How to watch strictly come dancing
How to Watch Strictly Come Dancing Anywhere in the World
Click here for the most important details
Summary: How to Watch Strictly Come Dancing from Anywhere
There are a few places to watch Strictly Come Dancing online. However, the best way to stream online is by using BBC iPlayer. It’s free to use, and with a VPN, you can watch BBC iPlayer without being blocked by geographical restrictions. Here’s how:
- Choose a VPN service. We recommend CyberGhost for the best streaming experience. They offer a 45-day money-back guarantee you can use as a free trial.
- Download the VPN client and install it on your device.
- Run the VPN client, then find a UK VPN server and connect to get a UK-based IP.
- Open the Strictly Come Dancing homepage on the BBC iPlayer website.
- Register for a BBC iPlayer account.
- Enjoy Strictly Come Dancing online!
Aside from BBC iPlayer, you can also watch Strictly Come Dancing:
- On Apple TV for a one-off fee per episode or per series
- On the Microsoft Store for a one-off fee per episode or per-series
If you’re curious to find out more about Strictly Come Dancing and how you can watch Strictly with a VPN, check out the full article below.
Strictly Come Dancing, or simply “Strictly,” as fans like to call it, has been capturing the attention of audiences across the UK and beyond for years. It was even nominated for and has won several BAFTAs! With international celebrities like Michelle Visage and Jason Bell having been invited on the show, and the online success of some of the professional dancers, like Dianne Buswell, it’s no surprise that fans from abroad are tuning in for this dance competition.
Chances are you’re reading this article because you want to know how to watch Strictly Come Dancing from anywhere in the world.
Well, you’re in luck. Even if you’re located outside the UK, you can watch Strictly Come Dancing with a VPN (virtual private network).
Where is Strictly Come Dancing Available Online?
Strictly Come Dancing is produced by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and airs on BBC One every year. This means you’ve got limited options when it comes to watching Strictly Come Dancing online. Like most regional TV programs, you won’t be able to stream Strictly on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.
To watch Strictly Come Dancing online, you’ve got a few options:
- BBC iPlayer (for free, includes live coverage)
- Apple TV (for a one-off fee)
- Microsoft Store (for a one-off fee)
The show was also previously available on the Google Play store, but it has since been discontinued there. Currently, BBC iPlayer is the only place to watch Strictly Come Dancing for free online.
However, if you’re not located in the United Kingdom, you’re going to need to make it appear as if you’re in the UK in order to be able to able to stream Strictly.
This is due to geographical restrictions (geo-blocks) that keep visitors outside of the country from watching Strictly.
Fortunately, it’s quick and easy to temporarily get a UK IP address. When you use a VPN to change your IP, you’ll be able to unblock websites in other countries and watch this year’s celebrities impress the judges, no matter where you are in the world. We’ll explain exactly how this works for each of the streaming services mentioned.
How to watch past seasons of Strictly
Most streaming services will only allow you to stream the most recent seasons of this British dance competition. While this works for fans who like to watch live and never miss an episode, it can be a struggle when you want to rewatch a specific episode or season from a couple of years ago.
Would you like to watch actress Maisie Smith and her partner Gorka dance their amazing Jive again? Or do you want to experience Ann Widdecombe’s full journey with Anton du Beke back in 2010? While it’s hard to watch full past seasons of Strictly online, you can buy the DVDs on websites like Amazon.
Watching Strictly Come Dancing Live on BBC iPlayer
The BBC iPlayer is a central hub for most of the TV programs produced by the BBC in England. You can watch BBC live via this stream. Once a show has been aired, you can even catch it on the media player for a short time afterward.
Bear in mind that you’ll normally only find the most recent seasons of a program, but that does mean you can watch the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing online. This includes the Launch Show, all dances, every performance during movie week and musicals week, the final, and the Christmas Special.
If you haven’t done so yet, and you want to watch Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer anywhere in the world, just follow the steps below:
- Choose a VPN provider. To watch Strictly, we recommend using CyberGhost to get a UK IP address. Click the button at the bottom to be taken straight to CyberGhost’s website.
- Download and install the VPN client.
- Create an account, then sign in. You can just sign in directly if you already have an account on the website.
- Launch the VPN client.
- Find a VPN server in the UK and connect. This will change your IP address to a UK IP address.
- Go to the Strictly Come Dancing homepage on BBC iPlayer.
- Click on the “Sign in” button at the top of the page. Then, click on “Register now.”
- Create a BBC iPlayer account for free access to BBC shows.
You’re done! Now, you can either watch BBC One live or return to the list of episodes, and watch Strictly Come Dancing for free!
