.jpg)
Circle dance, orchain dance, is a style ofsocial dance done in a circle, semicircle or a curved line to musical accompaniment, such asrhythm instruments andsinging, and is a type of dance where anyone can join in without the need ofpartners. Unlikeline dancing, circle dancers are in physical contact with each other; theconnection is made byhand-to-hand, finger-to-finger or hands-on-shoulders, where they follow the leader around the dance floor. Ranging from gentle to energetic, the dance can be an uplifting group experience or part of ameditation.
Being probably the oldest known dance formation, circle dancing is an ancienttradition common to many cultures for markingspecial occasions,rituals, strengthening community and encouragingtogetherness. Circle dances are choreographed to many differentstyles of music and rhythms. Modern circle dance mixes traditionalfolk dances, mainly from European orNear Eastern sources, with recently choreographed ones to a variety of music both ancient and modern. There is a growing repertoire of new circle dances toclassical music andcontemporary songs.[1]
Modern circle dancing is found in many cultures, includingArabic (Levantian andIraqi),Israeli (seeJewish dance andIsraeli folk dancing),Luri,Assyrian,Kurdish,Turkish,Armenian,Azerbaijani,Maltese,Ukraine andBalkan. It also found in South Asia such asNati ofHimachal Pradesh,Harul ofUttarakhand,Wanvun ofKashmir,Jhumair ofJharkhand,Fugdi ofGoa andDeuda andDhan Nach ofNepal. Despite its immense reputation in the Middle East andsoutheast Europe, circle dancing also has a historical prominence inBrittany,Asturias,Catalonia, andIreland to thewest of Europe, and also inSouth America (Peruvian),Tibet, and withNative Americans (seeghost dance). It is also used, in its more meditative form, in worship within various religious traditions including theChurch of England[2] and the IslamicHaḍra Dhikr (or Zikr) dances.[3]
Ghost Dance is an example of anative American circle dance.[4][5]
Cave painting found in south Asia since Paleolithic period. Cave paintings of Bhimbetka rock shelters ofMadhya Pradesh in India shows the painting of dancers and musician which is fromMesolithic period. It shows people dancing by holding hand together.[6][7]
Medieval tombstones called"Stećci" (singular "Stecak") inBosnia and Hercegovina, dating from the end of the 12th century to the 16th century, bear inscriptions and figures which look like dancers in a chain. Men and women are portrayed dancing together holding hands at shoulder level but occasionally the groups consist of only one sex.[8][9]
InMacedonia, near the town ofZletovo, the murals on the monastery of Lesnovo (Lesnovo Manastir), which date from the 14th century, show a group of young men linking arms in a round dance.[10] A chronicle from 1344 urges the people of the city ofZadar to sing and dance circle dances for a festival. However, a reference comes fromBulgaria, in a manuscript of a 14th-century sermon, which called chain dances "devilish and damned."[11]
The circle dance of Germany is called "Reigen"; it dates from the 10th century, and may have originated from devotional dances at earlyChristian festivals. Dancing around the church or a fire was frequently denounced by church authorities which only underscores how popular it was.[12][13] One of the frescos (dating from the 14th century) inTyrol, atRunkelstein Castle, depictsElisabeth of Poland, Queen of Hungary leading a chain dance.[14][15] Circle dances were also found inCzech Republic, dating to the 15th century. Dancing was primarily done around trees on the village green.[16] InPoland as well the earliest village dances were in circles or lines accompanied by the singing or clapping of the participants.[17]
In the 14th century,Giovanni Boccaccio describes men and women circle dancing to their own singing or accompanied by musicians.[18] One of the frescos inSiena byAmbrogio Lorenzetti painted in 1338–1340 show a group of women doing a "bridge" figure while accompanied by another woman playing thetambourine.[19]
There are accounts of two western European travelers toConstantinople, the capital of theOttoman Empire. In 1577,Salomon Schweigger describes the events at a Greek wedding:[20]
then they joined arms one upon the other, made a circle, went round the circle, with their feet stepping hard and stamping; one sang first, with the others all following after.[20]
Another traveler, the German pharmacist Reinhold Lubenau, was in Constantinople in November 1588 and reports on a Greek wedding in these terms:[21]
a company of Greeks, often of ten or more persons, stepped forth to the open place, took each other by the hand, made a round circle, and now stepped backward, now forward, sometimes went around, singing in Greek the while, sometimes stamped strongly on the ground with their feet.[21]
InDenmark, oldballads mention a closed circle dance which can open into a chain dance. Afresco in Ørslev church inZealand from about 1400 shows nine people, men and women, dancing in a line. The leader and some others in the chain carry bouquets of flowers. In the case of women's dances, there may have been a man who acted as the leader.[22][23] InSweden, medieval songs often mentioned dancing. A long chain was formed, with the leader singing the verses and setting the time while the other dancers joined in the chorus.[24]
