Eldariel
2014-06-21, 10:08 AM
So, I've begun taking courses on partner dancing about half a year ago. Dancing is quite the important part of my life nowadays, but it occurs to me that I only really know of the Finnish dancing tradition. See, in Finland we have these things called "lava" (would roughly be translated as "stage" or perhaps "platform") with their own rich history and culture, but I know little of what kind of culture for partner dancing specifically exists anywhere else in the world; I'm not as interested in performance dancing, though ironically I find I know more of it than partner dancing on the international level.
My interest prompted me to create this thread: What kind of dance cultures particularly for partner dancing exist around the world? I know a bit of ballroom dancing after a chat with a partner, who lived in the UK for a couple of years, but even there little more account wouldn't hurt. And I know next to nothing about anything beyond the Finnish and the British tradition.
I suppose it's also a relevant and interesting question, if there are any other dancers around here. So, anyone else into dancing of any kind? How long have you been at it? When did you start? What does it mean to you?
A few words on the Finnish "lavatanssi" ("stagedance") tradition to start things off: These places tend to have live music and there's a huge number around the country. Dances start in the evening and usually last way into the night. Summer is more of the dancing season. Songs always come in pairs; two consecutive songs are of the same type. When you agree to dance with a partner, you always dance at least these two songs. In stages, you don't go dance just with your own partner, but before every two songs the dancers willing to participate in that round form two lines, and people from one line go pick the partner they'd want to dance with from the other line; refusal is rare and considered rude without a good reason.
In the older days, men were always the ones who would do the asking of the partner, but nowadays the leaders and the followers usually take turns; generally leaders start and in about one hour, it's the followers' turn. In the end of the session, the last hour or the last half an hour is usually mixed, where both sides are allowed to do the asking.
Traditionally the dances we dance are mostly old Finnish (jenkka, humppa, sottiisi, masurkka, polkka), traditional (ballroom waltz, fast waltz, fox), tango (while an import, it's almost considered a Finnish dance nowadays and it's hugely popular), and more recently swing dances (the Finnish "fusku" alongside bugg, lindy, BW, jive, etc.) & Latino dances (cha-cha, samba, salsa, rumba/bolero, etc.). Much depends on the band of course.
Age demographic also depends on the band but it seems like the population on the stages is mostly 30+, aside from the occasional band more popular with the younger audience. As a consequence I mostly go with our dance club, to guarantee there are some dance partners about my age present.
My interest prompted me to create this thread: What kind of dance cultures particularly for partner dancing exist around the world? I know a bit of ballroom dancing after a chat with a partner, who lived in the UK for a couple of years, but even there little more account wouldn't hurt. And I know next to nothing about anything beyond the Finnish and the British tradition.
I suppose it's also a relevant and interesting question, if there are any other dancers around here. So, anyone else into dancing of any kind? How long have you been at it? When did you start? What does it mean to you?
A few words on the Finnish "lavatanssi" ("stagedance") tradition to start things off: These places tend to have live music and there's a huge number around the country. Dances start in the evening and usually last way into the night. Summer is more of the dancing season. Songs always come in pairs; two consecutive songs are of the same type. When you agree to dance with a partner, you always dance at least these two songs. In stages, you don't go dance just with your own partner, but before every two songs the dancers willing to participate in that round form two lines, and people from one line go pick the partner they'd want to dance with from the other line; refusal is rare and considered rude without a good reason.
In the older days, men were always the ones who would do the asking of the partner, but nowadays the leaders and the followers usually take turns; generally leaders start and in about one hour, it's the followers' turn. In the end of the session, the last hour or the last half an hour is usually mixed, where both sides are allowed to do the asking.
Traditionally the dances we dance are mostly old Finnish (jenkka, humppa, sottiisi, masurkka, polkka), traditional (ballroom waltz, fast waltz, fox), tango (while an import, it's almost considered a Finnish dance nowadays and it's hugely popular), and more recently swing dances (the Finnish "fusku" alongside bugg, lindy, BW, jive, etc.) & Latino dances (cha-cha, samba, salsa, rumba/bolero, etc.). Much depends on the band of course.
Age demographic also depends on the band but it seems like the population on the stages is mostly 30+, aside from the occasional band more popular with the younger audience. As a consequence I mostly go with our dance club, to guarantee there are some dance partners about my age present.