Russian dance, as a kind of Russian traditional art, has its own centuries-old history. Even in the pre-Christian period, in the 5th-7th centuries, religious ideas left their mark on the nature of the dance. "Cyrillic" tells about 7 Russian folk dances.

1. TREPAK

Trepak is an old Russian folk dance. It is performed at a fast tempo, in two beats. The main movements are fractional steps and stamping. The movements were composed by the performer on the go. In terms of properties, it has much in common with "Kamarinskaya" and "Lady": either a single male dance, or a dance. But, unlike them, the trepak did not have its own generally accepted tune.

2. DANCES WITH THE BEAR


The first official mention of the Russian folk dance with a bear dates back to 907, when the prince Prophetic Oleg celebrated his victory over the Greeks in Kyiv. At the gala reception, 16 dancers dressed as bears and four bears dressed as dancers performed for the guests. After the end of dinner, according to the order of the prince of the bears, it was ordered to release them on all four sides, and the dancers to be executed. As it turned out later, the blind-sighted Prince Oleg mistook the dancers for the ambassadors of the Northerners, who owed him several hundred marten skins.

3. SQUIT


The history of this dance begins in 1113 in Kyiv, when he died Grand Duke Svyatopolk. At that time, the bricklayer Petro Prisyadka lived. He worked hard squatting with heavy stones and tools in his callused hands. Every evening, after his labor feat, he went out to Khreshchatyk and, having taken a ladle of wine and a loaf, began to jump, stretching his legs that had become stiff during the day. Vladimir Monomakh, invited by the people of Kiev to the kingdom, drove in the evening with his retinue through the city. He immediately noticed a strange dance and pointed out to Metropolitan Nicephorus the dancing fellow. Within a few days, Petro was dancing for the Grand Duke of All Russia every breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dancing like Squat or Squat soon became fashionable in wealthy Kyiv. The fat buffoons were losing weight and learning to dance the "Squat", breaking their crooked legs on the nasty medieval sidewalks.

4. Round dance


Popular Russian dance - round dance - dance in a circle. The circle in the round dance symbolized in ancient times the Sun - the god Yarilo. It was believed that such movements in a circle with the singing of songs would appease the sun god and bring good harvests. Today it's only historical fact the religion of the paganism of the ancient Slavs, which no longer carries its semantic load in the performance of round dances (circular) dances.

5. RUSSIAN DANCE


Russian dance is a type of Russian folk dance. Russian dances include improvised dances (dance, mistress, etc.) and dances that have a certain sequence of figures (quadrille, lance, etc.). In each region, these dances are modified in character and manner of performance and usually have their own name, derived from the name of the area or dance song. Russian dances are slow and fast, with a gradual acceleration of the tempo.

6. DANCES-IMPROVISATIONS


Dances-improvisations, dances-competitions were very popular among the people. In them, the dancers were not constrained by a certain composition. Each performer is given the opportunity to express himself, to show what he is capable of. Such dances are always unexpected for the audience, and sometimes for the performers themselves. Guys and girls "learn" to dance-improvisations from an early age. The dancer does not want to repeat himself, to do what others do - hence the great variety of original Russian dances.

7. GAME DANCES


A special place belongs to dances, in which the observation of the people is manifested: either about natural phenomena (“blizzard”, “blizzard”), or about any animals or birds (“Bull”, “Dergach”, “Bear”). These dances can be called game dances or game dances, since they have a very pronounced playful beginning. In his movements, the dancer does not just imitate the habits of animals or birds, but tries to give them the features of a human character. It is very important that all components are subordinated to the creation of the dance image: movements and drawings, that is, choreographic figurative plasticity, music, costume, color. Wherein means of expression dances do not exist on their own, but as a figurative expression of thought. The completion of all this is achieved by the synthesis of all components.

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Publications in the Traditions section

Everybody is dancing!

