Ritual Dance-games – Little Explored Components of Ukrainian Traditional Wedding

The purpose of the article is to introduce into scientific circulation and summarize new materials that allow you to get acquainted with the traditional wedding dances of Ukrainians. Methodology. The study was conducted on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach, through a systematic analysis of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Oleksandr Kurochkin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KNUKiM Publishing Centre 2019-12-01
Series:Танцювальні студії
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dancestudios.knukim.edu.ua/article/view/188813
Description
Summary:The purpose of the article is to introduce into scientific circulation and summarize new materials that allow you to get acquainted with the traditional wedding dances of Ukrainians. Methodology. The study was conducted on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach, through a systematic analysis of literary, documentary, ethnographic and folklore materials. Scientific novelty. For the first time, an attempt was made to determine the roles, functions and semantics of ritual dance-games as an integral part of the traditional wedding ceremony of Ukrainians. Conclusions. The place and importance of dance in the wedding ritual of Ukrainians today has not been studied enough. Wedding dances can rightfully be divided into two groups: ceremonial and non-ceremonial. The latter relate to the artistic phenomena of the late formation, they are not related to the genesis and structure of the ritual and may be included in the program of various festive and entertainment events and proceedings. But the ceremonial dance-games considered in our intelligence belong to the deeper layers of folk life and culture and make up the organic and structurally-forming dominant of wedding action. The initial syncretic nature of folk art is clearly visible in them, where the dance is closely intertwined with other types of arts: drama, pantomime, singing, music, playing, public entertainment. In fact, we are talking about the fragments of ritual chorea – magic dance-singing-games, which have survived here and there in the traditional environment until the 21st century. The considered group of dances ("Zhuravel", "Zaichyk", "Tantsi na riadni", "Choboty") is distinguished by national identity, brightness, exoticism, carnival freedom and humor. At the same time, they are characterized by social significance, a focus on fulfilling an important social missionuniting the clan collective. Ritual dance-games require further study using modern methods and techniques of the ethnochoreology science.
ISSN:2616-7646
2617-3786