Visit CyberGhost
Watching Strictly Come Dancing on Apple TV
Apple TV typically has the latest season of Strictly Come Dancing. Like with any Apple TV program, you can also stream it straight on your smart TV.
Unfortunately, it’s not free. If you want to watch Strictly Come Dancing on Apple TV, you’ll have to pay:
- £2.49 for a single episode
- £12.99 for a season pass that will let you watch the whole of the latest season (even if it’s still in progress)
If you want to watch Strictly on Apple TV, all you need to do is open the Strictly Come Dancing page and click on “Watch on Apple TV“. This will take you to the iTunes Store, where you’ll be able to buy a single episode or a season pass.
If iTunes isn’t available from your country, then you’ll need to change your iTunes location. While you can change your iTunes location in your settings app on any Apple device, you’ll lose access to your previous purchases until you change it back. Sometimes, it’s just easier to create a new Apple account, and you might need to do so to access the content from your country. Here’s how you can easily watch Strictly Come Dancing on Apple TV:
- Sign out of your Apple ID on the device you want to use to watch Strictly.
- Create a new Apple ID and select the United Kingdom as your location.
- Sign in to your new Apple ID and purchase a UK Apple iTunes gift card.
- Load the balance onto your temporary Apple ID account.
- Open the Strictly Come Dancing page on Apple TV.
- Now, you’ll be able to buy episodes of Strictly Come Dancing.
Watching Strictly Come Dancing on the Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store usually has the biggest selection of Strictly Come Dancing episodes out of any website. You’ll normally find the latest three or four seasons available to stream here. However, much like with Apple TV, it’s not free to watch Strictly via Microsoft. Instead, you’ll have to pay a one-off fee for every season you want to watch. Pricing normally looks something like this:
- £9.99 for one-off SD (standard definition) access to a single season
- £12.
99 for one-off HD (high definition) access to a single season
You can also buy a season pass (at a variable price) for a season that’s in progress.
That said, sometimes, the pricing can vary. Some of the seasons offered by Microsoft are being charged at around £20.99. When you compare this to the average cost of a single-month subscription to a premium VPN, you get much better value for money by using a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer. Still, it’s good to know all of the options available.
To watch Strictly Come Dancing online via the Microsoft Store, head over to the Strictly Come Dancing page and check out the purchase options. The good thing about this store is that it isn’t limited to the UK. We’ve tested access from outside of Europe, and the page is still available to non-UK visitors.
The Best VPN to Watch Strictly Come Dancing Online
With a VPN, you’ll be able to change your IP address and masquerade as a user from the country of your choice.
No more pesky geo-blocks means no more blocked websites. However, you should be aware that some VPNs are better than others for streaming.
When you’re choosing a VPN, you should consider a few factors. Of course, first is you’ll want to avoid spending too much money. You’ll also want a VPN with high connection speeds and no data caps, so you can watch as many episodes as you want.
To watch Strictly Come Dancing online anywhere in the world, choose a VPN that offers:
- VPN servers in the UK, so that you can get a UK IP address
- A money-back guarantee, as you might be able to finish the show before you’re charged for the first month
- Dedicated streaming servers with fast and reliable connections
With all of the above in mind, we’re confident that the best VPN to watch Strictly Come Dancing online is CyberGhost.
CyberGhost: Watch Strictly Come Dancing for free
CyberGhost checks all of the boxes we’ve laid out above.
You’ll easily be able to find a VPN server in the UK and change your IP address to a UK-based IP.
You’ll also have access to dedicated streaming servers that offer some excellent speeds. There’s no monthly data cap either, so you can stream Strictly Come Dancing to your heart’s content. We like to think that even Craig would give this VPN a 10.
CyberGhost also offers one of the longest money-back guarantees we’ve seen. You’ll have 45 days to change your mind and cancel before being charged. Although this won’t be enough to watch a full season of Strictly live, it can definitely help you watch the final of this exciting dance competition, no matter where you are in the world.
That said, we advise you to consider the other benefits of a VPN before thinking about canceling. Using a VPN online is much safer than surfing without one — and it’ll allow you to stream many of your favorite shows and streaming services, even when you’re abroad.
Can I stream Strictly with a free VPN?
Although some free VPNs might work with a streaming service like BBC iPlayer, we don’t recommend using them. For streaming, a free VPN usually won’t work well. Free VPNs often impose data and speed limits, which will hamstring you if you’re trying to watch or download more than one episode. Instead, getting a free trial with a premium provider will work much better.
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Strictly Come Dancing Online
The reason you can’t find Strictly Come Dancing on Netflix or other streaming services is the same reason you can’t watch it outside the UK on BBC iPlayer. If you try to watch iPlayer without a VPN, you’ll get an error message that says: “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.” This means that the BBC is using geographical restrictions to prevent you from watching due to broadcasting rights.
