Let's Get Cultural

[poshxconcerto]

Question: For all nations.

Question: Could you teach me how to do your cultural folk dance (Do I have to wear anything special while I do it)? Or show me what it's like? If you don't have one, what is the most popular dance right now?

Comments

[tinsoldaten]

I can't find anything about how to learn it on the internet, but there's an easy version of it you could study, which is basically a few steps, dance around in circles, then you go "HEY!" every now and then, ha ha! There are more complicated versions that you can take a look at later, though.

When dancing folk dances we usually wear national outfits, but they're not so popular anymore... Doesn't even have another name other than just "Danske Folkedragter" - "The Danish National Outfit"... Oh well.

I don't think there's a special popular dance in Denmark at the moment. Just like everyone we have folk dances, hip hop, etc...

I wish you good luck if you decide to try it out!

[moisanta]

Sure! Finland has different folk dances (there are a lot of groups here and even overseas that still perform them!) and traditional costumes. If you want to take a look, here are some pictures of costumes, and you can watch two dances here, on YouTube.

Contemporary dance is pretty popular, too.

[poshxconcerto]

How often do you folk dance?

[moisanta]

Me? I don't do it often myself... but it's nice for special occasions!

[edle_sohn]

One of our most enduring folk dances is the centuries-old Waltz, which evolved in part from a peasant dance called the ländler. The ländler was also popular in Germany, with whom I have many folk dances in common. Such magnificent composers as Johann Strauss and his son wrote music for the Waltz, which helped to greatly increase its popularity. It is an elegant dance and a favorite in ballrooms.

Both the slow Waltz and Viennese variety are popular today; I recommend the comparatively simpler International Standard first if you're inexperienced. This clip should serve as a fair introduction. Best of luck.

[raivis_latvia]

F-folk dancing is very popular in Latvia...! Th-there are hundreds of groups... a-and they could probably t-teach you better than I-I could... I'm sorry...

...B-but here's an example of the Sasala Jūriņa. I-it's one of my favorites...!

A-a lot of people also like to s-salsa... but I've n-never tried it myself... I-I'm sure Cuba could tell you more...!

[poshxconcerto]

Do you like to wear the puffy sleeves and dance with them?

[raivis_latvia]

*blinks*

...W-well, that's my n-national dress... A-and... it's fun to participate...!

[poshxconcerto]

That's adorable.

[lookscold]

I would suggest an easy one to start, such as Á Sprengisandi.

It's slow; the most challenging part would be the recitation of the song, which is common while performing the dance.

"Ríðum, ríðum og rekum yfir sandinn..."