We remember how they danced in Russia. Kamarinskaya and the mistress, a Cossack and a quadrille, a round dance and a fair dance with a bear. Not a single holiday in Russia could do without dance. The dances were named after the melody, the number of dancers or the pattern of movements. The dances were lyrical or martial. One for every occasion. The soul sings - the legs start dancing.

round dance . Dance with pagan roots. Circle in honor of Yarila, ancient god sun. "Walking after the sun" is part of the Slavic rites. Over the centuries, the ritual character has faded into the background. The round dance has become the main decoration of Russian folk holidays. The nature of the dance changes from occasion to occasion. Either they start a round dance in honor of the arrival of spring, then they meet Ivan Kupala, holding hands, scarves or girlish wreaths.

Troika . A folk dance that can be unmistakably recognized by counting the dancers. Initially it was a man and two women. Rhythm and steps - as if in a Russian trio of galloping horses. The troika is danced not only by folk dance groups, but also on the classical stage. As, for example, in the ballet The Nutcracker to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Kalinka . A dance performed to a song that is only reputed to be folk. Authorship belongs to Ivan Larionov. Russian composer and folklorist wrote Kalinka in 1860. The melody went straight to the people from the stage of the Saratov amateur theater. There are no special choreographic figures in Kalinka: it is an improvisational dance. Including on ice - as in the case of figure skaters Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev.

Lady . A daring dance like a "social conflict" in the spirit of who will dance whom. Main characters- "madam-lady" and "peasant peasant". To the accompaniment of an accordion or balalaika, majesty opposes prowess, smoothness of movement versus dexterity. According to one of the versions, the Oryol province became the birthplace of the dance.

Kamarinskaya . The dance "hands on hips, from heel to toe" became a fantasy for the orchestra. Mikhail Glinka in his overture used the melody itself and the overtones characteristic of folk singing, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky included the theme in " children's album". AT leading role dance version - "Kamarin peasant", a cheerful and provocative resident of Kamarichi, the volost of the Oryol province.

Cossack . Russian, Terek, Kuban. The dance is international with squat passes, pair dances and jumps. The peppy and perky melody of the Cossack has been known since the 18th century. The glory of folk dance reached the Parisian salons along with the Russian troops. Alexander Dargomyzhsky wrote "Little Russian Cossack" for the symphony orchestra, and since the 19th century, the Cossack in Russia was "promoted" to a ballroom dance.

Russian folk dance

Russian folk dance

squatting . Dance as an element of combat. Initially Slavic warriors squatting went on the attack, and in the time of Suvorov they competed in the "combat squat" along with drill and shooting. Whether an exercise in acrobatics, or a dance that raises morale. AT Vologda region a century ago they competed in dances, throwing knees, and the naval squatting dance was called "Apple" - after the name of the tune.

Quadrille . From the French village to the Russian through the noble assemblies. Russified French dance in Russia has acquired its own traditions. The dance meeting of several couples has grown into a real romance in a dance with many chapters: "acquaintance", "walk", "separation", "farewell". Supplemented with a ditty,

The soul of the people lives in its culture, and especially in dances, expressing without words all the most important and distinctive, inherent in a particular nation. Russia is distinguished by the richness and variety of dances. Some are centuries old, some are not so long ago. The people who inhabit the area modern Russia, knows Russian dances, the names of which are on everyone's lips. These are "Seni", "Kamarinskaya", "Vorottsa", "Wattle", "Four" and "Steam Room". All dances with such different names are united by the breadth of the soul and movements, prowess, the ability to enjoy life, be proud of one's people, while maintaining modesty.

Features of Russian dance

One of the types of folk dance is Russian dance. It has several varieties:

• round dance;
• a dance of an improvised nature (for example, a lady or a dance);
• dance with a given sequence of figures (for example, lance or square dance).

Each district keeps its own characteristics of their performance. Differences may be contained in the manner of dance, its character. People in each individual locality also gave their own name for their variety of dance. This name usually has a connection with the name of those places. It may come from the title of the song. The most common size is 2/4 or 6/8. According to their pace, Russian dances range from rather slow to very fast. Some varieties change tempo throughout one composition. Most of the time the pace is faster.

