Circle dance

Children's Dances by Hans Thoma

"Circle dance" is the most common name for a style of traditional dance usually done in a circle without partners to musical accompaniment.

Description

Dancing in a circle is an ancient tradition common to many cultures for marking special occasions, strengthening community and encouraging togetherness. The circle is probably the oldest known dance formation. It is found even today in the community dances of many cultures, including Greek (Greek dances surviving from ancient Greece (chorea)), African, Eastern European, Israeli (see Jewish dance and Israeli folk dancing), Serbian, Irish Celtic, Breton, Catalan (sardana), South American and North American Indian. It is also used, in its more meditative form, in worship within various religious traditions, including, for example, the Church of England and other Anglican Churches^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} and the Islamic Haḍra dances.

Modern circle dance mixes traditional folk dances, mainly from European or Near-Eastern sources, with recently choreographed ones to a variety of music both ancient and modern and they draw on a rich and diverse dance tradition. There is also a growing repertoire of new dances to classical music and contemporary songs.

Circle dances can be energetic and lively or gentle and reflective. The style and mood reflects the group and the interests of the teacher. It was Bernhard Wosien who first brought to the Findhorn Community in Scotland the traditional circle dances that he had gathered from across Eastern Europe. He so inspired people there that teachers such as Colin Harrison and David Roberts took the dances (sometimes calling their dance 'sacred circle dance') to other parts of the UK and started regular groups particularly in the south east of England and Somerset, then across Europe, the US and elsewhere until now the network extends also to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America. In later years, some started to dance in the formation of a triangle.^[8]

Circle Dance is sometimes also known as Sacred Circle Dance from the original importance it had for the Findhorn Foundation community in Scotland following visits there from 1976 onwards by Professor Bernhard Wosien, a German dancer. Known first as Sacred Dance, it has changed over time as enthusiasts have made contributions, and may now be called Circle Dance, Sacred Dance, or Sacred Circle Dance (SCD). A small centrepiece of flowers or other natural or venerated objects is often placed at the centre of the circle to help focus the dancers and maintain the circular shape. Dancers bring many different belief systems to the circle including conventional religions (see above), New age and Neopagan beliefs and no religious affiliations at all. Much debate goes on within the circle dance network about what is meant by 'sacred' in the dance.^[9]

There is a worldwide network of circle dance groups who meet up weekly or fortnightly. In many groups people are welcome to "drop in" informally to try out a session without having to sign up for a term. (see Networks and Journals, below). Dance weekends and holidays are also available. (see, for example, www.worldance.org for circle dance holiday courses including UK, France, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Israel and Turkey)

Thabal Chongba (Moonlight Dance) of Manipur

Thabal Chongba is a popular Manipuri folk dance associated with the festival of Yaoshang. The literal meaning of Thabal is 'moonlight' and Chongba means 'dance', thus 'dancing in the moonlight'.^[10] Traditionally conservative Manipuri parents did not allow their daughters to go out and meet any young men without their consent. Thabal Chongba therefore provided the only chance for girls to meet and talk to boys.[1] In earlier times, this dance was performed in the moonlight accompanied by folk songs. The music is rhythmic beating of drums accompanied by other instruments. It is performed in every locality on all the five days of the festival. As soon as the moon rises over the hills the flute, the drums and the cymbals starts pouring out music. The boys and girls in a circle clutch each others hands with rhythms of music slow and fast, high and low, up and down. If the number is great they may form two or three rows so that everybody and anybody can participate in the dance. Of its special interest in the dance of legs and of the mind by the side of girl on the part of the males and also by the side of youth on the part of the females and hand in hand dancing. They wear no make-up and special costumes.

See also

• Syrtos
• Kalamatianos
• Sirtaki
• Round dance
• Tarantella
• Oro (dance)
• Mayim Mayim, a popular Israeli circle dance
• Kantu, an ancient Andean circle dance
• Barmaley Fountain

References

• Circle Dancing - Celebrating the Sacred in Dance by June Watts, Green Magic Publishing (2006) ISBN 0-9547230-8-2
• Grapevine, the quarterly journal of the sacred/circle dance network, Circle Dance Friends Company Ltd. ISSN 1752-4660
• The Dancing Circle, volumes 1-4, compiled by Judy King, Sarsen Press, Winchester, England
• Dancing on Water, by Marion Violets Gibson, printed in Wales (2006) ISBN 0-905285-79-4
• The Sevenfold Circle: self awareness in dance by Lynn Frances and Richard Bryant-Jefferies, Findhorn Press (1998) ISBN 1-899171-37-1
• The Dancers Journey, by Bernhard Wosien, translated from the German by Katharina Kroeber
• The Dancers Journey - Bernhard Wosien "Self-Realisation Through Movement" - Ed. Seamas O Daimhin
• Sacred Dance: Encounter with the Gods by Maria-Gabriele Wosien
• The Bible in Israeli Folk Dances by Matti Goldschmidt, Ed. Choros
• Sacred Woman Sacred Dance: Awakening stirituality through movement and ritual, by Iris J Stewart, Inner Traditions, USA ISBN 0-89281-605-8
• Drumbeat, the South African circle dancing journal

• Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes by Shyam Singh Shashi, Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.(1997) ISBN 8170418364
• Social Change in Manipur by B. K. Ahluwalia, Shashi Ahluwalia, Cultural Pub. House (1984)

Notes

1. ^ The Gathering, The Newsletter of the Church of the Redeemer, Pentecost 2008, article starting p 26, SACRED CIRCLE DANCE An Alternative Spiritual Practice
2. ^ The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin Gillingham, Dorset "...while seven women from local churches performed a ... circle dance."
3. ^ Across the See, March 2008, Diocese of Norwich, p 8, "Retreats ... Circle Dance..."
4. ^ St. James's Church Piccadilly, Annual Report 2006/2007, p 41, "We ended with a circle dance."
5. ^ Lifeline, Journal of the General Conference of the New Church, May 2001, p5, "... on the Saturday evening in which we were able to testify our love to the lord using circle dance and hymn singing."
6. ^ On What Do We Stand? And How Did We Get Here?, Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship, October 1, 2006, p 1, "So, committed to tolerance and openness, I took a liturgical dance class in seminary from a beautiful, wise and creative, if slightly wacky, spirit. The class was called “Dances of Social Action” and had as its premise that through the practice of communal dance, one can experience justice and relationship in ways impossible to experience in normal movement. I tried, really I did, but I have to say that I gleaned very little from this class. I do, however, often remember and refer to a bit of wisdom imparted during a circle dance. My wacky professor said, “If you’re ever wondering where you are, look down at your feet. Chances are, where they are is where you are.” "
7. ^ Parish News (for villages of Barnack, Southorpe & Pilsgate; Ufford; Bainton & Ashton, near Stamford, Lincolnshire: http://www.parishnews-online.co.uk/), February 2006, "We finished with the congregation joining in a circle dance and amidst much laughter we trooped out to enjoy mince pies!"
8. ^ Grapevine magazine
9. ^ See many issues of Grapevine over its 25 years history, available via the legal deposit libraries since Winter 2006 or via www.circledancenetwork.org.uk
10. ^ # Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes by Shyam Singh Shashi, Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.(1997) ISBN 8170418364

External links

Networks and journals

• Circle Dance Network Ireland.
• Circle Dance Ireland.
• UK’s Circle Dance Network
• International Circle Dance List Group
• Circle_Dance at the Open Directory Project
• Thabal Chongba
• Manipuri Dance
• Circle Dancing South Africa (Facebook Group).