Austrian folk dance

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The Austrian folk dance is usually associated with typical Austrian folk dances , such as Landler , the originally Slavic polka , or waltz , or (originally only in the vicinity of Upper Bavaria) the Schuhplattler . This also includes dances that were not originally Austrian, such as courtly inspired dances, such as counter dances , language island dances or the torch dance . As a whole, the Austrian folk dance is assigned to the alpine folk dance .

The Austrian folk dance movement was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2011 . The umbrella organization and stakeholder is the Federal Association of Austrian Folk Dance .

history

Development of folk dance

Today's folk dance culture is a predominantly urban construct of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that borrowed from rural traditions.

Research and reception

The Austrian folk dance movement is rooted in the research and collecting activities of some personalities of the late 19th century and borrowed from rural traditions, often only in remnants. At the same time as the systematisation and recording of the various dances began, the focus on Austrian peculiarities began. The dances were not only collected and saved for posterity, they were also taught more intensively and thus saved from extinction.

Raimund Zoder (1882–1963), who not only documented folk dances with the help of standardized recording technology, but also collected suitable dance music at the beginning of the 20th century, is considered the founder of the tradition of collecting and systematising (German) -Austrian dances . From the beginning, both the training of dance musicians and the provision of festive clothing in the form of traditional costumes were promoted. The Austrian folk dance movement emerged from Zoder's legacy, a very lively tradition of its own that is passed on and developed from generation to generation.

In 1956, on the initiative of Hermann Lein, the Federal Association of Austrian Folk Dance was founded as an umbrella organization . In addition to Austrian groups, there are also South Tyrolean groups represented.

In March 2011, the Austrian UNESCO Commission included this culture as the Austrian folk dance movement in the directory of the national intangible cultural heritage in Austria , in the performing arts section . The purpose of this designation is binding protection as a living cultural tradition. It was shown for all of Austria.

According to the UNESCO commission, the diversity of folk dance is threatened by various developments and its continued existence is endangered: by “freezing” and thus making a particular folk dance image into a museum, by instrumentalizing folk dance for the interests of tourism and business as well as politics and regionalism, through possible increasing perfection and professionalization or through a possible focus on performance and competition . Reduced representation techniques in the mass media can also lead to a distorted or limited perception of the folk dance movement in the eyes of the population.

The folk dance movement today

The traditional dance culture is still alive today in many regions of Austria and South Tyrol and thus forms part of the national cultural heritage. Radiations of the Austrian dance culture to Bavaria as well as worldwide in communities with a population with a migration background can also be determined. The individual folk dance groups and folk dance circles in all federal states offer dance opportunities to this day.

For the average Austrian, folk dancing is typically not something in which he actively participates, but is limited - if at all - to watching demonstrations and performances. Nevertheless, apart from this performance culture, there is also an active traditional folk dance scene in which the traditional dances are cultivated as a leisure time enjoyment.

However, the focus of the self-image of Austrian folk dance is not the performances of professional groups, but the common dancing of different age groups and skill levels. Particularly noteworthy is the development of a canon of basic Austrian dances, which found their way into the dance repertoire all over Austria and South Tyrol. The dance events of the Austrian folk dance movement usually follow a predetermined sequence from the dance to the dance sequence to the final circle.

Club life itself is also important ; through mutual visits by dance groups and the organization of international festivals, numerous geographically far-reaching connections have been created and maintained. Dancing together of different ages also has an effect that unites generations. Special efforts are made to make folk dance attractive for young people.

Austrian folk dances

Dance families are, for example, Landler or Landler , Mazurka , Polka , Rhinelander , Schuhplattler , Waltz ( German dance ) or Zwiefacher .

See also: List of dances and folk dance (with a list of folk dances)

Austrian basic dances

All 20 basic dances are listed on the Austrian Basic Dance page . But there are countless other dance forms and local or regional varieties. Other folk dances from Austria are, for example, the Kuckuckspolka , a Rhinelander form, the Lunzer Boarisch , a Paschboarisch form or the Paschate Zwoaschritt , a lathe form.

Very detailed lists of folk dances from the Upper German-speaking area and international folk dances can be found in the "Web links" section.

Language island dances

Language island dances are dances that were danced by German-speaking minorities in the former Austria-Hungary , i.e. outside of today's Republic of Austria (see language island , e.g. Transylvania ), such as the Rediwa .

Figure dances and round dances

The dance sequences of the folk dance festivals often only explicitly show the figure dances (e.g. also circle dances ). Figure dances are dances with an individual sequence of figures to which a name and a "characteristic melody" have been assigned (e.g. through folk dance care , see also folk culture ).

The round dances include waltzes , polka , Boarischer , Zwiefacher , etc. In contrast to the figure dances, the most varied of melodies are played with the round dances, while the figure dances usually begin with a certain “characteristic melody”, by which experienced dancers can recognize which dance is being played . The musicians only switch to other melodies in the course of the dance at will or at their ability.

Most dancers only perform the round dances in their basic form, but with the appropriate ability - and provided it suits the character and tempo of the music - it is possible to use figures from the corresponding figure dances, e.g. B. Lunzer Boarischer to the Boarian , open waltz to the waltz etc.

