Each nation has its own folklore. Usually these are dances, songs, epics, fairy tales. From father to son, from mother to daughters, legends about the times of the past are transmitted. In difficult times, people turn to their origins. Around the historical roots is a national unity. Nowadays, interest in our history has grown tremendously. And what is the story without folk art? After all, a person’s patriotic upbringing begins precisely with his recognition of his roots, this is laid down from childhood in the family and school.
Folk art
Russia, in the matter of preserving its history through folk songs and dances, occupies one of the leading positions in the world. From year to year, cultural institutions hold amateur performances and folk art festivals. Increasingly, teenagers and children are attending these events. Every year more and more people are attracted. Recently, there has been a trend according to which not only children but also families participate in the shows. This indicates an increased interest of Russians in the history of their land.
Folk art would not be able to find such wide distribution without amateur performances. Songs, dances, playing folk instruments, staged holidays that once existed in Russia - all this helps to maintain its roots, fosters respect for its ancestors.
Amateur festivals and shows
Typically, the initiators of festivals and folk art shows are cultural houses, local history museums, and historical patriotic circles. The day of the event is agreed in advance with the administration of the city or region. The event is being tried to coincide with the date of an event important for the area. It can be victories in wars and battles, the birth of famous people, ancient holidays.
The festival or show itself becomes part of the festivities. The celebration takes place according to a prepared script. Amateur performances are performed not only by famous folklore groups, but also by local amateur groups. Competitions are particularly successful. For collectives of folk art and circles reviving ancient crafts, such shows are an opportunity to show themselves to the people, to arouse people's interest in the work of the collective.
Scenarios
Amateur scenarios are very diverse. If the holiday is timed to coincide with some significant event for a given locality, then the script is written taking into account its specificity. If the all-Russian holiday (New Year, Christmas, Easter) or an old holiday (Shrovetide) is taken as the basis of the show or festival, then the scenario of the amateur art show is completely based on this event.
How is the review
The show itself takes place in the form of a series of competitions among dance and song groups. Among them are the following:
- Amateur art competition for the best dance.
- For the best costume.
- On the original arrangement.
- For the best performance of the song.
- For the best song collective.
Typically, the goals of competitions are to attract the attention of the viewer to the creativity of the people and increase the level of patriotic education. Competitions between groups reveal the strongest. Winning groups await prizes.
Competition Program
Competitions include amateur performances presented by artists. Each team exhibits several members with a specific musical number. This can be a single or group dance, folk song, choral performance, a variety of acrobatic and comic performances, recitation of poems and small theatrical works, playing musical instruments. It all depends on the specifics of the celebration.
Long before the show, intensive training begins. The number of participants in amateur performances is determined. Costumes are sewn, a repertoire is chosen, rehearsals are held. Much depends on how the group or performer performs. Of great importance is the advertising of the team. It is equally important to attract new talents to the team.
Mugs of folk crafts
It has become common practice to invite festivals of various circles, whose participants revive folk crafts. Anyone who attends a festival or competition can buy a souvenir here. This may be a product created by the ancient technology of folk crafts. Souvenir products may be of different materials. Pottery, leather accessories, glass or metal jewelry, antique clothing (bast shoes, onuchi, malachai, shawls, lace), wooden utensils and antique utensils are very popular.
Amateur performance as a holiday of the day off
Although festivals and shows are timed to a specific event, they are scheduled to be held on the day off closest to this date. This allows you to attend a cultural event with the whole family. People don’t have to rush anywhere. They have time to relax, have fun, learn something new for themselves, interest in the history of their land and the folk art of their children, even discover hidden talents in themselves and their loved ones.
Administration initiative and assistance
Often the initiator of festivities, the program of which includes reviews of art groups, becomes the administration of the city or region. For competitions, separate venues and stages are allocated. The order is guarded by the police. During such regional festivals, retail trade in confectionery and drinks is organized. Organizers think over the program in such a way that amateur performances are interesting to most visitors. This is achieved by the fact that the program alternates dance, choral and song numbers.
One Art Contests
Amateur art performances can be focused not only on some significant event, but also on a certain type of art. So, often held shows and festivals of the popular oriental dance in our country. Dance groups from all over the country and neighboring countries are invited to such an event. The building of the House of Culture is rented for the competition. In the lobby there is an exhibition-sale of costumes, accessories and jewelry. The concert hall hosts performances by amateur groups and individual performers. The concert is guarded either by employees of a private security agency or by the permanent guard of the House of Culture. The whole event lasts one, and sometimes two days. The host party undertakes to meet and resettle its guests.
A bit of history
Amateur art originated in tsarist Russia. Then folk art circles were organized at factories and factories. They included lovers of folk dance, songs, craftsmen making folk instruments (balalaikas, flutes) and playing them. The activity of such groups was carried out under the strict supervision of the authorities, who saw various provocations in the meetings of ordinary people.
After the revolution, folk art began to develop at a rapid pace. In the 1920s, the performances of such groups often had an agitational background. The group’s repertoire included not only folklore, but also satirical ditties that ridiculed private owners (curculi), lazy loafers and so on. At the same time, the theaters of working youth began to appear. Amateur art reached its greatest rise by the mid-30s. At that time, amateur ensembles of dance, song, and choral art were created in many republics. Later they were awarded the title of folk art groups and folk theaters.
During the Second World War, amateur performances continued their activities. Participants who did not go to the front gave speeches at hospitals, at defense industry enterprises, for local and evacuated residents of the rear. In the post-war era, amateur performances became widespread. It began to develop not only in the USSR, but also in other fraternal countries. In this regard, international competitions and amateur art shows began to be held. In particular, they were held in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany.
Nowadays, amateur art groups are created in many countries of the world. So, they are in France, Finland, Switzerland. About sixty amateur orchestras work in Sweden. In the United States, student folk theaters, orchestras, and choral groups have become widespread among young people. In Greece, not a single holiday is complete without the performance of folk groups, whose participants are people of different ages and generations. In one group, grandfather, father, son and grandson can play.
It is pleasant to recognize that in our country so much attention is paid to amateur performances. Folk groups exist at the expense of patrons and public organizations. Participants create many costumes and decorations themselves. It is gratifying that there are such enthusiastic creative people who create all the conditions for doing interesting and useful things.
Today, amateur art groups are invited to perform at fairs and various events dedicated to important events in cities and towns. Now there is a tendency for the revival of ancient holidays. This is not only everyone’s favorite Pancake week, but also the holiday of Ivan Kupala, as well as the Russian Week, the Harvest Festival and others. It is important that young people are involved in folk art collectives. This indicates that the link between generations is not broken. If we remember the history and culture of our ancestors, we will have something to pass on to our descendants.