Telling about the national characteristics of the country (in our case - Ukraine), it is impossible to ignore Ukrainian folk dances. Why? The thing is that this phenomenon is actually the most unique.
Looking at fervently dancing men and women, you involuntarily become infected with their energy and positive emotions. And this, perhaps, is not surprising, because even the music for Ukrainian folk dances is selected special - cheerful, incendiary and, as they say, with a twinkle! That is why this part of folk traditions and rituals has long been the object of close attention from leading ethnographers around the world.
This article aims to acquaint the reader with the culture and rituals of the neighboring state. Indeed, as practice shows, if hopak - a Ukrainian folk dance with a rich history - can still be considered more or less famous, then many readers have not even heard of the rest. Let's fix this unfortunate injustice!
Section 1. Ukrainian folkcreativity
All over the world, the folk art of this state, among which Ukrainian folk dances are a very important link, is one of the brightest.
Let's explain why. The thing is that the national dance of the country is rooted in the distant, one might even say ancient, past. It has developed along with the history of the Ukrainian people and the country as a whole, and is made up of the results of centuries of development of precisely national identity, categorically different from that of all other nationalities of the planet.
Ukraine is a country with a relatively large territory, so each individual region has its own characteristics and traditions, which are also manifested in the performance of folk dances.
No matter what part of the country fate brings you to, try not to miss the periodically arranged festivities. Almost all parts of Ukraine perform dances that differ in their own pace and rhythms, features of steps, passages and jumps.
For example, in the eastern regions bordering Russia, Ukrainian folk dances have absorbed elements of the cultural heritage of a neighboring country. The central part of the state expresses its identity in movements, and Western Ukraine boasts a colorful "Cossack" culture.
Section 2. What do they mean?
Ukrainian folk dances, whose names can be found in almost every guidebook dedicated to the ethnic group of the local population, combinean incredible harmony, emotional oversaturation and folklore eternity. But that's not all. Each of them brings something of their own to the culture, some unique zest. For example, the Ukrainian folk dance "Cossack" even immortalized the glory of the heroes of the nation - the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks.
Despite the fact that there are no clearly defined rules in "Kazachka", nevertheless, according to tradition, it is danced in pairs, with special fun and improvisation.
Talented musicians over many centuries have made a lot of changes and diversity in the original melody "Cossack", but the dance still retains its charming rhythm, unusual beat, beautiful and accurate sounds.
It should be noted that "Kazachok" is, without any doubt, an action with a strong patriotic character.
By the way, the same can be said about the second folk dance - hopak, consisting of bizarre movements and unusual for the inhabitants of other countries of the production, which Ukrainians seem to smell by nature. They know how to dance to blend in with the melody.
Ukrainian folk dances keep the emotions and experiences of many generations of the whole nation. They depict the soul of the people, their excitement, victories, defeats, achievements, humor and tragedy. The whole world will recognize Ukrainian folk art by its bright national color, ardent passion, climactic breakthroughs, gentle currents, fortitude, uniqueness of movements, rhythm and melody.
The population of this country is proud of its heroic past and present, which is why even in the modern world of scientific and technological progressa circle called "Ukrainian folk dances for children" is almost the most popular among young people. Toddlers and teenagers are happy to comprehend the basics and wisdom of this type of national culture.
Section 3. Dance as part of the country
Deepening into history, one can learn that, in general, folk dances in Ukraine developed under the influence of ancient Slavic pagan traditions, the culture of neighboring countries, the victories and defeats of the people and the innate musicality of the nation. The most ancient types of dances have come down to us - ritual.
Even now, many regions of the country, according to ancient tradition, celebrate spring holidays with songs, stoneflies and May round dances, “Marinons”, which resemble a wreath with an intricate weave of brightly colorful flowers.
The cultural we alth of Ukraine is made up of folk dances with regional differences: tropaks, hopaks, blizzards, cossacks, kolomyikas, and in the west - polkas, quadrilles, hutsuls and w altzes.
The manner of their performance is very different in each region: for example, in Polissya dance steps are frequent with a jump, and in the steppe regions free and wide movements prevail.
Section 4. Dance outfits of Ukrainians
The culture of the Ukrainian people, which has developed over many centuries, is represented by songs, dances, customs and clothes.
Folk dances, distinguished by their originality and originality, are always performed in national clothes. For girls, such a garment was a white longshirt, on the sleeves, hem and collar, generously embroidered by hand with rich patterns, made with a cross or satin stitch. Ukrainian women always wore skirts over their shirts - plakhty. Bright red beads were an obligatory element in the festive national costume of women. The girl's head was supposed to be decorated with a bright beautiful wreath with flowing multi-colored ribbons reaching to the waist.
Men's national costume is represented by wide red harem pants, belted with long and wide sashes wrapped around the waist several times, and a white shirt. A pointed astrakhan hat was supposed to show off on the head.
The legs of both women and men were wearing red boots.
Today, Ukrainian children's folk dances are always performed in traditional costumes. Sometimes children get shirts embroidered by mothers, grandmothers or even great-grandmothers. Such items of clothing are valued and often passed down from generation to generation.
Section 5. Hopak - Ukrainian folk dance and a symbol of the state
The most famous dance of the Ukrainian people, born back in the time of the Zaporizhian Sich - hopak - was originally danced only by male warriors. Today, it is considered a unique and authentic martial art, but even women can already dance it.
As a rule, hopak is performed by young men - with great dexterity and ease, courageously and temperamentally. Girls should move lyrically, cheerfully, softly and modestly.
Ideally five boys and only two girls dance the hopakunder a moderately fast pace of execution.
Section 6. How do the Cossacks dance, and what is the history of this dance?
Kazachok is a folk dance of Ukraine with a lively general mood, provocative, cheerful and cheerful, very similar to hopak, but differs in fewer acrobatic elements and lyrical character. The main movements are considered to be throwing the legs forward in turn from a sitting position and squatting steps.
The first musical arrangement of the dance was made by the Polish composer S. Dusyatsky at the beginning of the 17th century, and in Russian manuscripts the melody of the Cossack girl dates back to the 2nd floor. XVIII century. Cossack gained particular popularity in the 1820s, after which he began to appear in French ballets.
Section 7. Peculiarities of kolomyka performance
Kolomyyka are Ukrainian folk Carpathian dances and dance songs. Unfortunately, the exact time of the origin of the dance is not known, but a Ukrainian town in the Ivano-Frankivsk region called Kolomyia is considered to be its origin.
Kolomyykas gained their special popularity in the middle of the 19th century. The verses of such songs are composed of two lines, each having 14 syllables. By the way, not everyone knows that the anthem of Ukraine was written in the same order.
Section 8. Blizzard as part of folk festivals
An obligatory part of the Ukrainian folk winter festivities is the fast game dance "Metelitsa", which is distinguished by its diverse whirling and quick change of figures.
Dancers shouldconstantly spinning in a fast round dance, reminiscent of a blizzard, to the general singing.
The whole round dance is built on just a few movements, among which the main couple carries along all the dancers, either in the so-called figure eight, or in a circle, or as a snail.
Section 9. Swift Tank
Ukrainian ritual folk mass dance "Tanok" is a kind of round dance with songs and elements of the game.
In principle, Ukrainians call any folk dance a tank. As a rule, they were performed accompanied by the songs of the dancers themselves, on the holidays of the folk calendar.
For such actions, linear movements "opposite each other" are characteristic.