The good news is that it’s still possible to watch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC iPlayer from outside the UK.
Geo-blocks are no match for the best VPN providers. With a VPN, you can unblock websites reliably and access blocked content.
Curious about how a VPN works? When you connect to a UK VPN server, your data traffic is routed through the VPN server. In turn, this changes your IP address and gives you a UK-based IP instead. When you then connect to the BBC’s website, the website thinks you’re browsing from inside the United Kingdom.
Strictly Come Dancing first aired in the UK in 2004. Since then, it has become a fan favorite. Originally, the show was presented by Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth, a legend in British entertainment television.
The premise of the show involves pitting dance couples against each other and having their efforts graded by a panel of judges. The dance couples are created by matching UK celebrities with professional dancers, who will teach them popular dances like the Cha-Cha-Cha, Tango, and American Smooth every week.
On Saturday, the stars take to the dance floor and attempt to impress the judges.
(Spoilers!) In 2021, actress Rose Ayling-Ellis won Strictly with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice. She was also the first deaf contestant to appear on the dance show. Other celebrities participating that year were John Whaite, AJ Odudu, Rhys Stephenson, Dan Walker, Tilly Ramsay, Tom Fletcher, Sara Davies, Adam Peaty, Judi Love, Ugo Monye, Greg Wise, Robert Webb, Katie McGlynn, and Nina Wadia.
With the success of the show, the concept of Strictly has spread to more than 50 countries worldwide, with many variations of the program sparking up around the globe! Big-name musical acts like Taylor Swift and Little Mix regularly appear to support the program with music, too.
Strictly Come Dancing: Series 20 (2022)
It’s official: the line-up and couples for 2022’s Strictly competition are a fact! After two years of COVID-19 restrictions, the full live audience is finally back, ready to add a lot of excitement to the performances.
But who will be gracing the dancefloor? Here are your 2022 Strictly contestants:
- Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima
- Tyler West and Dianne Buswell
- Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer
- Kaye Adams and Kai Widdrington
- James Bye and Amy Dowden
- Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice
- Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez
- Molly Rainford and Charlos Gu
- Matt Goss and Nadiya Bychkova
- Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin
- Tony Adams and Katya Jones
- Will Mellor and Nancy Xu
- Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe
- Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal
- Fleur East and Vito Coppola
The couples danced their first official dances during the live show on the 24th of September, and will keep dancing on BBC One every Saturday until the finale later this autumn. As usual, the results show will be airing on Sunday evening.
Curious what all the fuss is about? Check out the launch trailer for the 2022 season of Strictly Come Dancing below.
Stream Shows and Movies from Anywhere with a VPN
Strictly Come Dancing started as a primetime, Saturday night entertainment show in the UK more than a decade ago. Now, it’s a worldwide phenomenon!
If you want to watch Strictly Come Dancing online while abroad, you’ll need BBC iPlayer and a VPN. Fortunately, installing a VPN is safe, inexpensive, and very easy. We recommend CyberGhost for your streaming needs, but you can check out our VPN reviews to find the best choice for you.
Read about how to watch other shows abroad here:
- How to Watch Peaky Blinders Online From Anywhere
- How to Watch Yellowstone From Anywhere
- How to Watch The Many Saints of Newark Online
How to Watch Strictly Come Dancing from Anywhere: Frequently Asked Questions
Strictly Come Dancing is a worldwide success, and we hope that you’ve been able to catch the latest showdowns by using a VPN.
If you’ve still got questions about Strictly, check out our frequently asked questions below!
How can I watch Strictly Come Dancing online?
Your best option for watching Strictly Come Dancing online is to use the BBC iPlayer. On BBC iPlayer, you can watch back the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing entirely for free.
- Choose a VPN provider like CyberGhost.
- Download and install the VPN client.
- Launch the VPN client, then connect to a UK VPN server.
- Search for Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer.
- Register for an iPlayer account.
Now, you’ll be browsing with a UK IP address, which means you can use the BBC iPlayer! Need a little more help? Check out our full article on watching Strictly online.
Who won Strictly Come Dancing?
Below, we’ve listed some of the most recent winners of Strictly.
WARNING: there are spoilers ahead!
- Season 19 (2021): Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice
- Season 18 (2020): Bill Bailey & Oti Mabuse
- Season 17 (2019): Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse
- Season 16 (2018): Stacey Dooley & Kevin Clifton
- Season 15 (2017): Joseph McFadden & Katya Jones
Is Strictly Come Dancing the same as Dancing with the Stars?
