The khorovod or horovod is an East Slavs and pagan art form. It is one of the oldest Russian folk dancesbeing over 1,000 years old.
Etymology
The term
khorovod likely descends from the Greek
Choreia (Ancient Greek: χορεία); Rus' culture was heavily influenced by Greek culture.
Khorovod is related to choreia ( a Greek circle dance), kolo (a South Slavic circle dance originating in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia), hora (
Balkans), and
kochari (
Armenian dance and Azerbaijani
folk dance).
Origin and characteristics
The participants of the dance hold the hand or the little finger of their dance partners while dancing in a circle
.
The circle dance symbolised "moving around the sun" in ancient Russian culture and was a pagan rite symbolizing unity and friendship. The female organizer or leader of the dance was called khorovodnitsa.
Regional differences in Russia
The
khorovod dance has own characteristics in the different regions of Old Russia. In the
Northwest Russia regions, the round dance was known for its gentle and subtle manner, while in the
central Russia regions, the dance was more cheerful and lighthearted. Russian folk songs accompanied the dance. The people kicked, clapped and made quick and energetic movements. Dances in
southern Russia, with its warm, mild weather, were famous for their rapid, hot-blooded movements and complex patterns, embodying strength, boundless energy and youth.
See also
Notes
External links
