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Folk Dance: Tallinn University
Folk Dance: Tallinn University
research paper
Folk Dance
authors name and surname
2011
Table of Contents
1 FOLK DANCE ....................................................................................................................... 3
BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 16
1 Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following
attributes:
More controversially, some people define folk dancing as dancing for which there
is no governing body or dancing for which there are no competitive or
professional performances. (Wikipedia, 2011)
1.1 Terminology
The term "folk dance" is sometimes applied to dances of historical importance in
European culture and history; typically originated before 20th century. For other
cultures the terms "ethnic dance" or "traditional dance" are sometimes used,
although the latter terms may encompass ceremonial dances.
There are a number of modern dances, such as hip hop dance, that evolve
spontaneously, but the term "folk dance" is generally not applied to them, and the
terms "street dance" or "vernacular dance" are used instead. The term "folk dance"
is reserved for dances which are to a significant degree bound by tradition and
originated in the times when the distinction existed between the dances of
"common folk" and the dances of the "high society".
The terms "ethnic" and "traditional" are used when it is required to emphasize the
cultural roots of the dance. In this sense, nearly all folk dances are ethnic ones. If
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some dances, such as polka, cross ethnic boundaries and even cross the boundary
between "folk" and "ballroom dance", ethnic differences are often considerable
enough to mention, e.g., Czech polka vs. German polka.
Not all ethnic dances are folk dances; for example, ritual dances or dances of
ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances are usually called
"Religious dances" because of their purpose. (Wikipedia, 2011)
1.2 Europe
Types of European folk dance include:
Polonez (Polish),
clogging,
English country dance,
international folk dance,
Irish dance,
Maypole dance,
Morris dance,
Welsh Morris Dance,
Nordic polska dance,
Ball de bastons,
square dance, and
sword dance.
People familiar with folk dancing can often determine what country a dance is
from even if they have not seen that particular dance before. Some countries'
dances have features that are unique to that country, although neighboring
countries sometimes have similar features. For example, the German and Austrian
schuhplattling dance consists of slapping the body and shoes in a fixed pattern, a
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feature that few other countries' dances have. Folk dances sometimes evolved long
before current political boundaries, so that certain dances are shared by several
countries. For example, some Serbian, Bulgarian, and Croatian dances share the
same or similar dances, and sometimes even use the same name and music for
those dances.
Although folk dancing was historically done by the common people of the local
culture, international folk dance has received some popularity on college
campuses and community centers within the United States and other countries.
(Wikipedia, 2011)
1.3 Asia
Most famous folk dance styles in Asia are: Dances of the Middle East, Indian
dance, and Persian dance.
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"Belly dance" is a western term properly applied to raqs sharqi, which is the
Arabic for "oriental dance", but strictly a style developed in the interbellum period
for professional performance in cabarets and the early Egyptian film industry on
the basis of traditional Egyptian dance, by Samia Gamal, Tahiya Karioka, Naima
Akef and others..
Three best-known Hindu deities, Shiva, Kali and Krishna, are typically
represented dancing. There are hundreds of Indian folk dances such as Bhangra,
Bihu, Ghumura Dance, Sambalpuri, Chhau and Garba and special dances
observed in regional festivals. India offers a number of classical Indian dance
forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. The
presentation of Indian dance styles in film, Hindi Cinema, has exposed the range
of dance in India to a global audience.The gods and goddesses are invoked
through the religious folk dance forms from good old times. Mention may be
made of Ram-lila Nach, Kirtaniya Nach, Kunjvasi Nach and Naradi Nach,
Bhagata Nach, Vidapat Nach and Puja Art Nach in this category. Minimum use is
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made of musical instruments and dancer performs the dances without humming
the tune. (Wikipedia, 2011)
Those who worship Vishnu are considered Vaishnavas. The dance style
performed by Sri Krishna (an Avatar of Vishnu) and the gopis in Vrindavan is
called Rasa-Lila, and is considered as a form of devotional dance. Many other
Indian classical dances are used to illustrate events from the Puranas related to or
describing Vishnu.
