Old Russian choreographic art has many wonderful dances. A place of honor in domestic culture is played by a round dance. This is not just a dance, but, above all, a reflection of the lifestyle, beliefs and culture of our ancestors. Such a dance leads the story from the depths of centuries.
What is a round dance? How was the dance born? What are the varieties of such a dance? What are the features of the dance? What is the meaning of round dance in Slavic culture? Answers to these and other questions can be obtained by reading our publication.
Meaning of the word “round dance”
Researchers of the ancient Slavic culture note the connection of the concept with the name of the pagan deity Chora. It was this idol that in ancient times acted as a symbol of the sun. The definition of the word "round dance" also presumably follows from the concept of "good", which among the Slavic peoples was synonymous with "sunny." According to the logical chain of reasoning, it can be understood that the particle "horo" indicates a symbol of the sun, which has a circular shape.
As for the second part of the word, everything is more obvious here. A particle of "water" means "lead, provide escort." Thus, it becomes clear what a round dance is. The essence of the concept is a group dance in a circle, which in the traditional culture of ancient peoples was a symbol of worship of the celestial body.
History reference
Considering the history of the round dance, it is worth starting with the first written mention of the dance. It is noted in the ancient legend of the Moravian kingdom. The author of the literary creation mentions Slavic youth that she gathered at the forest edges and the banks of water bodies for organizing games, the central place of which was occupied by circular dances. Sometimes the action was organized on rafts.
Considering what a round dance is, it is worth noting that the dance owes its existence to pagan rites that praised the fertility gods. Initially, mass dance acted as a kind of hymn to the Sun. The main figure of the dance symbolized the heavenly luminary. The round dance glorified his fertile energy, on which the crop depended.
The most massive festivities with round dances have traditionally been organized several times a year. Such peculiar rites were performed in the autumn after harvest, in the spring, when nature came to life, and also in the midst of summer. Games were suspended only with the advent of winter colds, which forced the inhabitants of villages to spend time in houses.
The cultural and social significance of dance
A round dance is a mass dance, which is traditionally accompanied by songs. The dance made it possible to distinguish from the crowd not only community members who possessed choreographic talents, but also masterful singers. In ancient times, each village had its own ringleader. The last was the so-called round dance or round dance. Such a person aroused respect, admiration, and was famous both in his native settlement and far beyond its borders. For some members of society, such an occupation became something akin to a profession. The mastery of round dance was passed on through generations.
Round-robiners were appointed predominantly gifted by nature personalities who stood out against the background of the general gray mass with beautiful imagination, a strong, posed voice, outstanding artistry. It was their rich imagination that often depended on how ornate and original the interweaving of the circular procession during the dance would turn out to be.
Not a single holiday, a walk or a mass event in gray days could do without driving round dances. For the purpose of such a pastime, the inhabitants of the villages liked to gather after an everyday routine. Circular dances were organized in the middle of the streets, in forest glades. Collective dances looked like a great solution for cultural exchange with people from neighboring villages.
During round dances, not only communication and fun took place. The boys chose future brides here, and the girls looked after their husbands. Active dances evoked vivid emotions and romantic feelings. Round dance pushed the population to create man-made outfits and jewelry. Young people in the best clothes gathered for such games. Girls put on colorful hats, decorated themselves with colorful scarves, necklaces and ribbons, even if they had to spend a lot of money to buy such accessories.
So we found out what a round dance is, what it had symbolic, social and cultural significance. Further in our material I would like to tell you what the main figures and varieties of dance exist.
Game dance
In antiquity, there was a specific game variety of round dance. If during the song the plot, actions and content were revealed in verbal form, then during the dance all this was expressed by movements, vivid facial expressions, gestures, the creation of original character images. Often, people dressed in the costumes of animals and mythical creatures participated in playing dances. The participants tried to imitate their habits.
The plots of such dances reflected the life, culture, traditions, labor, religious views of the ancient peoples. Often a round dance revealed the process of choosing a bride or groom, talked about the relationship between the sexes, contained hints of fabulous topics.
Game dances required the participation of talented artists who were selected from the people. They expected the ability to transform into a variety of images. Sometimes during the dance not only costumes were used, but also additional items that allowed to fully reveal the character of the characters being played.
Ornamental dance
“Quiet” circular dances, which were not accompanied by songs and accompaniment of musical instruments, were called ornamental. The main emphasis here was on the creation of the most original, intricate figures. Pictures often conveyed the content of the same songs, social and cultural phenomena, beliefs and epics.
The performance of ornamental round dances is distinguished by a strict sequence of actions, limited by the number of figures. Most often, such dances included several elements that were organically intertwined and rebuilt among themselves.
Children's dance
Children's dance dances often take place in a playful way. This kind of dance makes it possible for emotionally clamped, shackled kids to reveal themselves to the outside world. Group dance relaxes the child, makes him feel trust in partners.
To some extent, children's round dance is associated not only with choreography, song and music, but also with the exact sciences. During the dance, the participants rebuild into circles, columns, spirals, lines. Such dances familiarize kids with all kinds of geometric patterns.
The main figures of the round dance
There are several basic round dance patterns on which a dance can be built:
- Circle - the number of participants in such a construction is not limited. The minimum number is three people. Facing each other, the dancers hold hands, forming a vicious circle. Participants move clockwise. Dancers go by simple, added or variable steps.
- Two adjacent circles - round dance rings are located at an insignificant distance from each other. Each formation can move both clockwise and in the opposite direction. Movements are carried out in steps, similar to the previous option.
- Circle in a circle - a large ring forms, and inside another, but smaller. The movement of participants can occur in one or different directions.
- Basket - formation in this case does not differ from the previous version. However, at some point, the participants raise their hands. The inner and outer circles are connected.
- Eight - individual circles move in opposite directions. Then the dances break the hitch. Participants in one formation pass through another, forming a pattern that resembles a symbol of infinity.
