Norwegian
Folk Dance
Norwegian folk dance is, as a rule, divided into four
categories:
1.
Bygdedansene: dances from the rural townships.
These comprise the different types of couple dances
such as gangar, springar, rull, and halling or ‘lausdans’
which translates as loose dance (free and unattached)
= solo dance for a man and very athletic.
Generally
the difference between Gangar and Springar is the time
signature and the step. Gangar is in duple time, often
6/8, and derives from the word ‘gang’ =
gait, walk; Springar is in 3/4 and comes from the verb
‘springe’= to run.
Bygdedansene
are considered to be the true Norwegian folk dances
in that they represent local tradition with clear continuity
from the past.
2.
Gammeldansene: Traditional old-time dances.
These are round-the-room dances from Europe, and include
polkas, reinlenders, mazurkas, pariser and vals.
These
were the most usual dances on the dance floor cir. 1900,
and in many areas replaced the Bygdedansene.
3.
Turdansene: Set dances with figures. Seksmannril
= reel for six, Tretur = formation or figure dance for
three dancers, Åttetur = for eight people.
These
are related to the old ballroom dances such as Courante,
minuet and Playford’s The Dancing Master.
4
Folkevisedansene: Ballad dances. These have
a distinct choreographed form and were based on Norwegian
folk songs and song dances from the Faeroe Islands.
The writer, Hulda Garborg, was responsible for many
of them.
The
most usual musical instruments accompanying the dance
were the Langeleik dating from about 1500, a stringed
instrument which was placed on a table and plucked.
And of course the Hardingfele, or Hardanger fiddle,
dating from the eighteenth century. Nowadays, dance
orchestras are usually made up of fiddles, a double
bass and piano accordion.
On
formal occasions the national costume, called bunad,
would be worn for dancing. Made from thick materials,
these would be fine in the winter months, but dancing
in the hot summer heat could be very uncomfortable.
One of the most important people responsible for collecting
and researching Norwegian folk dance was a woman called
Klara Semb,
1884 – 1970.
Brian
Toney
back
to top |
