Albanian war dances

The dance is practiced for several hours with very short intervals, acquiring new vigour from the words of the accompanying song that starts with a battle cry invoking war drums, and which is of a piece with the movement and usually changed only once or twice during the whole performance.

[2] The ritual purifying fire (Zjarri) is traditionally used by Albanians, in particular singing and dancing around it, to gain protection and energizing from its supernatural power.

In its primordial form it is danced silently with free-flowing, only following the rhythmic movements of the body that are improvised by the dancer(s) (hence without instrumental music or vocals).

Sword dances are also those performed in certain areas of northwestern Kosovo, which are accompanied by instrumental music and referred to as "contest to win the maid".

[10][11][12] It was made internationally famous by the Kosovo Albanian Rugova clans (hailing from Kelmend in Albania).