[Closed] Beautiful traditional dance

I love dance, and always have. Indeed, Mrs SR is a former ballet dancer, so it now runs in the family. In any case, the Ukrainian connection helps. Everybody should know about the Ukrainian dance tradition! It is at once athletic and graceful, and in it, you can see so much of what becomes formalised in ballet.

This is a 'hopak', which is somewhat fast, and displays the playful nature of much of the dance:

And again:

SaxonRider,

Brilliant energetic traditional Ukrainian dance. Very colorful beautiful costume. The men are wearing those leather soft shoes while the women with heels. Their foot steps are amazing. The expression of the women dancer is also wonderful very warm. But does that not hurt their feet wearing those high heel red boots? There seem to be more involvement of the women in the dance by comparison to the Chechen. However the person taking the first clip (2nd one a bit too far) could have done a better job by zooming it out a little so people can see more. Nevertheless it is very detailed. The entire dance is absolutely wonderful. I am not keen on modern dance as I prefer very traditional ones. Even the traditional Japanese puppet dance.

The ones I posted above I think are Chechen traditional dance. Not as energetic but with the haunting music and the way they walk make them good viewing. There may be some semblance, the men shoes, but the Chechen men and women retained their religious (Islamic) rules in the dance. i.e. Men and women must not make eye contact and no touching even of the women dress. The women should not raise their arms beyond shoulder height and while their dress cover their entire body. I particularly like the women head gear to make as tall as the men. The men on the other have to "tip-toe" to increase their height. Also the "principle" dancer (woman) is portrayed as I think some high ranking (royalty etc) with bodyguards escorting her to the dance. Very interesting. Very Ottoman empire.

😛

yunki - Member

What tradition is that?

What do you reckon? Go on, have a go...

Three_Fish - Member

What tradition is that?

What do you reckon? Go on, have a go...

Assembly or production line in factory?

Robot on the street? I see no robot on the street yet.

It always seems a shame to me when traditional folk is taken out of its "proper" surroundings and put on a theatre stage.

Here's some flamenco in a bar

and some rapper dancing in a pub.

slowoldman - Member
It always seems a shame to me when traditional folk is taken out of its "proper" surroundings and put on a theatre stage.

Theatre is fine for me because I cannot obviously travel that far to see the entire routine. A bit like all shows in one place. Actually, I have been watching the Youtube clip of the dancers at the wedding parties where some of the professional dances have been hired to dance at the venue. The Chechen culture and even the Chechen pro Russian leader was dancing in some of the clips.

Here's some flamenco in a bar

Yes, flamenco that is very nice. Need to Youtube them later on.

The Maltby Phoenix Sword dance ... luckily those are not real swords. Will check their history later on to see the reasons for holding the swords that way. Must be a reason if real sharp swords were to be used.

No they are not real swords. They are made of spring steel (so they can bend them so tightly). I think there are Spanish sword dancers with real swords.

I think there are Spanish sword dancers with real swords.

Swords? Pah - guns are more exciting

As is the cast of riverdance in a minefield.

What tradition is that?

dunno mate... some form of self expression
I guess most dancing traditions have a root in expression of something

I want to see Grand Hopak one day - live!

These are Russian I think ...

Thread resurrection.

Just found this, due to someone having posted it on facebook. It's Lebanese, and while not 'refined' in the sense that much Slavic dances can be when performed, it's pretty impressive to watch.

They have a whole channel dedicated to it, so if interested, you may find it worth checking out.

Can't beat a bit of blue grass clog dancing when the mood takes you.

Maybe a Charleston when you are getting ready for work

Excellent! Keep them coming.

The Lebanese dance is interesting while I like the Charleston when she starts to "rotate" her leg behind her.

Check out these Brazillian dudes.

😉

I love dance, particularly as it's something i'm absolutely bloody useless at.

Not 'folk' but love watching Northern Soul - not so much the top end extremely gymnastic competition dancers, just the technically proficient on the dancefloor at the club types.

I like to dance, but more like after a skin full. And not very well!!

That lady dancing the Charleston beat MC Hammer & Prodigy hands down. The latter somehow give me the impression of "stress".

Northern Soul is rather "modern" isn't it and to my non-talented dancing (can't dance) or music genes they look like "rock n roll".

The modern Brazilian group is ok as there are not much "distraction" like the fast moving "1000 frame per second MTV music video".

I much prefer the traditional dance with the people wearing traditional dress.

The Saudi Sword dance, which is men only, is also rather interesting with men shooting off their guns. Those swords they are carrying while dancing are head loping swords by the look of it.

Clog dancing you say

slowoldman - Member
Clog dancing you say

I once participated in traditional Ceilidh Dancing at a hall for foreigners (we were tourists ) ... okay I know I can't dance but how the hell do you know where to go and who to dance with? Very confusing. Oh ya my tourist friends struggled with the Scottish accents while the "instructor" just keep shouting ... Go there! Turn here! No there! LOL!

That's very good but the stage is bloody cluttered ...

slowoldman - Member
Maybe you would prefer this sort of clutter:

The camera should be in front rather than at the side. Focus! Focus!