More dances

See also: List of dances

Delimitation of the term folk dance

Dances that are mistaken for (traditional / handed down) folk dances, but which are actually "invented" or choreographed dances, are for example the Vogerltanz , a party dance and the Landler from the musical The Sound of Music . The song Edelweiß from the musical The Sound of Music is not a folk song either .

Folk dance, folk dance, folk dance, folk dance and dances of the world

(D. H. In Austrian folk dance and folk dance scene international folklore dance scene), the international folk dances in their entirety as " folk dances called" in contrast to the (Austrian) "folk dances". “Folk dancing” generally means practicing Austrian folk dancing. Within the folklore dance scene, however, “folklore dancing” does not always exclude Austrian folk dance .

The reasons for these delimitations are likely to be that the term “folk dance” has a somewhat negative connotation. Conversely, when it comes to the terms “ folklore ” and “ customs ”, “folklore” seems to have an ironic appeal to “customs”.

This is also expressed in the new creations Volxtanz and Folktanz , which see themselves as the “renewed folk dance” (cf. “ New Folk Music ”).

In keeping with this linguistic background, the invitation to the Vienna Kathrein Dance 2005 speaks of “Austrian dance”.

Apart from the differentiations described, which are only made in the Austrian folk dance and folk dance scene, the categories “folk dance”, “folk dance” and “dances of the world” refer to the same thing.

Folk dance and standard dance

The waltz and the polka are performed slightly differently in folk dance than in standard dance . In particular, the polka is very quiet and waltz-like and rather rare in the gallop dance-like form as in the dance schools taught and is known from the folk scene.

Practice of folk dancing

clothing

Austrian folk dances are mostly danced at folk dance festivals in traditional or “renewed” costumes or in matching everyday clothing, for example the men in dark trousers and white shirts. Everyday clothing is also common on practice evenings. The costume is used in particular for appearances, but there is an overlap of the traditional costume maintenance in traditional costume clubs and folk dances, the costume can also be used without an audience in everyday life. Countless local forms are used in traditional costume in Austria , which also shape the characteristics of the individual folk dance groups. Folk dance and costume are not fundamentally linked in the folkloric sense, the folk dance movement is alive in itself.

Folk dances and copyright

Austrian folk dances are free of copyright, but not all melodies played at folk dance festivals as round dances ( polka , waltz , etc.).

Musical instruments

Are usual Styrian accordion , violin , clarinet , dulcimer , harp , flute , brass instruments , etc., as an accompaniment often bass or guitar . Drums (see New Folk Music ) and amplifiers are unusual . B. used the devil's violin or wooden or metal spoon.

Folk dance events

Folk dance festivals

Today's folk dance festivals are usually structured as follows:

  1. Dance of all those present followed by a greeting and a final waltz
  2. Dance blocks with breaks
  3. Closing circle, usually with a closing song

In Vienna , three or four large dance blocks with longer breaks and many figure dances are common, more traditional is the division into many short blocks (approx. 3 - 5 dances each) with shorter breaks and a higher proportion of round dances.

In the so-called dance - free time there are generally no traditional folk dance festivals.

Examples of traditional folk dance festivals:

  • Alpine Club Folk Dance Festival (Vienna)
  • Waldviertel Folk Dance Festival (changing location in the Waldviertel)
  • Lower Austrian Folk Dance Festival (Casino Baden)
  • Day of the young costume (Hürm, Neunkirchen)
  • Festive dancing (Vienna)
  • Dance festival on Corpus Christi day (Römerwand - Goldene Stiege - Rathauspark Wiener Neudorf)
  • Autumn dance festival in front of Belvedere Palace (Vienna)
  • Kreuzbund folk dance festival (Vienna)
  • Country dancing (Vienna)
  • Leopolditanz ( Klosterneuburg and Wiener Neudorf (formerly Mödling ))
  • Summer dancing (Vienna, twice a week during the summer holidays)
  • Dance in the Heustadl (Wienerwald / Lower Austria)
  • Wiener Kathreintanz (Vienna)

Although there are still many traditional folk dance festivals today, references to these events can sometimes only be found in the mailings of various folk dance organizations , in magazines such as the Fröhlichen Kreis , on relevant web portals such as Volkstanz.at or on event calendars on the Internet, which also include folk dance serve.

Further folk dance events

In addition to seminars and dance weeks, the folk dance groups and institutions organize mainly practice evenings and open dances . “Open dancing” is the common term in the folk dance scene for dance evenings that are also open to guests, in contrast to the so-called “group evenings”, where this is not a matter of course.

research

Well-known folk dance researchers are Raimund Zoder , Richard Wolfram , Herbert Lager , Karl Horak , Hermann Derschmidt , Richard Bammer , Walter Deutsch

Mediation

In addition to the dance groups and associations themselves, cultural associations such as the Volksliedwerk also maintain the music. Folk dances are taught in local clubs, in music schools , but increasingly also in kindergarten and school lessons , and at dance schools .

See also

literature

Magazines:

More specials and materials:

Web links

Commons : Austrian folk dance  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Materials:

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Austrian folk dance movement. Austrian Commission for UNESCO: List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria. immaterielleskulturerbe.unesco.at (accessed March 31, 2016).
  2. ↑ Pictures of traditional costumes , dancilla.com.
  3. ^ Folk music and copyright. volksmusikschule.at