The national Sangeet Natak Akademi currently confers classical status on nine
Indian dance styles: Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Gaudiya Nritya (Bengal),
Kathak (North India), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Manipuri
(Manipur), Mohiniyattam (Kerala), Orissi (Orissa), and Sattriya (Assam).
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1.3.2.2 Kathakali
The origins of the Kathakali come from Kerala, one of the smallest states of the
Indian Union. This is where traders from other countries first came, for the
Malabar coast has the longest history in India of contact with different lands. The
Kathakali is, in fact, the result of a marriage between the pre-Aryan Dravidian
dances and the later ones which were introduced by the Brahmins. It combines the
consciousness, the religious practices and the techniques of these two cultural
streams in perfect harmony and balance. In the dance, the Chakkyiar was
accompanied on a large copper drum called a mizhavu, by a drummer who was
always of the Nambiar caste, and also by a woman who played a pair of small
brass cymbals. She was of the same cste but was known as a Nangiar. Hse beat
out the time solemnly, for she was expected to remain serious an straight-faced,
no matter how amusing the performance of the Chakkyiar. This solo performance
had two other names, Pradhand-kuttu and sometimes Kathaprasangam
Manthrakam. (Wikipedia, 2011)
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sheer curiosity but gradually as they listened, they became absorbed in this novel
exposition until finally Chakkiyar was left with hardly anyone to pay attention to
him. Ottan Tullal has now become known as the poor mans Kathali. This is
because, in comparison, with that dane-drama, it is cheap to put on. There is only
one performer, who plays all the parts in turn. The musical accompaniment is also
simple, for it requires only one drummer, who plays on anelongated drum called
the maddalam, one cymbal player who keeps the tal on his little cymbals, and
sometimes a singer. The singer assists and occasionally takes over the singing
from the dancer, who normally does at least some of the singing himself. The
technique of the dance is also very similar to the Kathakali, but not quite as formal
and inflexible.. There are also no settings, no props, not even a curtain. The make-
up od the dancer is not very intricate and though the costume is very colorful, it is
not as elaborate as that of Kathakali. (Wikipedia, 2011)
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youth, her face enchanted all who looked upon it. As soon as the asuras saw
Mohini they desired her. She fled and they followed. In this way the asuras were
enticed away from Amrita and the gods carried it off. From stories such as these,
the name Mohini came to be synonymous with the essence of feminine beauty and
allurement, and Mohini Attam is a dance which displays just such qualities. It is a
solo dance, reserved exclusively for woman. Its history is not very certain. What
is known is that it was patronized about 150 years age by a prince of Travancore,
and became very popular. In technique it lies somewhere between Dasi Attam and
the lasya aspect of was eminently suitable for use by loose woman, and was
frequently used by them to attract would-be clients. This led to its unpopularity
and eventual decline at the beginning of the century. (Wikipedia, 2011)
Persian dance is almost entirely performed to 6\8 time signatures and is the only
dance that is performed and known by all Iranians regardless of ethnicity, the
dance itself is highly individualistic and also heavily relies on solo improvisation
performances much like all other Iranian art forms such as music, etc.
Other Iranian dances include regional folk dances which are always performed in
group settings whereby men and women dances are performed in group based
ensemble settings.
Usually in Persian dance the upper body motion is emphasized, with hand
motions, hip undulations and facial expressions being points of attention.
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Although often compared to Arabic dance, Persian dance is actually very distinct,
due to its signature hand movements, slow and sensual circular hip movements as
opposed to the rapid hip movements used in bellydance. As the Muslim rulers at
the Mughal courts invited many Persian dancers during their rule of the Indian
subcontinent, some elements of Persian dance were absorbed into Kathak, a
North-Indian classical dance style.
Persian dance appears in American pop culture in the 2004 film Alexander
performed by the eunuch Bagoas at the ceremony where Clietus dies.
Iran has also Bandari dance, mostly in the South and belly dance itself Raqs
Sharqi.
Among most notable ensembles of regional Iranian folk dance is Afsaneh Ballet.
