Scandinavia

Scandinavian / Viking Dance

The Vikings migrated to Iceland and Greenland. One of their dances was called the Icelandic Schottische. Religious clergy wiped out the music and dances in the area. The Vikings eventually died out in Greenland because of the mini ice age that hit the northern hemisphere.

There were many famous people who fought to protect the various countries. Sisters Ammaron and Kenau Hassilaar led a battalion of 300 women who fought on the city walls and outside the gates defending the Dutch city of Haarlem against a Spanish invasion.

Medieval Carole line dance is believed to have come from the Norwegians, and then spread throughout Europe. Carole dance means, singing while dancing. The line dance travels forward, backward and to the sides. The formations of the dances are in pairs. The first couple joins hands to form a bridge. While the rest of the couples go under the bridge to the end of the line, to form another bridge. Norway’s dances are separated into: bygdedans, gammaldans or runddans, trudans and sondans. One of the most popular dances in Norway was the Rhinelander. It was also called the Bavarian Polka. The Polka is defined as a lively couples dance.

Swedens dances are called; folk dances (figure dances), village dances (bygdedans and gammaldans), song dances (long dances and song game dances), Some of the oldest dances documented are called bygdedans, which stands for village or country-dance, danced to a violin. The hey dance became popular in Sweden in the late 1700’s.

Many Denmark dances were called Totour, which means “two figures.” Sonderhining dance from the e island Fano represents a ship’s rising and falling while sailing across the sea. The Danish have many fun dances.

Finlands folk dances have always been social. They have a large variety of dances. Humppa is a type of music from Finland. There are also the Humppa social dances. The related German style called the oompah. The Mazurka was popular in Finland. The Pupuri are long ceremonial dances done at balls. Ball dances were sequenced.

Historical documentation is also a part of dance. In Holland there’s a dance called the Dutch Heughtyde a processional dance, singing traditional songs and beating brass instruments in honor of ancestors. Chain dances are popular all throughout Scandinavia. All the countries share some of the same dances. Denmark had approximately 4 Celtic tribes.