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Brazilian maypole dancing
Dances move and evolve. Watch this sequence.
Some of you may remember my post a while back about the German maypole dance - the Bandertanz.
There is a large German community in Brazil, and they are very keen on maintaining their traditions.
Here is the Brazilian bandertanz - absolutely identical in music and figures to the German ones I've found.
But now look at this next one!
I've never seen anything like it before. This is serious adult professional or competitive maypole dancing. It has two figures that are totally new to me, and I'd find both difficult to teach. (I've only worked out how to do one of them so far...)
Google translate says "Traditional Dance Gaucho - Pau Tape - presented during the Festival Gangs in Faxinal-Pr. I thank all the students who dreamed me and stumbled rehearse, rehearse,"
And, Faxinal (Parana) is in the southern region of Brazil! (Most German Brazilians also come from the southern part of the country)
So, we have a traditional Gaucho (that's south American cowboy) maypole dance, that is very likely derived from a dance brought by German settlers to Brazil, but by moving across ethnic boundaries, the dance has freed up a little and developed new moves.
No wonder I love folklore research!
Of course, there may have been an independant Portuguese maypole tradition. Just because I haven't found any yet, doesn't mean there aren't any (I've seen references to Portugal having a maypole tradition, but no actual dances). However, even if there are, I'd bet that the closeness of the German dancers helps to keep it alive and vibrant.
I know there are come Caribbean maypole dances. I need to find out more about those some day...
Some of you may remember my post a while back about the German maypole dance - the Bandertanz.
There is a large German community in Brazil, and they are very keen on maintaining their traditions.
Here is the Brazilian bandertanz - absolutely identical in music and figures to the German ones I've found.
But now look at this next one!
I've never seen anything like it before. This is serious adult professional or competitive maypole dancing. It has two figures that are totally new to me, and I'd find both difficult to teach. (I've only worked out how to do one of them so far...)
Google translate says "Traditional Dance Gaucho - Pau Tape - presented during the Festival Gangs in Faxinal-Pr. I thank all the students who dreamed me and stumbled rehearse, rehearse,"
And, Faxinal (Parana) is in the southern region of Brazil! (Most German Brazilians also come from the southern part of the country)
So, we have a traditional Gaucho (that's south American cowboy) maypole dance, that is very likely derived from a dance brought by German settlers to Brazil, but by moving across ethnic boundaries, the dance has freed up a little and developed new moves.
No wonder I love folklore research!
Of course, there may have been an independant Portuguese maypole tradition. Just because I haven't found any yet, doesn't mean there aren't any (I've seen references to Portugal having a maypole tradition, but no actual dances). However, even if there are, I'd bet that the closeness of the German dancers helps to keep it alive and vibrant.
I know there are come Caribbean maypole dances. I need to find out more about those some day...