Round dances are different from other types of Russian dance. Only women or only men can enter the round dance. There are also mixed options. During the round dance, songs are often sung. Often the songs are in the form of a dialogue. Most of the time the movement is in a circle.

The dance is a kind of dance competition. If a female part is performed, then the movements should be majestic, smooth, calm. Often in the hands there is a handkerchief. Men, on the contrary, in the dance demonstrate prowess, dexterity. Movements should be wide, dexterous. In the male dance, scenes filled with humor are not uncommon.

round dances

Russian round dances came from ancient times. They contain the desire of the Russian people for unity, inseparable bond generations. Back in the time of Prince Vladimir, the Russians danced and sang the exploits of their warriors, who stood guard over peaceful life. During the Grand Duke's feasts, round dances were one of the traditional entertainments. Now it is not known for certain since what time round dances have been danced in Russia. These dances are mentioned in legends. But since there is no clear indication of the time of the events in the legends, it is inappropriate to talk about reliable facts testifying to the specific time when these dances appeared.

Sources that would clearly stipulate when and in connection with what the first round dances appeared on Russian soil have been lost. Art historians, linguists who study Russian dances, the names of these dances, used to believe that the word "round dance" comes from the Greek chorobateo. This word meant "I step in the choir." But then this version was recognized as untenable. Another version of the origin of this word was in two original words. These are the word choros, meaning "the face of singing, dancing", as well as the word ago, which translates as "I lead." This version was also completely criticized.

Some philologists continue to work on explaining the etymology of the word "round dance". There is an opinion that Latin there are matching words. In particular, such a word is found in the IV book of Horace (7th ode, it says: horos ducere, the phrase literally means the following: “lead the choirs, faces”). The version looks very plausible. If you do not take into account the fact that folk dance originated among ordinary workers. And they hardly read Horace and admired the interesting consonances of his statements. Of course, a lot of realities came from the life, life and culture of the Greeks into the life of Russians. This happened along with the spread of Christianity. But now it is impossible to speak with exact certainty about how and when the round dance appeared in the life of the people.

Common Russian folk dances for adults are similar to the dances of neighboring nations. Among the Lithuanian-Russians, instead of a round dance, there is a korogod. Croats, Bohemians, Carpatho-Russians, Dalmatians, Morlaks dance kolo (circle). This Slavic kolo is very similar to a round dance. Movement in a circle here is accompanied by songs, games, dances. There are some modifications of the round dance in certain areas of Russia. For example, in the Tula, Moscow and Ryazan regions, it was customary to talk about those who went to the round dance that they would be “thin to drive”. The word "thin" here, apparently, comes from the word "toloki", which meant a game built on the movement in a circle of a group of crowded faces.

The Russian round dance has the same meaning for the Russian soul as the tradition of playing a wedding. The round dance reflected the delight of a Russian person before the beauty of nature in summer, spring and autumn. The poetic essence of the soul of the people lives in it, the ability to enjoy every day, enjoy communication with relatives and friends.

It is unlikely that anyone will argue with the fact that dance is perhaps the most striking form of folk art. Those or other choreographic images and techniques used in different countries often provide an opportunity to get to know national characteristics specific group of people and act as their original business card.

If we talk about what kind of Russian folk dances exist, the names of which are known all over the world, then here the situation is similar. A certain style, which has been established for a long time and has been formed over many centuries, helps to easily recognize the domestic choreographic school from many others. However, despite the apparent similarity of all these elements, certain distinctive features each of them has. Therefore, it is necessary to give an accurate description and consider in more detail each name of the Russians. folk dances, which will be listed below.

Basic dances of Russia

This type of creativity takes its history from Ancient Russia. At that time, not a single fair or any other mass event could do without traditional dances, the main features of which are the breadth of movements and valiant prowess, surprisingly combined with poetry and self-esteem.

Of course, dancing in the vastness of Russia required energy and physical strength from men, and from women - smoothness of movements and stateliness. That is why the Russian folk dance, the list of which was periodically updated with new elements and hallmarks- This is a kind of ode to the fatherland. Since often such performances were accompanied by legends and songs about the heroes of the Motherland, about the kings and their victories.