Sort of! Dancing with the Stars is the name of a collection of international television programs that are based on the same format as Strictly Come Dancing. Stricly has been running since 2004, and the success of the show has inspired spin-offs around the globe. Chances are that if you enjoy Strictly Come Dancing, you’ll enjoy Dancing with the Stars, too! That should keep you busy for a few weeks or months. Just remember, you can watch programs in other countries by using a VPN.
Chris Bluvshtein Author
Cybersecurity journalist
Chris is a tech journalist with many years' experience covering the latest news in online privacy and cybersecurity. He's also a published author and works as a Product Manager for some of the most innovative software development companies.
How to watch Strictly Come Dancing 2022 online and catch-up on Halloween Week from anywhere
Fangtastic routine, but who got boo-ted this weekend?
(Image: © BBC)
What a spooktacular show! This week the class of Strictly Come Dancing 2022 took to the dance floor for a particularly ghoulish live show to celebrate Halloween. From Little Red Riding Hood to zombies and witches, Velma and Shaggy even made an appearance from Scooby Doo. Catch up on this weekend's live show and the results with the help of our guide on how to watch Strictly Come Dancing 2022 online from anywhere.
Watch Strictly Come Dancing online
Next episode: Saturday, November 5 at 7pm GMT
Results show: Sunday at 7.
15pm GMT
Channel: BBC One
Free UK stream: watch BBC iPlayer for FREE
Watch anywhere: try the top VPN around 100% risk-free
A rancid Rhumba and a scary Salsa, there was plenty to scream about on Saturday night. While Ellie and Nikita took on the Foxtrot inspired by Scooby-Doo, Ellie and Johannes embodied the Hocus Pocus sisters in their Couple's Choice routine to 'I Put a Spell on You'.
We were all swiggin' Beetlejuice to Tyler and Dianne's Cha Cha Cha - the only dance to be awarded a 10 paddle this week, while Tony found his dancing feet in the Quickstep.
Of course, it all came down to a frightening Dance Off, and one couple was boo-ted out of the competition. Make sure you're all caught up with our guide on how to watch Strictly Come Dancing 2022 online on catch-up from anywhere.
Week 7 dances and songs
- Ellie and Nikita - Foxtrot to 'Scooby-Doo, Where Are You'
- Ellie and Johannes - Couple's Choice to 'I Put a Spell on You'
- Fleur and Vito - Salsa to 'Break My Soul'
- Helen and Gorka - Foxtrot to 'Lil' Red Riding Hood'
- Kym and Graziano - Rumba to 'Frozen'
- Molly and Carlos - Argentine Tango to 'Running Up That Hill'
- Hamza and Jowita - Tango to 'Wicked Game'
- James and Amy - Charleston to 'Bumble Bee'
- Tony and Kataya - Quickstep to 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia'
- Tyer and Dianne - Cha Cha Cha to 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)'
- Will and Nancy - Cha Cha Cha to 'Mama Told Me Not to Come'
How to watch Strictly Come Dancing online FREE in the UK
Strictly is back with plenty of glitter and gyrating hips on BBC One, kicking off from September 23.
Couples will take to the dance floor every Saturday evening at 7pm GMT to perform a new routine, with viewers able to tune into the results show on Sunday nights at 7.15pm GMT.
BBC One is free-to-air with a valid TV licence, with the option to watch live online and on catch-up through BBC iPlayer .
Watch Strictly Come Dancing from abroad with a VPN
The on-demand streaming platform available on a number of devices including on desktop, on dedicated iOS and Android apps, on streaming devices like Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku, as well as on most smart TVs.
How to watch Strictly Come Dancing online when abroad
For anyone abroad right now who still wants to experience the glitz and glam of Strictly, you might struggle from outside of the UK. But don't let geo-restrictions come between you and your weekly fix of ballroom dancing.
Simply downloading and installing a VPN to your device will let you watch Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC iPlayer from anywhere.
A VPN effectively tricks your device into thinking it's in another location by changing the IP address to elsewhere in the world.
ExpressVPN is the world's top VPN right now
Our experts have tried and tested some of the best VPNs on the market so you don't have to and recommend ExpressVPN as their top pick. Not only is it one of the fastest and easiest to use, but this VPN is compatible with a whole host of devices, including Amazon Fire TV Stick, Xbox, Playstation, and iOS and Android devices.
Get an extra 3 months completely FREE when you sign up for an annual Express VPN plan now . If you're not happy with the service within the first 30 days, let them know and they'll give you your money back.
- Try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free for 30 days
Three simple steps to using a VPN to watch Strictly Come Dancing
1. Download and install a VPN - we recommend ExpressVPN
2.
