Folk Austrian dance: history and modernity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

"Dance is a poem, every movement in it is a word" (Mata Hari).

Events that occur in life evoke certain emotions in people. For example, joy, fear, anger, sadness, love, hate, and so on. They can be expressed in different ways. Sometimes to the detriment of oneself or others. "Sparing" ways of expressing emotions are their transmission through various types of art: poetry, painting, sculpture, theater, cinema. In this row, of course, is the dance, which will be discussed in the article below.

Plastic emotions in motion

The ancient Greeks considered this art form a gift received from the gods.

There are a lot of dances. This is the whole universe! Every people, country has its own traditions of dance art and its own culture.

Over time, some dances outgrow the local level and become popular all over the world, and some remain within the boundaries of their territory.

For example, the Viennese w altz is widely known. It has long been a mandatory attribute of all dance competitions.

Ah, this w altz

Elegant, very beautiful and gentle pair dance. Elegance of lines and smoothness in every movement! Certain technique of steps androtation requires a pair of coherence, trust and precise interaction with each other.

The narrow bodice and luxurious puffy skirt on the lady, the strict suit on the partner make the dance even more beautiful.

Historical controversy

Austrian folk dance, the name is "w altz". It would seem that there is nothing simpler and more understandable. But, despite the direct reference to the city of Vienna in the name of the dance, disputes over when and where the w altz originated continue to this day. There are two main points of view. None of them have anything to do with Austria.

The first German version. In the 12th and 13th centuries, there were two dances in Bavaria: "W altzen" (translated as "circling to the beat") and "Nachtanz". They were united, and the w altz was born.

The second version takes us to France and Italy. It turns out that this dance was originally a peasant dance. It was performed to the Provencal folk music "Volta". It means "turn". The same dance was in Italy.

Gradually, the w altz began to gain popularity in Europe, especially among young people. They liked the dance with some looseness and lightness. It was for these reasons that the rest of the audience was initially wary of the w altz. They even tried to ban it, considering it vulgar! Indeed, in the 18th century, taking a lady by the waist was considered indecent. Then they began to strictly regulate, they were allowed to dance for no more than 10 minutes!

Despite the declared war, the rapid development of the dance could no longer be stopped.

Let it be, the w altz is notAustrian folk dance, but it was Strauss's music that improved and ennobled its choreography. Thanks to Viennese composers and conductors, the w altz flourished. Austria has become a country that has contributed to the formation of this dance. And Strauss forever received the honorary title - "king of the w altz".

What kind of country is this, what other dances does it represent?

The cultural heart of Europe

Austria can rightfully be called one of the most beautiful countries in Central Europe.

Besides picturesque mountains and ranges, beautiful clean lakes, small cozy villages, it also attracts as a cultural center. This is a country of world music, dance, painting.

The culture of Austria is multifaceted. Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert, Mozart, Haydn created and were inspired there. From ancient times to the present day, various festivals and holidays have been held in Austria and numerous provinces. An obligatory element of any event is the Austrian folk dance. This is how the traditions of the 18th and 19th centuries continue. And also the famous Vienna Opera, the Philharmonic, the ball of the same name, the Salzburg Festival and other music and dance events.

Folk Austrian dance

As it turned out, this is not a w altz, although many thought so.

When we talk about Austrian folk dance, there will be more than one name: landler, schuchplattler, counterdance, sprachenseltanze and others.

Locals combine all these names into one - Folkloretänze.

Austrian folk dance has general rules:

- whoever wants to take part in it goes to an already existing circle of people;

- everyone welcomes the newcomer;

- dance "goes" in blocks with breaks between them.

- at the end there is a separate dance and song.

Most often there are four periods, and long breaks between them, in which figured dances continue.

Accompaniment at festivals and holidays are usually the following instruments: flute, clarinet, harmonica, Styrian harmonica (like an accordion), guitar, double bass.

Let's take a closer look at a dance like the Schuhplattler.

Most often it was performed by men. They stood in a circle, slapping each other and themselves on the knees, soles and thighs. This dance is over a thousand years old! In a more modern version, not only men, but also women, or rather married couples, chose this dance. It is believed that he copies the behavior of a black grouse when he cares for a hen.