The main Russian folk dances, whose names often reflect their essence, are as follows:

• trepak;
• round dance;
• Russian dance;
• game folk dances;
• improvisation dances.

Each of these elements of domestic choreography requires closer attention, since it is necessary to describe all these numbers and characterize their main features.

Squatting - Russian folk dance

This popular dance originated back in 1113 in Kyiv after the death of Grand Duke Svyatopolk. It is believed that the name of this type of Russian folk dance was born thanks to the bricklayer Pyotr Prisyadka, who, working on his haunches, without unbending for many hours, went out into the street and jumped, stretching his legs that had become stiff during the working day. Once, being in Kyiv at the invitation with his retinue, Vladimir Monomakh was driving through the city and immediately noticed the unusual movements of Peter, turning to the then Metropolitan Nicephorus with a question. A few days later, a previously unknown mason danced in front of the Grand Duke himself, entertaining him around the clock. This dance, sometimes referred to as "Pod-Squat", gained great popularity in ancient Kyiv and has reached modern times almost unchanged, retaining its basic set of movements. Often, it is with the squat that foreigners associate Russian folk dances, the names of which, although they do not know, can distinguish them by their originality and breadth of presentation.

Khorovod as one of the main Russian dances

It is difficult to assign any specific date of appearance to this special and unique type of Russian national choreography, since the depth of its penetration into the origins of Ancient Russia is truly mesmerizing. It is safe to say that even the ancient Slavic tribes led round dances, celebrating this or that holiday in their own way.

Of course, the name of a Russian folk dance of this kind directly reflects its main feature - “to lead in a choir”. As a rule, such dances were always timed to coincide with some solemn event (the meeting of spring, a folk festival in honor of good harvest etc.). Residents always prepared in advance, called guests from other cities and villages, baked loaves and dyed eggs.

There is also a distribution of Russian round dances according to the seasons. The most fun times are spring, summer and autumn, and it was during these periods that the inhabitants danced the most, paying tribute to the forces of nature and celebrating every day they lived with the joy and love inherent only to the Russian people.

Popular Russian dance-improvisation

Along with round dances, the so-called improvisation dances are widespread among the people, the main difference of which is that the dancers participating in them are not limited to any one certain type movements, and everyone is free to demonstrate what they are capable of. Their whole essence lies in the fact that sometimes such performances were a surprise not only for the audience, but also for the performer himself. That is why they are usually associated with improvisation.

As a rule, boys and girls were taught from a very young age how to perform such Russian folk dances. The names of these numbers are now known to almost every Russian (“Lady”, “Is it in the garden”, “Valenki”, etc.), which allows us to confidently talk about this kind of folklore art that is not losing popularity. Of course, over time, new elements appeared in these dances, they became more dynamic and complex, but this only increased the interest of citizens in their favorite numbers to an even greater extent.

Game Russian folk dances

No less attention should be paid to this genre of national choreography, which, like no other, expressed people's interest in natural phenomena and showed creative observation, which is especially clearly seen in imitation, for example, of a snowstorm, wind, sometimes - a bear, a hare, etc.

As it becomes clear from the name, such dances have a pronounced game part, where the performer does not just dance, but acts as one of the representatives of the flora or fauna, giving them some human features.

In these numbers, the meaningful attitude of a Russian person to the life around him is especially vividly displayed. Therefore, all components of game dances are designed to emphasize certain features and habits of animals as accurately as possible, which is manifested in the design of costumes, music, plasticity, the play of light and shadow, and acting. And the synthesis of all these components allows you to create a unique and inimitable style of performance, so popular among the people.

Folk dance with bears

This type of entertainment first dates back to 907, when Grand Duke Oleg and his people in Kyiv celebrated the victory over the Greeks. On that day, His Majesty was entertained by 16 dancers dressed as bears, as well as 4 real bears, who were dressed in human costumes. At the end of the event, Oleg ordered the bears to be released into the wild, and the mummers were ordered to be executed, because, according to legend, the badly seeing prince saw in them the northern ambassadors he hated, who had not paid him a debt equal to several hundred marten skins.