Connect to the relevant server location - launch the VPN app, click on 'choose location' and select the right location i.e. UK for iPlayer
3. Head to the chosen broadcaster's live stream - in this case, head to the BBC iPlayer
(Image credit: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing contestants 2022
- Will Mellor (Actor)
- Kym Marsh (Actress)
- Richie Anderson (Radio 2 presenter former footballer)
- Kaye Adams (Loose Women panellist and broadcaster)
- Jayde Adams (Comedian)
- Ellie Simmonds (Broadcaster and former Paralympian)
- Tyler West (DJ and TV/radio presenter)
- Matt Goss (Musician)
- Ellie Taylor (Comedian and actress)
- Molly Rainford (Singer and actress)
- Tony Adams MBE (Football coach and former player)
- Fleur East (Musician and radio presenter)
- Hamza Yassin (TV presenter)
- James Bye (Actor)
- Helen Skelton (TV presenter)
Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 couples?
The launch show was on Friday, September 23 and revealed the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing couples.
They include two same-sex pairings. The full list is as follows:
- Heleon Skelton & Gorka Marquez
- Richie Anderson & Giovanni Pernice
- Ellie Simmonds & Nikita Guzman
- Kym Marsh & Graziano Di Prima
- Ellie Taylor & Johannes Radebe
- Matt Goss & Nadiya Bychkova
- Fleur East & Vito Coppola
- Molly Rainford & Carlos Gu
- James Bye & Amy Dowden
- Will Mellor & Nancy Xu
- Jayde Adams & Karen Hauer
- Tony Adams & Katya Jones
- Tyler West & Dianne Buswell
- Kaye Adams & Kai Widdrington
- Hamza Yassin & Jowita Przystal
Strictly Come Dancing professionals 2022
- Vito Coppola
- Carlos Gu
- Lauren Oakley
- Michelle Tsiakkas
- Kai Widdrington
- Nikita Kuzmin
- Giovanni Pernice
- Gorka Marquez
- Graziano Di Prima
- Johannes Radebe
- Neil Jones
- Cameron Lombard
- Amy Dowden
- Dianne Buswell
- Karen Hauer
- Katya Jones
- Nadiya Bychkova
- Nancy Xu
- Jowita Przystal
- Luba Mushtuk
Strictly Come Dancing judges 2022
- Anton Du Beke
- Shirley Ballas
- Motsi Mabuse
- Craig Revel Horwood
How to watch Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two
The Strictly Come Dancing spin off show, It Takes Two, returns from Monday, September 26 to curb that Strictly fever between live shows, with Rylan Clark and Janette Manrara hosting.
The show airs every weeknight to give you all of the behind the scenes exclusives. You can tune into BBC Two at 6.30pm BST Monday to Friday. Remember, you can watch free on the iPlayer live or on demand.
The sideshow is usually packed with training footage, interviews, opinions from the judges and much more, so for unseen behind the scenes extras, it's worth tuning in.
Compare the best overall VPN services by price:
ExpressVPN 12 month
$6.67
/mth
View
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT
NordVPN 2 Year
View
+2 months free
Surfshark 24 Months
View
+4 MONTHS FREE
Private Internet Access 2 Years
View
Proton VPN 2 year
View
Alice is eCommerce Editor at Future with a focus on streaming services, such as Disney Plus and HBO Max, and VPN.
She predominantly writes buying and streaming service guides, as well as how to watch articles. Previously a Commercial Content Writer at Trusted Reviews, Alice has five years experience giving online buying advice, and over two years writing about consumer tech.
Dance Movies
Whether you live for dancing or it's just your hobby, or maybe you just like to watch people who can dance, this list of the best dance movies is just for you.
Step Up
Step Up is one of the most popular dance franchises. If listing the best movies about dance, the list should start with this particular series of films.
The first part was released in 2006. It replenished the category of films not only about modern dances, but also the section “Films about ballroom dancing”, since the main characters of the story interfere with breakdance with classical ballet in their demonstration numbers. In 2008, the film "Step Up: The Streets" was released. This time the action has moved to Baltimore, and the main character is a member of a street dance group.
She desperately wants to escape from the surroundings of the streets into the world of big and serious art, but there are many obstacles in her way. "Step Up" paid off well at the box office, so in 2010 the continuation of the franchise was released in 3D, and in 2012 - the fourth part with the participation of Playboy star Katherine McCormick. In 2014, the last film was released: "Step Up: All or Nothing." The proceeds from its rental in cinemas were not impressive, so nothing has been heard about the filming of the next part.
Street Dancing
Step Up's main competitor is a series of films called Street Dancing. The first picture was released in 2010 immediately in 3D. It starred such stars as Charlotte Rampling, Nicola Burley and Richard Winsor.
