expedition.

Date: January 4-16, 2019 For more information, see http://russianfolklorefriends.org/2019expeditions.html or email info@russianfolklorefriends.org

Sponsored by American Friends of Russian Folklore, a 501c3 American nonprofit registered the the state of California. AFRF has placed American volunteers with east European scholars for more than a decade.