One way or another, such fun was practiced in Russia very often, and performances with bears became a constant fun, especially for guests who were not used to these wild animals. Perhaps it was after this that the appearance of a Russian person began to be associated with this strong, powerful, but usually benevolent animal.

At all times, traditions have been valued and respected in Russia, and therefore they have preserved such creativity as folk dances to our times. The names of the main folk dances, as it becomes clear from all of the above, fully reflect their very essence and personify the simplicity and breadth of the soul. Therefore, it is important to keep such folklore unchanged so that descendants can personally see that art was held in high esteem in Russia, and also to make sure that the national heritage flourished for many more years.

Russian folk dances have a deep history and take their roots from Ancient Russia. Russian folk dances include: fervent huge round dances, dances and folk mass festivities, which were an integral part of the annual traditional holidays, entertainment programs and symbolic fairs. What is this type of choreography? What are its distinguishing features and advantages?

First of all, Russian folk dances are laughter and humor, active movements and jumps, perky dances and, of course, beautiful colorful dances. National costumes. We can say that this dance is a characteristic of a Russian person: broad soul and an unbridled desire to give fun to yourself and the world around you! Oh, mother Russia is wide and Russian folk dance is wide, because it is based on square dance, round dance, and dance.

It is important to note that this dance requires energy, masculinity and sharp movements from the stronger sex, and wise majesty and smoothness in every step from the female. Russian folk dance is a story about history Great Russia. After all, very often they were accompanied by songs with texts about heroes, kings and good deeds of their homeland.

It is generally accepted by historians that various tricks and jumps performed by dancers in Russian folk dances were invented by the people in order to keep warm, because basically everything important holidays were celebrated in winter or autumn, when all land work was completed. This is how it became warm for both the soul and the body! At the present time, Russian dances of the original form are not practiced on folk holidays, now they have become a stage highlight and a great way to light up the hall.

Russian folk dances were popular in Ancient Russia. These are cheerful clockwork round dances, festivities, which were widely used at various fairs, entertainment programs, holidays of Ancient Russia. Russian folk dances - fun, dancing, festivities, humor, beautiful national costumes. This is a characteristic of a Russian person, a bright and wholeheartedly dance to cheerful and groovy music. At the heart of this dance are: square dance, round dance, dance.

Just as in Japan the image of a dragon is revealed in dances, so in Russia the image of a rooster, and in Siberia - a bear. Russian dance requires energy from men and majesty and meekly "floating" movements from a woman. Usually Russian folk dances combine a large number of people holding hands, wreaths or scarves. In these dances and the music accompanying them, whole stories of peoples, heroes, kings, homeland, country and the great Russian land were told.

In ancient times, raft dancing was very popular. They were performed at night: wreaths with lit candles were thrown along the river, various crafts from flowers and straw, usually such a kind of dance was performed on the night of Ivan Kupala (Russian holiday). This type of dance is also a kind of ritual, since it was on this night that the girls were looking for a groom. They launched wreaths woven with their own hands into the water, and which of the men would catch the wreath and was considered her fiancé.

Russian dance originated in 907, at a festival at the Prophetic Oleg, where dancers dressed as bears and vice versa performed. Dancing with bears in Russia is considered traditional.

In the West, it is generally accepted that all kinds of tricks and jumps performed in Russian dances were invented by the people in order to keep warm, since basically all Russian holidays take place in winter or autumn, when the people coped with all land works. And inventive people came up with such a way out of the situation.

At present, Russian dances of this type are not practiced on holidays. Folk ancient dance smoothly stepped onto the big stage.

Dance is special kind folk art. It is incalculable how many different dances and dances existed in Russia and still exist in modern Russia. They have a wide variety of names: sometimes according to the song they dance to ("Kamarinskaya", "Seni"), sometimes according to the number of dancers ("Steam Room", "Four"), sometimes the name determines the picture of the dance ("Wattle", "Gate" ). But in all these very different dances there is something in common, characteristic of Russian folk dance in general: this is the breadth of movement, boldness, special cheerfulness, poetry, a combination of modesty and simplicity with a great sense of dignity.