In 2012, the filming of the film "Street Dancing 2" with the German actor Falk Henschel and Madonna dancer Sophia Boutella ended. In 2013, the world saw Street Dance 3: All Stars. As for the fourth part, the producers have not yet made any statements.
"Dirty Dancing"
One of the most iconic films that literally blew up the audience in its time. The plot tells us about a boy who spends time with his family on vacation far from home. Here the Kid falls in love with the dance instructor at the camp, who soon becomes his partner in a dance competition.
30 years have passed since the world first saw "Dirty Dancing" starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Many of the actors who starred in this picture are no longer alive. However, until now, many viewers are happy to revise the story of a professional dancer Johnny and his charming student Francis. In this picture, not only a lot of dancing, but also a lot of love and simple human stories.
Kings of the Dance Floor
On this wave, "Kings of the Dance Floor" was filmed with Josh Holloway in the title role.
The film is about a team of breakdance dancers who set themselves the goal of winning a kind of "Olympic Games" for b-boys.
The thing is that the guys will have to fight very powerful opponents from all over the world. The dance company gathered is not easy: all team members have different characters, social status, endurance threshold. To have a better chance of success, they persuade one of the toughest coaches to prepare them for the championship. This is where the fun begins: will the hero of Josh Holloway be able to rally these guys and make them a single whole?
"Take a Step"
Films about modern dance in 2008 were replenished with the film "Take a Step" starring Mary Winstead.
Mary Winstead plays in the film a young girl, Lauryn, who came to Chicago to conquer the School of Music and Dance. But the girl was not as good as she thought: the jury members did not appreciate her talents. To get a foothold in Chicago, Lauryn was forced to get a job as an accountant in a dance club. Going through the papers, she looked longingly at the performing dancers and dreamed of one day becoming one of them.
And then one day her wish came true...
Black Swan
Movies about ballroom dancing are rare. Probably the most notable work of recent years is Darren Aranofsky's Black Swan.
The film is about the ballerina Nina, a modest girl who dreams of a big role in a serious performance. When the chief director of the theater decides to stage Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Nina realizes that this is her finest hour.
At the audition, the girl convinces that she is perfect for the role of the white swan. But when the time comes to transform into a passionate black swan, Nina simply does not know what to do. In an effort to know the essence of the dark nature of a person, the dancer embarks on all serious things: she goes to nightclubs, tries drugs, and has same-sex sex. At the same time, the ballerina continues to train hard, fearing most of all that her role will be taken and given to someone else. At the final performance, Nina is unique. However, by this moment, the girl, unable to withstand the stress, becomes completely insane and inflicts mortal wounds on herself with broken glass.
Most likely, at the end of the film, the ballerina dies, although the director does not show the moment of her actual death.
"Last Dance Behind Me"
After a failed audition for a dance show and the loss of her mother, Sarah quits dancing and moves in with her father in Chicago.
Soon she finds new friends with whom she shares a love of dancing, and the girl regains herself and her dream.
"Another Cinderella Story"
Another remake of the classic story, which this time was diluted with songs and dances.
Cinderella named Mary wants to enter the dance academy, but her stepmother is against it and locks the girl at home, overwhelmed with housework. But when the pop idol of all girls is transferred to the school where Mary studied, the girl regains strength to fight the stepmother's regime and confidently goes to her dream.
"Let's dance"
Tired of his life, John Clark decides to take private dance lessons to unwind.
He carefully hides his new hobby from family and friends because he knows they won't understand or support him.
"Honey"
All the main character wants is to become a famous dancer. Honey Daniels (Jessica Alba) works as a bartender in a New York City nightclub. Because she pours drinks, she is allowed to use the bar and dance floor for free in her free time. And she knows how to move well, because she is a choreographer at a local dance school. But her dream is to open her own dance hall.
One day after another shift, the girl hears rhythmic music and starts dancing. Naturally, all visitors are delighted. And the video with her dancing gets on the Internet. After a while, Michael Ellis, director of the large media company Ellis Production, comes to her. He makes Honey a lucrative offer, agreeing to which, she can become popular. But is she ready to forget about her dream for this?
Free
Wren moves to Beaumont at a time when dancing is banned across the state after a gang murder of teenagers returning home from a party.
Finding such laws unfair, Ren decides to go against the system in order to bring dancing and parties back to the town.
Moulin Rouge
Christian moves to Paris in hopes of finally becoming a famous writer, but ends up having a secret affair with a famous courtesan who also becomes the star of his show.
Burlesque
Ali Rose moves to Los Angeles hoping to become a star. Once there, she stumbles upon a burlesque club and falls in love with the stage and dancing.
