All about gypsy dance

Gypsy dances attract with their incendiary and colorfulness. An extravaganza of colorful outfits, spectacular movements of the body and hands, charming smiles will not leave anyone indifferent. Such dances are filled with cheerfulness and expression. Seeing this charming sight, I just want to take part in it.

For a long time, it was believed that the Roma were from Egypt. However, in the middle of the 19th century, academician from Germany August Friedrich Pott found evidence that India was still their homeland. He managed to find the ancestors of the gypsies, whom we see in the modern world, in the territory of Ancient India.

In those days there was a caste known as "home". It consisted of musicians and dancers who roamed the north of India. It is worth noting that such castes still exist. Roma began to come to other countries in the 5th century and this continued for 1000 years.

It is not surprising that the reflection of creative roots can be observed today. Singing and dancing were originally an outlet for the representatives of this people, and then they began to turn into a profession. It is noteworthy that from a very early age, kids are already trying to drive with their shoulders and sing along.

Gypsies appeared on the territory of Russia in the 18th century, having migrated from Poland. Merry caravans, which used to tell fortunes, traded horses, sang and danced, attracted Russians from all over the country. Quite often, the peasants even let them into their huts for the winter to make it more fun. In the 19th century, the formation of the famous gypsy choirs began, which both Pushkin and Tolstoy liked.Gradually, the art of a vibrant nation began to gain popularity among nobles and merchants.

Gypsies from camps and cities constantly kept in touch with each other, which gave development and preserved the originality of their work. The best numbers began to go to the people, and the movements of the tabor beauties began to appear on the stages. In addition, gypsy singers and dancers began to adopt what they saw from others.

It should be recalled that the "gypsy" dance gained fame thanks to Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, who was interested in this people. Gradually, Roma began to work not only on the streets, but also in restaurants, as well as on various major holidays. Each event with their participation was filled with enthusiasm and carelessness. Over time, in Russia, wide festivities began to be symbolized with noisy and cheerful gypsy performances.

The dance performed by bright gypsies looks especially charming. It combines unusual plasticity of hands and complex fractional percussion. At the same time, women also have time to work with a tambourine, a skirt and even a shawl. The dancers move their arms in a very sensual and varied manner. At times it seems that they are hugging someone, and then, like a blade, they cut the space around them. It is thanks to this that the performers convey all the brilliance of emotions.

The girls hold the skirt in one or two hands at once, making sweeping movements. Looking at this, thoughts of waves involuntarily come. The special sequence allows the skirt to be lifted by a cascade of ruffles. Another feature of the dance is fractions that can be performed by both women and men. To understand the full depth and beauty of gypsy dance, you need to get to know it better.

There have always been many gypsy dance groups; there was always a lot of competition between them. However, it had a positive effect on the professionalism of the artists. In addition to traditional elements, performers began to introduce their own, author's, based on a specific reason or situation. Of course, in general, the motives and manner of performance remained characteristic of the Gypsies.

Currently, several types of gypsy dances can be distinguished.

• The stage is a whole show. He is characterized by good choreography, straight posture and well-placed hands. The dancers, as a rule, wear wide skirts, which are called “two suns,” and the dancers wear shoes with special steppe heels. In the process of dancing, there can be theatricalization.
• The tabor version is performed in a free manner, which is also called folk. In this look, there are also expressive movements of the skirt. The performance is exclusively solo. It turns out that the dancers replace each other in a certain sequence.
• Street gypsy dance based on group improvisation... It is very important for him to be in constant interaction with the audience.

Only a professional can give lessons of real gypsy dance. Learning original performances at home will not be easy. But there are certain techniques in which everything is shown step by step and quite clearly. Before proceeding directly to the study of incendiary rampage, you should learn a few important rules.

• Good posture should be maintained at all times. Only thanks to a straight back will it be possible to effectively perform all movements.
• You have to work with your feet like a ballerinato achieve correct and elegant movements. This is where the basic classic principle in the form of an inversion comes in handy. The foot is placed on the floor so that the toe is outside, not inside. However, do not be zealous: it is enough if the socks are only slightly directed to the sides.
• It is important to combine smooth hand movements with fractional percussion. This can only be learned after many hours of practice. And they usually start with basic movements for the legs and arms. Only after they are well worked out do they move on to various variations.