Russian dance:

Russian dance is a type of Russian folk dance. Russian dances include a round dance, improvised dances (dance, mistress, etc.) and dances that have a certain sequence of figures (quadrille, lance, etc.). In each region, these dances are modified in character and manner of performance and usually have their own name, derived from the name of the area or dance song. The musical time signature is usually 2/4 or 6/8. Russian dances are slow and fast, with a gradual acceleration of the tempo. Round dances are female and mixed. They are performed more often in a circle, usually accompanied by a song, sometimes in the form of a dialogue between the participants. The dance has the character of a competition. The female dance is characterized by smoothness, majesty, light coquetry, playing with a handkerchief; the dance of men is distinguished by daring, dexterity, breadth, and humor.

round dances

Russian round dances, decorating our family life seem to be as ancient as our life is ancient. Did the ancestors live in houses, they were engaged in games, dances, round dances; whether they were at the massacre, they sang of their homeland in their epics. There are people who point us to the past action, but there is no correct indication of when the round dances began. The history of round dances lies in legends; and all folk tales talk about the past as if it were the present.

The places where folk dances take place have received special names in many places and have retained this right from time immemorial. Rivers, lakes, meadows, graveyards, groves, cemeteries, vegetable gardens, wastelands, courtyards - these are the places for their departure. In some places there are festive round dances, in others ordinary. Festive round dances are the most ancient: they are associated with the recollection of the past, an immemorial folk festival. For such round dances, villagers and townspeople prepare in advance, call distant guests and neighbors, paint yellow eggs, bake loaves, scrambled eggs, pies, brew beer, honey and mash. Festive round dances are sent equally by villagers and townspeople, while ordinary ones are more noticeable in cities. The girls of rich fathers go out to have fun in their yard, where their friends gather to them. All this happens in the evening, with the end of work.

Russian round dances are distributed by season, free days life and class. Spring and autumn are the two times when the villagers have the most fun. Accepting the division of round dances into spring, summer and autumn ones, we will see a real picture of Russian life and we can more correctly follow the gradual course of popular amusements.

Improvisation dances:

Along with round dances, dances-improvisations, dances-competitions are very popular among the people. In them, the dancers are not constrained by a certain composition. Each performer is given the opportunity to express himself, to show what he is capable of. Such dances are always unexpected for the audience, and sometimes for the performers themselves.

Among such dances, the following are widely known: "Lady", "Veselukha", "Topotukha", "Pleskach", "Monogram", "Cossack Dance", "Gorodets Gate", "Balalaika", "Chebotukha", "Siberian fun", "Polyanka", "Crane", "Gusachok", "Timonya", "Valenki", "Chatterboxes", "In the garden," "Circular-dancing", "Matryoshkas", "Northern tricks", "Polka" and others .

Boys and girls "learn" to dance-improvisations from an early age. The dancer does not want to repeat himself, to do what others do - hence the great variety of original Russian dances.

The form of dances-improvisations, dances-competitions in our time has received further development. They became more dynamic, sharp rhythms, complex dance elements, various combinations appeared. The girls dance more boldly, more energetically, as equals competing in skill with the guys.

Game dances:

A special place belongs to dances, in which the observation of the people is manifested: either about natural phenomena ("blizzard", "blizzard"), or about any animals or birds ("Bull", "Dergach", "Bear").

These dances can be called game dances or game dances, since they have a very pronounced playful beginning. In his movements, the dancer does not just imitate the habits of animals or birds, but tries to give them the features of a human character.

There is no dance without image. If a choreographic image does not arise, a set of movements remains, at best an illustration of the event. For folk dance, a meaningful attitude to the events of life is typical, and if illustrative moments occur, then only as a deliberate device. Of course, dancers use elements that imitate, for example, gait, flights, the habits of ganders and geese. But this is not just an image of a bird, but in this case a dance game, where its condition is the imitation of birds, a dance competition in which dexterity, invention and skill in depicting a goose triumph.