She does her best to stay on the show, much to the reluctance of the club owner and the other girls who perform there every night.
Dance Brotherhood
Dee Jay (Colasbus Short) and his younger brother have been into street dancing since childhood. It was part of their life. The guys achieved tremendous success in this, so they often took part in dance competitions. One day, after a fight with a competitive team, the brother gets injured from which he dies.
Nothing else keeps DJ in Los Angeles, so he leaves for Atlanta to visit his uncle. It is there that the life of the hero of the film "Brotherhood of Dance" changes dramatically.
In a new city, DJ enters Black University, where he meets a new friend and roommate. Meets a girl, April Palmer (Meagan Good), whom he immediately falls in love with. And he becomes a participant in the confrontation between two brotherhoods, who sort out their relationship with the help of dances. Both groups could not help but notice his talent, so each makes an offer to join them. In general, the protagonist of the film ("The Brotherhood of Dance") finds himself between two fires. But a choice will have to be made, because many modern celebrities were once members of these fraternities.
Keep the Beat
The film is based on real events. Keep the Beat tells the story of professional dancer Pierre Dulane, who had his own method of teaching ballroom dancing. The role of the dancer in the film was played by Antonio Banderas.
Pierre is a teacher at John Drake Comprehensive School. He is well brought up, dresses strictly, is polite with women (he opens the door for each and gets up when they pass by), and treats the rest with respect. Unlike some students. Many of them are completely out of control, and principal Agustin James (Alfre Woodard) has long since come to terms with this. But Pierre wants to help reach out to the guys with the help of ballroom dancing. But how to do it? Most of the guys were brought up by the street, so they prefer hip-hop to classical dances. The hooligans categorically refuse to listen to their teacher, but together a mixed dance style emerges. So the protagonist of the film "Keep the Beat" will have to not only change the attitude of students to the waltz and foxtrot, but also prepare the group for participation in the annual competitions between dance groups.
Red Shoes
Do you like real ballet? Then watch a sad story called The Red Shoes (1948).
Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) has been drawn to art all his life. He dreamed of putting on a grand performance. But for this he needed not just a ballerina, but one that was ready to sacrifice her personal life for the sake of performing on stage. This was Victoria Page (Moira Shearer).
But his happiness did not last long. The girl fell in love with the author of the music that accompanied her dances, Julian Craster (Marius Goring). Lermontov did not like all this, and he drove the composer away. And Victoria went with him. But this is not the end of the story, because ballet is everything for her. And one day she will again have to choose between a career as a dancer and a loved one.
Dance with Me
Dance with Me (1998) tells the story of a young Cuban, Rafael Infante (Chayanna), who moves to Houston after the death of his mother. The guy received an invitation from the owner of the dance studio, John Barnett. Well, that's great, he just dreamed about it.
Ruby Sinclair (Vanessa Williams) becomes his teacher. She is preparing the group for the dance competition, which will soon be held in Las Vegas.
Ruby is an excellent dancer, but her technique is not perfect. In dance, she lacks the life and passion that her new Cuban student has in abundance. In turn, Ruby helps Raphael learn moves he didn't know before. But all this may be in vain, because she already has a partner to participate in the twenty-second world championship in ballroom dancing.
Similar articles:
History of the Moulin Rouge
"Commedia dell'arte" and Venetian masks
Dancing prisoners
Large form: breqwas - LiveJournal Aluka renew.
This morning ludmilapsyholog wrote a review for Lords of the Dance, which she visited the day before. In the comments, I, unexpectedly for myself, rolled up an epic sheet, an educational program with a transition to a sermon. In order not to waste good, and so that you can put a link to it, I post it here in a somewhat combed form.
To friends who are in the know: this is not written for you, this is written for those who do not know. :-) If I've stuck factual errors - correct me if you don't agree with something - let's talk about it!
Under the cut, a scale canvas in four parts.
> > > ludmilapsyholog:
> > > Yesterday I was with my daughter at Lord of the dance. I have long wanted to, I love Irish dancing, but everything was not
quoted1 > > > then the time, then the money, and finally it happened.
quoted1 > > > Well, somehow, to be honest, not really. The impression of a tour of the province did not let go.
quoted1 > > > That is, the dances were beautiful and the Celtic music was magical (although in places it was too modernized).
quoted1 > > > But everything that they put on top...In every sense put on.
quoted1 > > > The girls were dancing in something a la suits for fitness (bra and shorts). Then the girls and boys in
> > > neon-acid suits, the huge man in the center, all in bright pink, looked especially impressive
> > > from head to toe.
