Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice" has been brought to the screen again and again, and the audience will remember the dance scene in the film: violin impromptu accompaniment, men and women face each other in a line smiling at each other, moving with the music Change positions, the whole team dances in unison, which is quite spectacular. This kind of dance music is lively and lively, with clear rhythm and relatively simple dance steps. This is a very British folk dance: English country dance.
English country dance is a kind of folk dance for the purpose of friendship. In the late 16th century, there were written records about English country dance. There is no detailed record of the origin of English country dance. In Jane Austen's novels and The English country dance seen in the letters stems from a unique dance practice during the reign of Elizabeth. It is said that dancers from Italy and other countries brought court dance from continental Europe to England when they visited Elizabeth I. This dance combined with the English folk dance originated from the gentleman class to form English country dance, which soon became popular in the court. It was later popular among the middle class in London, and slowly the dance spread to the country estates around London. According to records, Queen Elizabeth I liked to dance this "country dance" very much. Due to the Queen's preference, English country dance has not only been popular in England for centuries, but also the darling of balls in Scotland and Ireland, and is often the finale of balls.
Because of being sought after by queens and aristocrats, English country dance has also developed many styles, and the formations are varied: dance partners form a line; men and women stand in a row, forming a double column; pairs of dance partners form a circle. Dancing, forming a round dance; in the British court, dance formations are more abundant, with geometric patterns such as crosses, stars, pavilions, walks (between teams or pairs and pairs); sometimes there is a pair for the audience. The other teams cooperate with the dance steps of the lead dance, and the task of leading the dance is undertaken by pairs of dancers in the audience in turn. The pace of country dance is simple and brisk, the main pace is light running, and sometimes there is a slight beat on the soles of the feet, and there will be overlapping steps with the music. The dancer is required to keep the body upright, showing a noble temperament, and the arms are hanging on the sides. , swings naturally with the music. English country dance music is light and lively, some noble and elegant, whether it is light or noble, it is exciting and can make dancers happy.
During the Baroque period, English country dance has swept the European continent and developed a new style. During the Baroque period of aristocratic rule, the splendid court became the center of the development of Baroque art, and court dance also reached its peak during this period. At this time, officials sent by Louis XIV to England brought country dance to France. Compared with the delicacy and complexity of French court dance, English country dance was lively, lively, and loved. It was well received by the French and combined with French court dance. into a baroque court dance.
During the Regency era, English country dancing was the protagonist of the dance. In England, from the Renaissance to the Regency, every dancer had a dance motto: Dance reflects the qualities of a person's heart. Ball is an important part of the life of the British court, nobles and gentlemen. Dancing is a communication and a fashion. Jane Austen lived in the early Regency period of England, which was the heyday of English country dance. Austen loved country dance very much when she was young, which is reflected in her novels. She is good at depicting the details of the lives of British aristocrats, landlords and priests in the late 18th and early 19th centuries on the "Two Inch Ivory". One after another dance is an indispensable and important scene in the novel to promote the development of the plot. The female characters in all of Steen's novels are inseparable from the dance, they move briskly to exchange positions in the relaxed music, talk to each other to enhance friendship, show affection, and secretly promise life. During the Regency period, when there were fewer gentlemen than ladies at the ball, people of the same sex could also dance country dances with companions, and people's obsession with English country dance was evident. In the early 19th century, English country dance faded out of the ball, replaced by waltz, polka and other pas de deux.
At the end of the nineteenth century, a wave of cultural nationalism emerged in Britain and the European continent, and the English country dance, which had been dormant for a hundred years, revived, and once again aroused the passion of dance lovers in the UK and other countries in the world. English country dancing is back at the ball again, thanks to the famous British musician Cecil Sharp. Cecil Sharp was the founder of the revival of British folk art at the beginning of the twentieth century. He was very interested in the folk art of the British Isles and was keen to collect folk songs. Cecil himself was also a teacher. He added piano to folk songs. Accompaniment, the improved folk songs have a modern flavor and are more easily accepted by children. Cecil has been effective in spreading the improved folk songs in schools. Cecil has reinterpreted English country dance for the contemporary generation, in the form of published books and lectures at school and social events, domestically in England, and in the United States during World War II, Cecil has spared no effort to promote the dance that was active in history. of English country dance and other folk arts. The Folk Dance Music Association has inherited the mission of Cecil and is committed to inheriting the traditional dance music art.
The popular English country dance has been improved. The Baroque country dance, which combines the British and French styles, came to North America on the ship of the colonists, and has gradually become a traditional American folk dance after being re-interpreted. Today, in the United States, Central America, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, dance lovers regularly hold procession dance events every year. In the United States, the square dance is a classic show at dances and festivals. Compared with traditional English country dances, square dance steps are dynamic and energetic.
In countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, there is no shortage of modern people with strong romantic nostalgia. They set up English country dance training classes or clubs to organize and call on people to dance traditional English country dances, because English country dances are simple and suitable for The dance partner is not very demanding, so it attracts a large number of followers, who even wear 17th and 18th century costumes and perform country dances. In the cheerful music, in the playful dance steps, in the noble and elegant gestures, the pressure is released, the love finds its home, and the friendship can last forever.
.jpeg)