Round dance

As dance (also: canals, rows, row dance, from Old French raie, "dance" ) are different dances called that are paced or bound together by several uniformly moving dancers. The dancers are there in chains or circles (circular dance, Sounds of Spring ), in two opposite rows (front round ) or in pairs in a row. The case intoned songs and songs themselves were called rows or canals.

Originally, the song was accompanied by a characteristic feature of the round dance. Joshua Maaler (1529-1599) explained the word round dance explicitly as " Dänz in ring Weis, if one sings ."

To the dance count circle dances like the Kolo, folk dances like the Branle, or An Dro, dances with two opposing ranks as the Bourrée and border dances such as the Pavane.

Curt Sachs used round dance (choir dance ) as an upper handle for all group dances as opposed to individual dances and couple dances. He distinguishes:

• Circle dance: single and multiple circuits, eight forms, open circles
• Schlängelreigen: movement in wavy lines, spirals and labyrinthine forms
• Front dances, a number, or two opposing rows
• Place exchange dances, crossing the dance, quadrille, leaves dance, dance bridge, chain dance

Antiquity

The ancient form of the round dance was the Greek Chorea (Greek ἡ χορεία HE choreia " dancing, choral dance, circle dance " ), preferably a ritual dance of several persons to vocals. The word χορός ( choros, see German choir ) referred to in the oldest sources, and even in Homer the dance floor, but then also the group of dancers who were also singers, and finally the dance, singing itself

Homer tells of cheerful circle dances of young men who danced alone or together with the women, to weddings, to vintage or simply of youthful exuberance life.

Middle Ages

The name occurs first round in court poetry of the Middle Ages to the Middle High German form of " ree ". Neidhart it is called a dance form of the peasants who were dancing in the summer outdoors. The dancers formed a chain or stood in pairs at a time. The cracked ree of farmers was in contrast to the courtly dance, which was kicked. The dance is a choral dance, the dance is often a couple dance. But this distinction is not sharp, and later returns by as much as. The distinction runs through many European languages ​​:

For a contrast of these two terms, there are many testimonials. However, a consistent difference can not be read out of the numerous written sources. The shape of the round dance is for Curt Sachs, however, be determined unambiguously: a chain of dancers who move hand in hand, either in an open or closed circuit, or in a continuous line.

In the culture of European chivalry of the round dance next to the minstrelsy played a special role. During this time, a fixed standard of the round dance and the related song developed. Minstrels had to intimate events not allowed, why is never reported by instrumental music at such events. However, there are at Schloss Roncolo in Bolzano the appearance of a round dance from the period around 1395, where the dancers are accompanied by two loud instrumental players. This picture will be interpreted by Z or dance as Swabia.

The dance was usually paced to a song that sang a song leader, who also led the dance. The remaining participants voted in each of the chorus with a. This form of exchange between cantor and choir singing is called " Rondel - type." You already lay before the end of the 12th century. From it later, the Rondeau, the Virelai and finally the Balade made ​​(from Provencal. Balar " dancing a round dance " ) out.

Renaissance

One of the first books with descriptions of court dances is Domenico da Piacenza " De arte salt andi et chorea ducendi / de la arte di ballare et danzare ". The title ( German " of the arts to dance and perform dance ") is again dance and dance side by side. The chorea, the round dance of antiquity, is led by a lead dancer. The counterpart to this is the jumping dance, saltare (Latin for " dance, hop ", " jump" to salire ). These two forms called Domenico in Italian bassadanza and Ballo.

This contrasting pair of round ( = border dance) on the one hand and on the other hand jumping dance is typical of the courtly dances since the Middle Ages. This sequence of " dance " and " jump" ( Passamezzo - saltarello Pavane - Gaillarde, Allemande - Tripla, Allemande - Courante, Sarabande - Gigue ) is the original form of the later suite.

Modern Times

Today ( since the 18th century ) the word " dance " is used colloquially often within the meaning of circle dance, is even if not sung it.

The old dance form as a dance to ballad singing has survived to this day in the Faroe Islands as Faroese chain dance. In Scandinavia, there is the ballad danced.

Round ( round dances ) are used in this sense, even in the folk dance of many nations. Examples are Kolo and Hora in the countries of the Balkans, the Russian Chorowod, Rounds in England, or the Sardana in Spain. Since the 1980s, such " international dances ", specially circular and chain dances, especially dances from the Balkans, Greece and Turkey, also outside their region of origin are danced increased.

A completely different direction since then has developed in parallel to the folk dances: the so-called Sacred Dance, which is also known as a sacred or meditative dance. Serve as a basis simple circle dances. In contrast to the traditional dances when it comes Sacred Dance only on reflection and meditation. The sacred dance is becoming increasingly widespread in spiritual and religious groups, and is also used in educational and therapeutic area. The creators of this art dances access generally generously to the treasure of folk dances and folk music with and process the items to their own choreography.

The art of the dance music was used among others by

• Claude Debussy: Images, 3rd movement Rondes de printemps (1912 )
• Alban Berg: Three Pieces for Orchestra, Op 6, Block 2 dance (1914 )
• Carl Orff: Carmina Burana, No. 9 a Reie (1936 )