| What Is Scandinavian Dance | |||
Sparky Provided The Attached Commentary |
Scandinavian folk dancing is
challenging and often appeals to experienced Ballroom, Contra, or Folk dancers. Locally, the Skandia South Folk Dance Club organizes this form of folk dancing from the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. The dances are mostly couple turning dances in which the man and woman typically have different footwork to learn. Dancers also must learn leading and following techniques while dancing in harmony with each other and with the music. We Scandinavian dancers enjoy Gammaldans (old time dance), which includes the Hambo, Waltz, Schottis, Snoa, Mazurka, and occasionally, Tango. We also learn the more challenging regional dances, called Bygdedans (roughly, village dance) that are from the different regions of each country, including various versions of Polska, Pols, and Springar. There are also mixers and figure dances which are relatively easy to dance. Most of the dances are traditional, being either living tradition or dances rescued from oblivion by dance researchers who interviewed old people, rather than being choreographies by folk dance teachers. Most date from the last few centuries, so they also may have historical appeal. Classes are held weekly, in Culver City and Anaheim, starting in September and running through June. Our local teachers Donna Tripp, Ted Martin, Cameron Flanders and John Chittum lead us through easy transitional patterns of learning. Our experienced dancers, some with 5 to 25 years of folk dance training, also attend. This helps the beginner a great deal, since we rotate partners throughout teaching and dancing. Both couples and singles of all ages are encouraged to attend. In the course of a year you may be introduced to several variations of a particular dance form. Each one has slightly different footwork or a unique way of holding your partner. Several times each year dance teachers and musicians visit us from Scandinavia who teach us their dances or play and teach the music of their region. ===== My E-mail address is: FSotcher@yahoo.com |
||
The following are links to various Scandinavian Dance Sites Scandinavian
Dancers of Vancouver, BC |
|||
AmeriKappleik |
|||
FolkTV |
|||