Folk Austrian Dance: History and Modernity

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

Events that occur in life cause people to have certain emotions. For example, joy, fear, anger, sadness, love, hate and so on. You can express them in different ways. Sometimes to the detriment of oneself or others. "Gentle" ways of expressing emotions is transferring them through various kinds of art: poetry, painting, sculpture, theater, cinema. In this series, of course, is the dance, which will be discussed in the article below.

Plastic emotions in motion

In ancient Greeks, this kind of art was considered a gift received from the gods.

There are a lot of dances. It's a whole universe! Each nation, the country has its own traditions of dance art and its own culture.

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

For example, the Viennese waltz is widely known. It has long become an indispensable attribute of all dance competitions.

Ah, this waltz

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

A narrow bodice and a luxurious fluffy skirt on a lady, a strict suit on a partner make the dance even more beautiful.

Historical dispute

Austrian folk dance, the name is "waltz". It would seem that there is nothing simpler and more understandable. But, despite the direct indication in the name of the dance on the city of Vienna, disputes over when and where the waltz arose have been kept to this day. There are two main points of view. None of them has anything to do with Austria.

The first version is Germanic. In the 12th-13th centuries, there were two dances in Bavaria: "Waltzen" (in translation - "whirling in tact") and "Nachtanz". They were united, and a waltz arose.

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

Gradually, the waltz began to gain popularity in Europe, especially among young people. They liked the dance a little relaxed and light. It is for these reasons that the rest of the public initially took a wolfish look at the waltz. They even tried to ban it, considering it vulgar! After all, in the 18th century, it was considered indecent to take a lady for a waist. Then they began to strictly regulate, allowed to dance no more than 10 minutes!

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

Let it be, the waltz is not a people's Austrian dance, but it was Strauss's music that perfected and ennobled its choreography. Thanks to Viennese composers and conductors, the waltz flourished. Austria became the country that contributed to the formation of this dance. And Strauss forever received an honorary title - "the king of the waltz."

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.

In addition to the picturesque mountains and ridges, beautiful clean lakes, small cozy villages, it also attracts as a cultural center. It is a country of world music, dance, painting.

The culture of Austria is multifaceted. They created and inspired Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert, Mozart, Haydn. From ancient times to today, various festivals and festivals have been held in Austria and numerous provinces. An indispensable element of any event is a people's Austrian dance. This continues the traditions of the 18th and 19th centuries. And the famous Vienna Opera, Philharmonic, a ball with the same name, the Salzburg Festival and other musical and dance events.

Folk Austrian Dance

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

When we talk about Austrian folk dance, the name will not be one: landler, shuhplattler, counterattack, sprachenzeltantze and others.

Local residents combine all these names in one - Folkloretänze.

Folk Austrian dance has general rules:

- the one who wants to take part in it, goes to the already existing circle of people;

- all welcome the newcomer;

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

- In conclusion, there is a separate dance and song.

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

Accompaniment for festivals and celebrations are usually the following instruments: flute, clarinet, harmonica, Styrian harmonica (accordion type), guitar, double bass.

Let us dwell in more detail on such a dance as shuhplattler.

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