Dance is an ancient art, the images of which are created by means of rhythmic movements, accompanied by music and sound effects. Among the many different types of dances (sports, classical, pop, modern), a special place has always been occupied by folk or folk dances.
The history and characteristics of folk dances
It is known that the first dances arose in ancient times as an expression of a person’s emotional impressions of the world around him. Initially, they showed natural phenomena occurring in the surrounding world, imitated animal gestures, and copied the plant world. Subsequently, the dance movements repeated the features of labor processes. Since different nationalities lived in different climatic conditions, developed differently, national dances gradually emerged, which just showed the specificity of certain cultures.
This folk art form is distinguished by a set of traditional movements, costumes, melodies, rhythms. Its main feature is the reflection of cultural values, life, historical development of individual nations. It is a folk dance that perfectly emphasizes gender differences, the relationship between the sexes. Men often dance with weapons in their hands, musical instruments, creating the image of a conquering man, a defender, setting the pace of life. Women usually hold a scarf, flowers, household items in their hands, personifying the guardians of the hearth. In addition, in the dance you can trace the history of the country's development, get acquainted with the peculiarities of its life and even the rhythm of life.
Like any other, folk dance has its own characteristics, characteristic movements. However, its uniqueness lies in the fact that for each culture, each nation these features will be different. This is the complexity of this genre, because dancers should not just be beautiful, graceful, any movement should be in harmony with the music and reflect the flavor of the nationalities represented. At the same time, dance folklore gives dancers the freedom to transform, makes it possible to find themselves anywhere in the world, and at the same time to carry the audience along with them on this journey . Therefore, folk dance is not only the specificity of movements. It is also the unity of costumes, music, additional attributes that all together create the character of a particular nation.
Folk dances for children and adults
Today, there are a lot of clubs, studios, schools involved in dance training, and parents often have a choice: which type of art to prefer. Unfortunately, in such a variety of choices, folklore often loses. Modern and variety dances seem more fashionable, sports - promising, and ballet - graceful. In fact, folk dance is an extremely fascinating art form. It will develop coordination of movements, contribute to the development of flexibility, the development of posture, will have a beneficial effect on the overall physical development. But at the same time, it will also become a great way to familiarize oneself with the culture of one’s native country and get acquainted with the origins. At the same time, various dances of the world are performed in folklore: incendiary Latin American, provocative Ukrainian, sincere Polish and others. This is a multitude of images and cultures, dance folklore allows to become a part of.
Artistic directors advise to start dancing closer to five or six years, when the child is already well coordinated, but still quite plastic. However, in some cases, you can start earlier (in 3-4 years), but it is important that the classes take place in the same age group, so that all children receive equal amounts of attention. If the goal is not professional dancing, you can start attending them at a later age, including adulthood. After all, the main thing is to enjoy music, movement, and created images. And from that amazing journey around the world that can give a national dance.