Among notable dancers are Jamilah, Azar Shiva, Foroozan, Farzaneh Kaboli,
Mohammad Khordadian. (Wikipedia, 2011)
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1.4.1 Mexico
The state of Jalisco [Figure 3], for example is especially known for its jarabe
Tapatio, son and el baile de los sonajeros which accompany its famous mariachi.
One of the most popular songs is "La Negra". The state of Jalisco.
The state of Guerrero is known for its sintesis and tixtla. Michoacn is known for
its huetamo and Historia del Traje de la Mujer Michoacana, a dance which
depicts a local folktale Alegria, 1995. Though the dances differ from region to
region, the basic steps and style of dance are similar. Traditional bailes in Vera
Cruz are characterized by a basic set of steps called zapateados which involve
percussive heel-stomping. (Wikipedia, 2011)
Costumes in the southwest United States are characterized by denim and western
shirts while costumes of the Federal District of Mexico reflect a stronger
traditional Spanish influence and those of the Yucatn reflect indigenous
traditions. In the folk dances of Northern Mexico, men generally wear black Pants
with Galas on each side of the leg, accented with a red tie and belt and a black
wide-brimmed hat. The woman wear tighter fitting and shorter skirts and either
white or black boots. The costumes from Jalisco entails the Women to wear
brightly colored ruffled skirts trimmed with ribbons whose colors are local
signifiers, shoes with heavy clog-like heels and ornate hair pieces. Shoes vary in
color but usually they are either black, white, or red, depending on the song and
region. For the region of Vera Cruz, the women wear beautiful white dresses that
is full of lace. they use white shoes, and a small apron with a bandana that hangs
off the side of the dress. Depending on whether the woman is married or not, will
determine what side the bandana will hang and which side the floral head piece
will lay. Married means that it would be on the left side and single is on the right.
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Sinaloa, from the coastal region, wear lighter dresses and more colorful.
(Wikipedia, 2011)
Amalia Hernandez pioneered baile folklorico in the 1950s with her establishment
of and leadership of the Ballet Folklorico Mexico. Additionally, she founded a
school in Mexico City for the study and practice of classical and folkloric dance
techniques.
Prior to the explosion in popularity among student and community groups, bailes
folklricos were (and currently are) performed as a part of large parties or
community events. The mariachi musicians generally stand in a line at the back of
the performance space and perform without written musical notation, while the
dancers perform in couples in front of the mariachis. Now days there are both
private and public Folklorico groups that get together and compete, for example
the USA Ballet Folklorico Nationals. There is also the website
http://www.Folkloricoonline.com which is similar to Myspace but is focused only
on Folklorico. It is a great way to communicate with other folklorico lovers and
share ideas and tricks of the trade. (Wikipedia, 2011)
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2 Folk dance in Estonia
Folk dance is very popular in Estonia. There are many folk dance groups all
around Estonia.
Most folk dances are ment for groups there dancers are in couples [Figure 5].
Dance involves some unique steps, jumps, running etc.
Following table illustrates, how many people are practicing folk dance in Estonia.
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COUNTY population total folk folk dance
practitioners practitioners
maakond
Plva maakond 30889 3373 870
Prnu maakond 88428 6632 1742
Rapla maakond 36620 3181 910
Saare maakond 34644 3285 942
Tartu maakond 150074 10650 2002
Valga maakond 34048 3444 771
Viljandi maakond 55447 5461 1403
Vru maakond 37693 4345 1000
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Bibliography
Wikipedia. (19. 11 2011. a.). Baile Folklorico. Kasutamise kuupev: 13. 12 2011.
a., allikas Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baile_Folklorico
Wikipedia. (2. 12 2011. a.). Dance in India. Kasutamise kuupev: 14. 12 2011. a.,
allikas Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_dance
Wikipedia. (7. 12 2011. a.). Folk dance. Kasutamise kuupev: 13. 12 2011. a.,
allikas Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_dance
Wikipedia. (1. 08 2011. a.). Middle Eastern dance. Kasutamise kuupev: 13. 12
2011. a., allikas Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dances_of_the_Middle_East
Wikipedia. (10. 07 2011. a.). Persian dance. Kasutamise kuupev: 14. 12 2011. a.,
allikas Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_dance
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