Vojarinka

In Bela krajina, particularly in the town of Metlika, a series of dance songs and games were performed and strung together in an order, known today as “Metliško obredje”. Many of these specific dances and games are accompanied only by singing and the rhythm of the dancers' steps, never using musical accompaniment. Various parts of the "Obredje" is lead by a “vojarinka”, a lead female who begins and leads the songs with her solos, to be accompanied by the rest of the group in various parts. She leads the group through chain-like simple figures of circles, snail coils, snake-like patterns up and down the area, and finishing the first set by finally bringing everyone through a ‘bridge’ of upheld arms. This bridge form was considered an archaic form of dance which represented renewal and bringing a magical life to the dancers.