Lithuanian Folk Dance History
Some scholars believe that Lithuanians inhabited the Baltic area--countries lining the Baltic Sea--as early as 2500 BC. Other historians believe Lithuanians migrated to the Baltic area beginning around the 1st century AD. The first reference to Lithuanians by name was found in 1009 AD in a medieval Prussian manuscript, the Quedlinburg Chronicle, according to the Baltics Worldwide website. From the beginning of their origins, traditional dance accompanied the important events in the life of the people, like marriage, harvests, funerals and festivities.
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Ancient Traditions
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According to Lithuania's Vilnius University feature on traditional folk dance, the life of the Lithuanian nation, its character and morals are reflected in the content of Lithuanian dance. Young people gathered to dance in summer fields or in farm houses in the winter. Older people and small children talked and socialized as they watched the dancers.
Early Dancing
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The first information about Baltic dancing appeared at the end of the 9th century. The traveler Vulfstan wrote that the Balts "played" during funerals, that is, they sang and danced. Later explorers and travelers confirmed that Lithuanians played and danced, stressing the dancing styles.
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Style
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Traditional Lithuanian folk dance originated among farmers and peasants. Although certain moves changed through time, the dance traditions retained a graceful charm. There were no war dances or high kicks and jumping; rather, many are based on women's tasks. Folk song lyrics for the dances center around growing crops and tending livestock or relations between young people, as in a marriage ceremony.
Types of Dances
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Dance was also a part of ancient Lithuanian calendar celebrations and rituals. The Lithuanians named each of their dances. Circular or ring dances (rateliai), games (zaidimai) and paired dances (sokiai) were performed for parties and celebrations, as were polyphonic singing dances (Sutartiniu sokiai), which paired specific dance steps with archaic songs.
Political Influence
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In 1918, Lithuania formally declared independence, granted by Germany and the Soviet Union. Schools taught classes again in Lithuanian and children formed folk dance groups and met freely to talk about their views and ideas of cultural solidarity. However, Lithuania's true, long-term independence did not come until long after the Soviet Union's occupation of their country in 1940 and Nazi Germany 's devastating occupation in 1941. Lithuania finally achieved independence from the Soviet Union by 1993. The people had kept their folk dance alive, passing the knowledge on from parent to child through many generations.
Recording and a New Genre
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Up until the twentieth century, writers and historians documented the dances poorly, only occasionally describing fragments of the dancing, like the name of the dance or the occasion the people were celebrating. The chroniclers did not record any songs or dances. Starting in the mid-twentieth century a new, stylized dance genre was formed in Lithuania referred to as "folk dance." Created by professional choreographers, using music composed specifically for the dance, it incorporates the ancient traditional dance, its ideas and moods. However, this is recognized as a separate form from traditional folk dance.
Lithuanian Folk Dance Today
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In Lithuania today, one of the most popular performing arts is traditional folk dancing, according to EveryCulture.com, which states that, "Often schools and towns have their own groups that dress in traditional costume, travel and perform or compete with groups from other locations." Lithuanian dance festivals occur annually around the United States in which Lithuanian immigrants celebrate their communities and traditions.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit folk dancers image by Mats Tooming from Fotolia.com
