Who and when was the first to start a round dance in Russia is not known for certain. The oldest dance was originally part of a pagan rite - the worship of Yarila, the powerful sun god. And "walking after the sun" was firmly established in Slavic culture for many centuries. Natalia Letnikova delved into the round dance traditions in Russia.
Salting
And also karagod, tank, circle, street. Many names of the dance loved by the people. Across Dal - meetings of rural youth in the open air for dancing with songs. According to the established tradition, young girls, going out into the street, began to "play songs" or make "jokes" when they met at the fairground. In the center of events, as a rule, there was a round dance. The most groovy woman around. A choreographer and choir by vocation - she started songs and invented new dance pictures.
A round dance for a peasant girl, which for a young lady from high society is one of the ways to keep an eye on her husband. Somewhere round dance age - from 12 years, and somewhere later. The main thing is the number of daughters on the farm. So the family sent, as to a ball, at first the older girls. The younger ones were kept in the shade for the time being. In a round dance, the guys looked out for their brides: whether she was good, whether she was swimming, whether she was singing loudly.
Round dance from south to north
For the hand, for the little finger or scarf, belt, wreath. The connecting link in a round dance can be different. And traditions in each region are different. In the North, restraint is honored. The girls float in a circle calmly and decorously. And the songs are getting more drawn out and melodious.
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For example, in Komi on Krasnaya Gorka, seventeen folklore song plots were used that had developed over the centuries. Each of the figures should be performed to a certain song and in its own rhythm: from unhurried at first to impetuous. The action is filled with images: men and women are divided side by side, girls drop their scarves, which the guys pick up. Round dance is a symbol of matchmaking.
In the central provinces, the people were stronger. Round dances were started merrily and carefree, with floats, but flops, with perky songs. The farther south, the hotter. And at festivities, and in a round dance, which was about to turn into a dance dance. On warm evenings, the streets are more crowded, and more participants gathered in a round dance.
Round dance all year round
Dancing is an idle occupation. And therefore, the round dances were led on time - and on occasion.
In the spring, they played the "Stream" game - a symbol of snow melting. In paganism, the first spring round dances placated the gods of fertility. On the day of Lada, a chain, holding hands, climbed the hills, devoting a round dance to Mother Earth, calling out the spring. In July, they praised Kupala and asked for the ripening of fruits - around the fire and with wreaths. In honor of Bereginya, a round dance was led around a birch tree - a symbol of purity and the patroness of the family and the hearth.
With the adoption of Christianity, round dances were started outside fasting and field work. We started with Holy Week immediately after Easter and up to Krasnaya Gorka, sowing - with a break for harvest. In the summer - on holidays, like on Trinity. It was possible to think about dancing again in the second half of August - autumn from the Assumption to the Intercession, where meetings, work by fire and gatherings already begin.
Round dance science
Play and ornamental. In Russia, there were two types of round dances. Ornaments - no plot, no roles. Know to walk around, braid the figures in rows from a round-dance chain. Choreographic intricacies were associated with images of Russian nature. "A birch tree stood in the field" with twigs of a white-trunk tree barely blossoming in spring.
Patterns of lacemakers and woodcarvers were seen in round dances. Folk art, in turn, resembled a round dance snake on lace or a carved board. To captivate with new figures, complex and ornate, is a whole art and the task of an ingenious round dance.
A theatrical action with the main characters and a plot, coupled with walking around. The peculiarity of the game round dances. Plot song, characters that express their character with facial expressions and dance figures. They depicted not only people, but also animals and birds. Round dances were also performed on topical topics: the choice of a groom or a bride, family matters and even with social connotations - ridiculing the landowners.
What a round dance draws
A round dance was led close, moving in a circle, and line to line or snake. On the basis of the traditional dance, each province and even the village created their own dance pictures. A circle in a circle, two circles next to each other or "eight" pouring into each other.
Each drawing of the round dance got its own name: "collar", "eight", "column", "basket", "carousel", pillars "," reins "," wattle "," side to side "," dance "and directly" a circle". The main thing is not to forget that a round dance is pure creativity with its own signs and symbols: a wreath is a marriage, a scarf is a pillow, a silk whip is a symbol of humility and strength. The dancers move in a round dance "in the sun" or "against the sun" - according to old memory.