TheHora dance originates in theBalkans but is also found in other countries (includingRomania andMoldova). The dancers hold each other's hands and the circle spins, usually counterclockwise, as each participant follows a sequence of three steps forward and one step back. The Hora is popular during weddingcelebrations andfestivals, and is an essential part of social entertainment in rural areas. In Bulgaria, it is not necessary to be in a circle; a curving line of people is also acceptable.[25]
TheKolo is a collectivefolk dance common in variousSouth Slavic regions, such asSerbia andBosnia, named after the circle formed by the dancers. It is performed amongst groups of people (usually several dozen, at the very least three) holding each other's having their hands around each other's waists (ideally in a circle, hence the name). There is almost no movement above the waist.[26][27]
_(14756251426).jpg)
Early descriptions of theAlbanian war dance in circle around fire was provided in the early 19th century by western travellers who visited southernAlbania. The dance is practiced for several hours with very short intervals, acquiring new vigour from the words of the accompanying song that starts with abattle cry invokingwar drums, and which is of a piece with the movement and usually changed only once or twice during the whole performance.[28]
The ritual purifying fire (Zjarri) is traditionally used by Albanians, in particular singing and dancing around it, to gainprotection and energizing from its supernatural power.[29]
A ritual practiced duringDita e Verës, anAlbanian pagan feast that celebrates the spring equinox – the beginning of thespring-summer period with the strengthening of the Sun (Dielli) and the renewal of Nature – has been described as follows:[30]
"In the closed circle dance, having the fire in the center, the first ritual element is found, interlaced with choreographic motives, which classify this dance in the ritual category. The cult of fire, an important basic and ancient element, and the closed circle of the performers, a very important fact for the ritualistic choreography, create the main axis of the dance."
TheKalamatianos is a popularGreek folkdance throughoutGreece andCyprus, and is often performed at many social gatherings worldwide. As is the case with most Greek folk dances, it is danced in a circle with a counterclockwise rotation, the dancers holding hands. The lead dancer usually holds the second dancer by ahandkerchief, thus allowing more elaborate steps and acrobatics. The steps of the Kalamatianós are the same as those of the Syrtos, but the latter is slower and more stately, its beat being a steady4
4.[31]
Sardana is a type of circle dance typical of Catalonia. It would usually have an experienced dancer leading the circle. The dancers hold hands throughout the dance: arms down during thecurts and raised to shoulder height during thellargs. The dance was originally from theEmpordà region, but started gaining popularity throughout Catalonia during the 20th century. There are two main types, the originalSardana curta (short Sardana) style and the more modernSardana llarga (long Sardana).[32]
Syrtos and Kalamatianos are Greek dances done with the dancers in a curving line holding hands, facing right. The dancer at the right end of the line is the leader. The leader can also be a solo performer, improvising showy twisting skillful moves as the rest of the line does the basic step. In some parts of Syrtos, pairs of dancers hold a handkerchief from its two sides.[33][34]
An Dro, meaning "the turn", is aBreton circle dance. The dancers link the little fingers in a long line, swinging their arms, whilst moving to theirleft. The arm movements consist first of two circularmotions going up and back followed by one in the opposite direction. The leader (person at the left-hand end of the line) will lead the line into aspiral or double it back on itself to form patterns on the dance floor, and allow the dancers to see each other.[35]
TheFaroese chain dance is the national circle dance of theFaroe Islands. The dance originated in medieval times, and survived only in the Faroe Islands, while in other European countries it was banned by the church, due to itspagan origin. The dance is danced traditionally in a circle, but when a lot of people take part in the dance they usually let it swing around in various wobbles within the circle. The dance in itself only consists in holding each other's hands, while the dancers form a circle, dancing two steps to the left and one to the right without crossing the legs. When more and more dancers join the dance vine, the circle starts to bend and forms a new one within itself.[36]
The Sacred Circle Dance was brought to theFindhorn Foundation community in Scotland byBernhard Wosien; he presented traditional circle dances that he had gathered from acrossEastern Europe.[37] Colin Harrison and David Roberts and Janet Rowan Scott took the dances to other parts of the United Kingdom where they started regular groups in south east England, then across Europe, the US and elsewhere. The network extends also to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, and India. A small centrepiece of flowers or other objects is often placed at the centre of the circle to help focus the dancers and maintain the circular shape. Much debate goes on within the sacred circle dance network about what is meant by 'sacred' in the dance.[38]
