Ukraine - how do they dance like this???

Subject: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 05:37 AM

Kuban Cossacks - Chain & Birch Tree dance
the second dance - at times it is like they are on motorised roller-skates. You can't see their feet when they are at their best.

So any idea how they manage. Apparently a ballet teacher asked this question, I did the search for GF.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:01 AM

Iron-soled shoes coated with Teflon and people under the stage with big magnets like a table soccer game.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: maeve
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:04 AM

The secret "floating step":
http://www.odditycentral.com/videos/the-berezka-ensemble-russias-floating-dance-group.html

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: maeve
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:09 AM

The hoop skirts contribute to the impressing of floating, of course.

I like Jack's explanation!

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: doc.tom
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:24 AM

Watching them reminds me of Cecil Sharp's description of when he first came across Running Set dancing in the Appalachias - this was before modern 'hoofing' styles became fashionable in the quadrilles.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:56 AM

Interesting I assumed they were Ukranian because I searched for Kuban Cossacks (as given) And the Ensemble Beryozka (men) do Cossak dances.

There has been a lot of antagonism between Russia and Cossacks over the years, including the original use of the term "holocaust".

A quick look at Russian Music and Dance still makes you think they are Russian. The DVDs are sold from Australia.

Just to muddy the waters, the Kuban region is adjacent to Crimea and Wiki makes reference to Cossack forts.

Maeve's link doesn't reveal their secret, and the spelling is yet more confusing. But it is a start.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 08:29 AM

I found this video that shows how it's done......it's not a pretty young blonde in a long skirt, it's a bloke wearing pants, but you can see he's gliding. He keeps his shoulders still, and only moves from the hips down.

Gliding step

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 05:16 PM

I am sure the technique is the one. With more discipline & practice I can see it would produce what the Ensemble Beryozka achieve.

The man does rock a bit side to side.

I had thought it would involve a bend at the knees, which would be more tiring.

Years ago I watched a TV OB cameraman, suitcase sized camera on his shoulders walking round our street. He had a distinctive walk involving a quite camp gait & bum wiggle. Another cluette? But the camera retained a smooth trajectory.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:59 PM

I think you've got it, Jennie. He has delicate shoes, and when gliding, he hardly moves his feet off the floor at all - gliding.

I think the step looks rather unnatural, but with the female dancers, the long skirts hide that.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: GUEST,Bert.
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 10:34 PM

Magic of course.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 11:50 PM

It's an interesting way of stepping......the toes are pointed as the foot is raised, but instead of touching the floor toes first (as you normally would with that gait) the foot seems to land flat on the floor. Perhaps that stops the bobbing-up-and-down motion that would otherwise occur?

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Sep 15 - 03:03 PM

I saw his foot with toes pointing slightly down, dragging along to register height before leveling his feet and then going down flat. The dragging of the toes would be to feel the height while moving forward to prevent a dip.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: GUEST,ripov
Date: 22 Sep 15 - 02:24 PM

Shouldn't there be a bit where blasters pop out of their chests and they all shout "Exterminate!"?

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Sep 15 - 04:44 AM

Loo plunger at the ready!

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: GUEST,SUSAN
Date: 22 May 17 - 02:11 AM

http://nerdist.com/watch-russian-folk-dancers-magically-float/

In this video you can see that they are dancing on their toes.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 May 17 - 04:08 AM

Aside from the technical aspect there is the financial. They are (probably)professionals, state sponsored. Spend time training. Like ballet dancers who can do remarkable things which their bodies were never designed for.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 May 17 - 04:20 AM

How many get rejected for not being tall enough, or too tall?

Give me Whitby Spa any day.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Jos
Date: 22 May 17 - 06:52 AM

The website seems to be claiming that they are dancing on pointes, but in the video they merely seem to be taking little steps with the weight on the ball of the foot.
The man in the other video isn't very convincing, and I don't think it is just because his legs and feet are not hidden under a skirt.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Jos
Date: 22 May 17 - 06:54 AM

Maybe they practice with a pile of books on their heads like debutantes.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 17 - 10:23 AM

However it is done, it is lovely to watch, mesmerizing really.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: leeneia
Date: 22 May 17 - 12:06 PM

small steps. almost no vertical movement of the feet. and they are holding on to one another most of the time, so that they are supported at least 3 places, not just on their feet.

in the first dance, the dancers' right elbows are planted on the backs of the dancer before at one point, thus giving a third point of support

the slow pace helps too. may be essential

beautiful. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 22 May 17 - 06:47 PM

"Mo the caller", judging by your nickname: could it be that you are grudging? In Russia, Ukraine and other countries with Russian influence, dancing is as common as, say, football (soccer) in Brazil, for boys and girls. You start in kindergarten, whether you want or not, and many continue eagerly without ever earning a penny with it. A small percentage become professional, paid by fans and public institutions (and, in post-communist times, sponsors), but that can only work if there are enough ambitious young amateurs to choose from. Money and medals alone scarcely do the trick.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: leeneia
Date: 22 May 17 - 11:03 PM

Mo has a point. The dancers are remarkably similar in height and shape. This is show biz, not community dancing.

My sister was a remarkable dancer, but she was told she was wasting time in the ballet program at the university because she was petite - 5'2". She had the rare gift of being able to jump into the air and hang there for a moment before coming down, yet they didn't want her. Didn't meet commercial specs.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: Mo the caller
Date: 23 May 17 - 04:24 AM

Not grudging, just stating a preference.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 23 May 17 - 09:39 AM

It is indeed "not community dancing", but professional cultural activity (or "show biz", if you like – so is a performance of, say, Beethoven). It does not claim otherwise. Similar acts exist in contexts of English, Irish and American folklore, not all of highest standards in terms of authenticity and artistic quality, and, as it seems, fewer than in many other countries.

My point is that such performances are the cream on top of a very broad culture of unpaid eager amateur efforts – and of equally dedicated fans. Nothing wrong with community fun, but don't begrudge those who are more ambitious. Many of us "Didn't meet commercial specs" but still find it rewarding.

Subject: RE: Ukraine - how do they dance like this???
From: JennieG
Date: 28 May 17 - 01:30 AM

Just looked at the Russian dancing video again (it popped up on my facebook feed from another page) and I am wondering if those girls are wearing a rigid cone-shaped frame under their skirts. The skirts themselves don't move as you would expect if their wearers were moving, and occasionally you can see the hem edge folding under slightly - under a frame, perhaps? Moving from the hips down and keeping the upper body still while wearing a frame to hold the skirt away from the legs could produce the result shown.