In gypsy dance, hand movements are a mandatory component.... They are the ones that cause admiration and attract views. It seems that they do not stop at all, all the time bending like snakes and recreating wonderful patterns. Sometimes it even seems that the dancers have no bones, because their hand movements are filled with unprecedented flexibility and plasticity. In each stroke, the joint participation of the shoulder joint, hand and all fingers is visible.

To many, this seems almost impossible. However, in reality, such complex movements consist of fairly simple elements. To master the gypsy witchcraft of the hands, you first need to learn them separately, and then put everything together.

The following basic hand positions are distinguished.

1. Rotations in a circle are performed by spreading the arms to the sides and making flips with the hands. In this case, the right hand will be on top, and the left one is slightly brought forward. Coups are done first with the left, and then with the right, and then they change. There are many other variations of this position as well.
2. Smooth movements of the brushes first down, and then swing them up... Starting position - arms are spread apart.
3. An image of a figure eight in front of you using brushes. In this case, one hand should reach up, and the other elegantly draws a figure of eight. The movements are repeated after changing hands.
4. Keep your hands in front of your chest with your palms facing up.... Alternately, starting with the little finger, you need to bend one finger at a time so that they come closer to the wrist. This movement is performed at a gradual increase in tempo to create a fan effect. After that, the hands must be spread apart, raised up and done with the brushes, opening the fan.

In addition to these, there are many more options for how you can move your arms. However, when performing them, it is important to observe the following rules.

• The head should also respond to hand movements.... The hand that is working as well as the chin must be connected with an invisible thread. For example, if the arms fly up, then the chin should also rise. With the hand moving to the side, the dancer's gaze should follow her.
• Move your hands and fingers with a certain amplitude and expressively. The movements should not feel like they are mechanical. In this case, the fingers must be held so that the air flow is felt between them.

A temperamental dance cannot do without fractions, which are gradually accelerating. Gypsies give themselves up to this extraordinary rhythm, which is able to bring the audience into a real trance. At its core, the roll is some kind of trick designed to attract attention and show the skill of the performers. The combination of this type of movement with the simultaneous weaving of patterns by hands is especially difficult.

The shot begins with the right leg going up and hitting the floor. After that, you need to take your leg back. Next, you should raise your left leg, make it the same forward blow, and then remove it. For punching, alternate kicks are done. At the same time, they start from the left, and then add the right, and so on.

The decoration of the gypsy dance is beautiful turns. Moreover, they can be seen in any choreographic performance. You can also catch a variety of rotations, slow or rapid movements. Moreover, they are performed both standing still and moving around the stage. To fill the dance with expression, they additionally move their skirts or hands when turning. When circling, you should not wander your eyes around the audience, but fix your head at one point for as long as possible. It is better to make turns for beginners in one of the directions: to the left or to the right.

To turn in one place, you must transfer all the weight to the left leg, while the hands are removed from the hips. After that, the right leg is opened slightly and placed behind the supporting leg. To make the turn smooth, it must be done standing on two legs. In this case, the hands are located as follows: the right one is in front of the chest, and the left one is at the top. When the twisting has been completed to the starting position, you should close your hands on your hips.

Colorful gypsy dance costumes are also part of the inimitable show. The most popular accessories are a tambourine and a shawl. For dancers, an important element of the image is a wide skirt. Moreover, it is important that there are a lot of frills, ruffles and other lush decor elements on it.

The length of the skirt should be ankle-length or slightly higher so that movements are clearly visible. The traditional performance of the dance assumes that the girl will be barefoot, but on stage the option in shoes is chosen.

It is important that the stage costume includes gold jewelry. This is how a woman looks luxurious. However, along with this, the cuts on the shoulders and sleeves of the jacket symbolize poverty. The garment also featured vibrant colors, including reds, greens, blues and yellows. Black is often present, especially in men's suits.

Popular prints will be peas and flowers, and recently there have even been options with dragons and snakes. At the same time, it is important for dancers that when using the pattern, the contrast between the shirt and trousers is visible. This rule is also typical for women's suits.

It is important that the clothes are not only colorful, but also comfortable. It should not overly adhere to the body, but it is also not good when it weighs in a bag. For example, a skirt should be chosen from the calculation so that you can do a variety of bends or swings in it.

Often, girls complement their image with a bright hair clip, and men - with a hat or cap. Stage costume must be in perfect condition. All clothes must be ironed, and shoes must be polished. This is the only way to make the dance unforgettable.

The following video shows a variation of the gypsy dance.