Dabke is popular inLebanon,Syria,Palestine,Jordan andTurkey. The most famous type of the dance is theAl-Shamaliyya (الشمالية). It consists of alawweeh (لويح) at the head of a group of men holding hands and formed in a semicircle. The lawweeh is expected to be particularly skilled in accuracy, ability to improvise, and quickness (generally light on his feet). The dancers develop a synchronized movement and step, and when the singers finish their song the lawweeh breaks from the semicircle to dance on their own. The lawweeh is the most popular and familiar form of dabke danced for happy family celebrations.[39]
Govend is one of the most famous traditionalKurdish dances.[40] It is distinguished from other Middle Eastern dances by being for both men and women.[41]
Khigga is the one of main styles of Assyrian folk dance in which multiple dancers hold each other's hands and form a line or a circle. It is usually performed atweddings and joyous occasions. Khigga is the first beat that is played in welcoming the bride and groom to the reception hall. There are multiple foot patterns that dancers perform. The head of the khigga line usually dances with a handkerchief with beads and bells added to the sides so it jingles when shaken. A decoratedcane is also used at manyAssyrian weddings. Moreover, the termkhigga is used to denote all the Assyrian circle dances.[42]
Kochari is an Armenian[43][44][45] folk dance, danced today byArmenians,Assyrians,[46]Azerbaijanis,Kurds,Pontic Greeks[47] andTurks.[48] Dancers form a closed circle, putting their hands on each other's shoulders. More modern forms of Kochari have added a "tremolo step," which involves shaking the whole body. InAzerbaijan, the dance consists of slow and rapid parts, and is of three variants. There is a consistent, strong double bounce. Pontic Greeks dance hand-to-shoulder and travel to the right.[49][50]
Tamzara is an Armenian,Assyrian, and Greek folk dance native toAnatolia. There are many versions of Tamzara, with slightly different music and steps, coming from the various regions and old villages in Anatolia. Firstly they take three steps forwards, tap their left feet on the ground, and step forward to stand on the left foot; then they take three small steps back and repeat the actions a little faster. Like most Anatolian folk dances, Tamzara is done with a large group of people with interlocked little fingers.[51]
Circle dance is prevalent inHimalaya region and Central India. Some circle dance of South Asia areNati ofHimachal Pradesh,Harul ofUttarakhand,Wanvun ofKashmir,Jhumair andDomkach ofJharkhand andFugdi dance ofGoa.[52][53][54][55]
Folk dance ofKalash people ofChitral District of Pakistan is a circle dance.[56]
Dhan Nach ofLimbu people,Syabru (dance) ofSherpa andHyolmo people,Sakela ofRai people,Deuda ofKhas people are some of the popular circle dances of Nepal.[57]
Ritual whirling is practiced by IslamicSufi orders throughout theIslamic world, but is most associated with theMevlevi Order. Whirlingdervishes practice a form ofdhikr known assama, which involves rhythmic group dhikr sometimes with the accompaniment of drums and other instruments; and whirling to that rhythm as a form of religious meditation. The harmony between whirlers and the reciters is meant to help achievefana - a state escape from theego, through which one may experience theDivine Unity beyond the Self. The circular whirling itself imitates the cosmic orbit of the planets around the Sun, as well as thecircumambulation of pilgrims around theKaaba during theHajj andUmrah. Sama is also known astannoura in Egypt and other Arabic-speaking nations.
Though most often associated withIslam in Turkey, particularly withKonya, Sufi whirling has a wide distribution. AmongSunnis, it is practiced by the aforementionedMevlevi Order, as well as by theChishti Order most common inthe Indian Subcontinent. It had likely also been practiced in Persia andKhorasan beforethe rise of the Safavids, and subsequent conversion of Persia to Shia Islam; and spread from Persia to Anatolia and South Asia, along withmetaphysical theories such asfana andWahdat al-wujūd. Among non-Sunnis -- syncreticGhulat movements, such asAlevism andBektashism, also practice Sufi whirling. Both are associated with popular religion in theOttoman Empire, though they are rare among Turks today; Alevism mostly survives among anethnoreligious group among the Kurds, while Bektashism largely survivesin Albania. In South Asia, whirling is also practiced byQalandars -- Islamic mystics who tend to eschew formal sects in favour of anantinomian stance, and may openly syncretise their practices with those of religions.
Some Muslims, particularlyWahhabi andSalafi Muslims, view whirling as aheretical practice. They contend that the use of music in general is forbidden in worship, and that the physical sensations associated with whirling are akin to intoxication. Defenders of the practice argue that whirling is not "intoxicating" in the sense of alcohol, but is meditative and ecstatic; and that music can be used to aid spiritual growth, if one has the proper intention and guidance. This was the attitude taken byImam al-Ghazali in the fifth chapter ofThe Alchemy of Happiness.[58]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Three circles of barefoot men, one ring inside another, sway to the cadence of chant. The men stamp in time as they sway, and grunt from the abdomen and throat, filling the room with a primal sound. One voice rises over the rest, singing variants of the names of God.
КОЧАРИ — армянский народный мужской танец.
..and in the sixth scene one of the dances of the gladiators is very reminiscent of Kochari, the Armenian folk dance.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
The Centrepiece sessions - Network , for Sacred & Circle and traditional dance
| Types | |
|---|---|
| Related | |
