Bal folk

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This article or paragraph presents the situation in Germany . Help us to describe the situation in other countries.

The term Bal Folk ( French bal - "dance event, ball"; folk - "folkloric") denotes in French roughly the same as the German term folk dance evening . The French Bal Folk has its roots in the folk revival of the 1970s, in which not only politically progressive, urban student circles but also traditionalist circles were involved.

Bal folk in Germany

In German, the term is mostly used to designate dance events in which mainly dances are danced that are viewed as French, sometimes in contrast to the term Fest-noz , which is also used , in which dances are danced that are almost exclusively Breton be considered.

In Germany, the Bal Folk is one of the forms of interactive dance evenings that is spreading more and more here, in contrast to folk dance events that are sometimes experienced as dusty and rigid . In Bal Folk, the dances of the French regions (such as Auvergne , Berry , Gascogne , Alsace , Bretagne and Poitou ) are usually danced to live music, whereby the composition of the dance mix depends on what the band is playing. Because everyone joins in, everyone contributes to the special atmosphere, a mixture of fun, music, joy in movement and socializing.

Circle, row, couple dances and mixer are danced (these are couple dances in which a partner changes after each turn). Occasionally one can find Basque group solo dances.

The typical six basic dances of Bal Folk are waltz , mazurka , Scottish , bourrée and the mixers Chapelloise and Happy Circle . With the development of the folk scene and the associated mix of French dance styles, there are now many Breton dances (for example An-dro , Hanter-dro and Gavotte , as they originally come from the Fest Noz), many Branles from Alsace (where new Branle choreographies are also being created) and dances from the other regions mentioned. Dances from other countries (Sweden, Germany, Spain and Italy) are increasingly being included in the Bal folk repertoire.

There is also a strong Bal folk movement in the Benelux . In Flanders in particular there has been a very strong and well-organized, predominantly student Bal-Folk scene under the label “ Boombal ” since around 2000 .

procedure

Typical Bal Folk usually starts between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. and often goes well past midnight. The majority of the dancers dance most of the evening. The instructions for the dances are only given in individual cases, but many dances can be danced along quickly.

The Bal Folk is often preceded by a workshop where you can learn the most important Bal Folk dances. With Bal Folk it is important that the floor is easy to dance to, which is why the majority of Bal Folk events take place in halls with wooden floors or parquet. The dancers usually wear ordinary clothes.

music

As a rule, the live music is played with the following instruments (or a selection of them) amplified or unamplified: diatonic and chromatic accordion , violin , hurdy-gurdy , bagpipes , guitar , harp , bombard , flute and double bass . But modern instruments are also being used more and more, for example electric bass , electric guitar , saxophone and drums .

Bal folk festivals

In addition to individual bal folk evenings, bal folk festivals lasting several days are increasingly being held, with several bal folks taking place, mostly every evening and sometimes during the day. The festival program can be supplemented with music courses, sessions, hikes and other activities. Due to the longer program, Bal Folk festivals usually have more visitors (hundreds to several thousand) than individual Bal Folk evenings, which also come from greater distances. The bal folk scene in Germany is significantly influenced by the various large festivals. For example, dance and music lovers often go to the festivals in groups, there is an exchange of music and dances, and bands are mutually engaged.

Bands

  • Well-known groups from Germany who play (t) s to Bal Folk: "Allumette", "All You Can Dance", "Aller Hopp", "AOK!", "Bal la", "Bilander", "bilwesz", " Bal Affaire (formerly Brümmkreisel) ”,“ Cassard ”,“ La Chanterelle ”(until 5/2011),“ Danzvogel ”,“ Dudlhupf ”,“ Dudelquetsch ”,“ Die Hayner ”,“ Fiddlesticks! ”,“ Fievklang ”(up to 10/2010), "Helix", "La Marmotte", "Marion Ludwig & Steve Ellis", "Les hommes ventrus", "Moenus", "Palouse", "Pas de Quoi", "Prends tes Pieds", "Querx "," Saiten, Fell & Frlefanz "," SPOC "," Trio Grande "," Viernheim Jam "," Die Zwei "
  • Bal folk groups from France that can occasionally be heard in Germany: "Au Gré des Vents", "Ciac Boum", "La Chavannée", "Duo James-Leblanc", "Excalembour", " La Machine ", " Parasol "," La Poupée du Loup "," Toc Toc Toc "
  • Other Bal Folk groups: " Blowzabella " (England), "Bruno et Maria" (Germany / Switzerland), "Gonnagles" (Netherlands), "Hot Griselda" (Netherlands / Belgium), "Martina quiere bailar" (Spain) , "Naragonia" (Belgium), "Phoenix" (Denmark)

These groups play traditional and new, also self-composed melodies for the Bal folk dances. The most important criterion is that a piece can be danceable (rhythm, tempo, character, arrangement).

Many musicians do not strictly adhere to the notes of the respective piece and vary or improvise. This is facilitated by the fact that many bands play by heart. This and the interaction with the dancers creates the tension that is necessary to keep a dance alive.

Dances

The presented dances (but often only a selection of them, sometimes also dances that have not yet been mentioned here) are played live by the band at a Bal Folk in any order, some can also occur several times in one evening.

There are also many dances that are on their way to the Bal folk repertoire, such as Congo de Capsieux, Scottish impaire, Pas d'été, Carnaval de Lanz and Sept sauts.

literature

  • La danse traditional en France d´une ancienne civilization paysanne à loisir revivaliste . Yves Guilcher, Librairie de la Danse, FAMDT, Courlay 1998

Web links

Individual evidence