It is very important that all components are subordinated to the creation of the dance image: movements and drawings, that is, choreographic figurative plasticity, music, costume, color. At the same time, the expressive means of dance do not exist on their own, but as a figurative expression of thought. The completion of all this is achieved by the synthesis of all components.

Russian folk costume:

In the embodiment of folk dance great importance have stage costumes. stage costume is created on the basis of the folk one, but, of course, it is lightened so that it is convenient for the dancer to move. Russian folk clothes beautiful, bright in colors, rich in ornaments, embroidery. In creating clothes, the people showed as much talent and artistic taste as in creating songs and dances.

The men's suit is characterized by a special cut of the shirt - a kosovorotka (the cut of the collar is not in the middle of the chest, but on the side). The kosovorotka did not have a tailor-made stand-up collar: the collar and the incision were simply sheathed with a narrow strip of red calico. Pants were sewn from canvas, decorated with patterns or stripes. Later they began to sew smooth trousers of dark color.

A sundress is typical for a girl's costume. It was worn in the North, and in the Central Russian and southern regions. Girls' hairstyles and headdresses were noticeably different from women's. The girls braided their hair in one braid, wore ribbons and various bandages on their heads.

Round Dances and Gatherings

In an old legend about the kingdom of Moravia, the harp-narrator mentions rafts on the lakes, where young people gathered, "did round dances and played in circles." It is difficult to judge what kind of dances were performed by the ancient Russians on unstable rafts. The modest harpman does not give picturesque details of those holidays and games, but several times in three short verses he repeats old word"SHAME". Probably, despite the lack of karaoke and DJ, our ancestors managed to have a great time.

DANCE WITH BEARS

The first official mention of Russian folk dance dates back to 907, when Prince Oleg the Prophet celebrated his victory over the Greeks in Kyiv. At the gala reception, 16 dancers dressed as bears and four bears dressed as dancers performed for the guests. After the end of dinner, according to the order of the prince of the bears, it was ordered to release them on all four sides, and the dancers to be executed. As it turned out later, the blind-sighted Prince Oleg mistook the dancers for the ambassadors of the Northerners, who owed him several hundred marten skins.

PETRO PRYADDA

In 1113, Grand Duke Svyatopolk died suddenly from an unpleasant illness in Kyiv. (Traditionally, all Russian princes, presidents, and tsars were either Great, Light, or both). The time of confusion, robberies and pogroms, usual for Kyiv, has come.

Bricklayer Petro Prisyadka did not go with mazuriki to other people's yards and shops. He worked hard squatting with heavy stones and tools in his callused hands. Every evening, after his labor feat, he went out to Khreshchatyk and, having taken a ladle of wine and a loaf, began to jump, stretching his legs that had become stiff during the day.

Vladimir Monomakh, invited by the people of Kiev to the kingdom in order to calm the lawlessness, drove through the city in the evening with his retinue. He immediately noticed a strange dance and pointed out to Metropolitan Nicephorus the dancing fellow. Within a few days, Petro was dancing for the Grand Duke of All Russia every breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dancing like Squat or Squat soon became fashionable in wealthy Kyiv. The fat buffoons were losing weight and learning to dance "B-Squat", breaking their crooked legs on the nasty medieval sidewalks.

In 1126, when Monomakh died, Peter returned to his usual duties and corns. He died when he was 38 years old, becoming during his lifetime common name the most famous Russian folk dance movement in the world.

RUSSIAN FOLK DANCE TRICKS

In the West, it is generally accepted that the outlandish jumps and antics of traditional Russian dance are the result of a cold climate. northern country. Say, "Squat", "Arabic", "Goat", "Spread", "Devil", "Pistol", "Ring", "Keg", "Pike", "Bedouin", and other tricks were invented by Russians, exclusively to keep warm.

Indeed, most of the traditional Russian holidays were celebrated in autumn and winter, when the work in the field was over. The fun began with a prayer, then a plentiful drink and snacks, songs and dances, and the fist fight "wall to wall" completed the cycle. After the break, the procedure was repeated.

