Moreska Photos

Moreska Photos (sword dance performance)

Photos of Moreska – sword dance performance, Sveti Todor 2007. The town of Korcula is well known for MORESKA – a traditional sword dance and drama that was common through the Mediterranean in 12th and 13th century, reaching Korcula in 16th century from Italy and Dubrovnik. The dance originated in Spain and is associated to the conflict between Moors and Christians. In Dalmatia its popularity was almost certainly linked with the struggles against Ottoman Empire, above all with the victory over a Battle of Lepanto, the first major Ottoman defeat by the Christian powers, which ended the myth of Ottoman naval invincibility. Through the centuries Moreska vanished from the Mediterranean and now days is only to be find in Korcula, where it is performed for over 400 yrs.

See also some old photos of Moreska & Moreska photos from 1892