|
The Swedish Folk
Games
Even the youngest citizens of the community enjoy contributing to Svensk
Hyllningsfest. At each festival nearly 350 students, dressed in colorful Swedish
costumes, perform dances and folk games to the delight of their audiences.
Early in the school year the grade school students begin learning new dances in their
music classes. At first they practice once each week, but as October approaches, the
practices increase.
Each dance is performed as authentically as possible and each has been researched using
old folk dance books dating from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Over the years
each dance has been carefully chosen and added to the repertoire so that more than 20
dances and folk games are now performed at each Hyllningsfest.
Local teachers instruct first through eighth grade classes. The folk dancing
allows the students to learn a significant Swedish folk tradition, as well as allowing
them to make an important contribution to the festival. The children begin to learn
more about the Swedish heritage every year. By the time they finish 8th grade, they
know all the dances.
The "Oxen Dance" is one of the more popular dances taught to the 7th and 8th
grade boys. This unique folk dance provides the boys with a neat opportunity to
express themselves physically and rhythmically. Some of the dances performed are:
- 1st Grade - "I See You", hide and seek game.
- 2nd Grade - "A-Rowing", ring dance about rowing.
- 3rd Grade - "Carrousel", ring dance about carrousel riding.
- 4th Grade - "Gustav's Skoal", toast to King Gustav.
- 5th Grade - "Bleking", province dance.
- 6th Grade - "Gotland's Quadrille", an intricate dance with 16 dancers.
- 7th Grade Girls - "Weavers", simulates the weaving process.
- 8th Grade Girls - "May Pole Dance", wind the May Pole.
- 7th and 8th Grade Boys - "Oxen Dance", early college hazing dance.
The colorful folk games and dances performed by the children have become a favorite
event for many who attend Svensk Hyllningsfest. Don't miss the dances!
|