Experts say that at cold air temperatures, extreme dancing was the best option for continuing the fun on the street - at that time it was not customary to celebrate at the table in front of the TV.

CLIMATE THEORY

I do not personally disagree with the so-called climatic theory of the emergence of Russian dance in its Western perception ("squats", "legs", "goat", "gun"). During the winter cold, it is customary for Russians to wear fur coats and sheepskin coats. I happened to be on guard duty in Soviet army and I think that in a heavy sheepskin coat there can be no question of any squats. I allow shots, jumps, and tap dances, but not Pistol, Dash, or Goat.

Buffoons

In my opinion, the Russian dance was promoted by "buffoons" - street performers, half-forbidden by the church. Among the artists of the troupe, some were strong in magic tricks, others knew how to predict fate, some sang and danced, and all were excellent at stealing.

Buffoons moved from city to city, from fair to fair and adopted the best tricks and movements from local residents. Otherwise, how would the peasants in the Tver and Penza villages know about "Bedouinsky" and "Cossack"?

Over time, some teams broke up, others were killed by competitors, and some were caught by guardsmen and they turned into court troupes at the courts of wealthy landowners.

Court jesters and chapels

Russian dance and music ensemble "Barynya" from New York bad temper and love for art, it became customary to keep jesters, singers, harpists and dancers at court. Court artists were considered yard people on a par with cooks and grooms.

When the tsar got tired of the show, all the artists went to the soldiers or to the prison. Unlike the dancers of the Barynya ensemble, the dancers of Ivan the Terrible spent all day inventing new tricks and performances, and rehearsing the rest of the time.

Ivan the Terrible spent a five-year military budget on bar mitzvah for his son: he hired fifty guslars and 34 dancers, exactly as much as the tsarist secret police managed to catch in a year in the 101-kilometer zone of Moscow.

It was the picky Ivan the Terrible who issued a decree forbidding dancers to perform in the same dress in different numbers of the program. The heads of the disobedient were cut off.

ACADEMIC AND FOLK ART

The richer the Russian tsars and landowners became, the wider the gulf between folk and academic art became. Important opera divas don't say hello to fat people folk singers. A slender ballerina in beautiful tight pantaloons did not shake hands with a Russian dancer in Ukrainian trousers and importantly rode past him on a cab to visit her boyfriend to drink cocoa.

The great Russian composers Tchaikovsky, Glinka and Pakhmutova tried to reverse the situation. They inserted excerpts from folk melodies into their fashionable operas and ballets and even orchestrated them with their inherent skill.

The creative community of Russian composers known as " mighty bunch" also tried to turn the tide, but certain circumstances prevented them, and not only them alone.

HOW COMMUNISTS MADE THE WEST TO LOVE FOLK DANCE

After the dust has settled civil war and the blood of the revolution dried up. The Soviets allocated funds for the organization of a folk dance ensemble. In 1937, the first in Russia appeared professional ensemble folk dance conducted by Igor Moiseev - the best in the world academic ensemble performing folk dances. Moiseev laid the foundation classical dance on improvisation and folklore prowess.

The idea was a success, the West "pecked", the ensemble enjoys wild success. The productions, tricks and ideas of the group are used by almost all choreographers in the world, except for the most uneducated and lazy ones.

RUSSIAN FOLK DANCE IN THE ORIGINAL

An interesting concept was proposed by the innovators of the New York ensemble "Lady". The refusal of the bass balalaika player Leonid Bruk and the balalaika player Alexei Sinyavsky to memorize works longer than 15 seconds and the unwillingness to read from the notes or play to the soundtrack forces the well-trained dancers of the team to build the plot of the performance on the go and fake the dance to unexpected changes in rhythm and music, depending on the mood of the soloist or bass player's condition.

Neither the spectator, nor the dancers, nor artistic director ensembles never know how the dance number will end. As a result of such joint creativity on the stage, sometimes very interesting and eye-pleasing combinations are obtained. And sometimes they don't work out.

And the Russian folk dance, clogged with choreography, meanwhile returns to its origins - improvisation.