Apparently, an elf non-standard orientation? Then the violinists went out in superminis in sequins, like
quoted1 > > > dog trainers in the circus. And for some reason, everyone was either unnaturally burning brunettes, or
> > > perhydrol blondes with also unnaturally thick curls, reminiscent of tow. What, already quite
quoted1 > > > run out of red-haired Irish girls? It looks like the only one was sitting next to me :) (...)
quoted1 > > > In general, this aesthetic is not close to me. Too many straziks :)
quoted1 > > breqwas:
quoted1 > > And all because the idea of turning live folk dance into a sport and performing arts is vicious at
quoted1 > > root.
quoted1 > >
quoted1 > > There is a live Irish folk dance, but it does not look like that. There is also real live traditional music
quoted1 > > (and there is as much of it as few other folk traditions!), but it doesn't sound quite right either.
quoted1 > >
quoted1 > > But "Celtic" music as such does not exist.
> ludmilapsyholog:
> I want this. Real and alive. Where to get?
Yes. :-)
Part I. Dancing.
About "modern style" Irish dances popularized by flatley and riverdance. Let me quote the opinion of Ciaran Carson, musician and writer:
That music has suffered the loss of its primary function is probably a consequence of its resilient power; however, it is disturbing and disappointing that today's musicians under the age of thirty have for the most part never played traditional dances - traditional ones are contrasted here with those promoted by various dance schools. This art form, aimed at kids adorned with medals and dressed in pseudo-Celtic costumes, endowed with a set of rules whose complexity is worthy of Kafka, exists exclusively for competitions, and its relation to music is minimal, as Brendan Brenach pointed out:
"Some places seriously require that music for competitions be submitted only on cassettes and played strictly at a dance tempo.
Music at a strict dance tempo is not music played at a strict tempo. It is a tempo that some experts appointed appropriate for the dance. School dancers often find themselves in a quandary when faced with music played by live, untamed musicians."
Most children brought up in this spirit are in fact unable to hum a melody, and are only familiar with the four or five pieces they have been programmed to: they actually learned them from a cassette on which the pieces are usually played by an accordionist of dubious musical talent – solemnly titled "Beginner Reel", "Difficult Reel", "More Difficult Reel", etc. Perhaps most telling of this strange phenomenon in Irish culture is the fact that most of these children grow up to be former dancers.
The reasons for the decline of traditional dance are many and varied. (...)
However, there was some hope for the traditional common dance when young (adult) people from several cities were enthusiastically reviving it under inspirational teachers such as Cork's Joe O'Donovan.
Let's hope they manage to avoid the introduction of the penal code of rules and the bureaucratic madness that plagued the competitive dances.
This was written a quarter of a century ago, at 1986, and has not lost its relevance. An illustrative phenomenon: in Moscow, to hell with schools of Irish dance of the modern style. And there are also some groups in Moscow that play Irish music of varying degrees of traditionality; strictly traditional of them - four, and all regularly give concerts. But dancers from these schools don't go to their concerts (well, almost). They are not interested. They play competitive sports and/or want to be like riverdance, jumping high with straight elbows in a stupid suit and curly wig, but they don't want anything else. Yes, they are wigs. :-)
As a musician who plays Irish music (a hopeless lover, not yet grown up to the stage, but nonetheless), this situation makes me very sad.
About folk dances.
The glimmering hope that Carson writes about has glimmered, God forbid: Irish old-style dances (sean-nos, shan-nos) have revived and are actively developing, both solo and group (set dancing).
ICH, solo - neither give nor take, Russian peasant dance, and group - quadrille quadrille, only in a square, not in a line. :-) It seems that at different ends of Europe we are with the Irish, but still Europeans.
What it looks like. Or rather, no, first: why does it look like that. Folk dances are danced primarily for themselves and for their own. They are rarely very spectacular, but what an indescribable buzz they bring! When you listen to music - it's great, when you dance it for the soul - it's ten times great. It can only be better to play it - apparently that's why I don't dance now, but play. :-)
And yet, how it looks. Solo - like this: 1, 2, 3 (these are not some kind of reference samples, this is what I immediately found on YouTube). Pay attention, by the way, what a sense of music the girl has in the second video: she knocks with her heels not to knock her heels cool and pathetic, but to knock them beautifully! Modern dancers rarely think about such things at all.
However, she probably also plays some instrument.
Group, set dancing. If solo dances are danced for at least some kind of audience, then group social dances are purely for themselves. There is no and should not be a special audience that came to watch, because "everyone is dancing!". They are not spectacular at all, but they are the most fun. :-) In Ireland itself, they are very rarely danced on at least some kind of stage, so now I can’t even really find good videos to illustrate, and those that I found are not Irish. Here, for example, some Germans, and here are our Muscovites :-) But this is not true, because the place for these sets is not in the spotlight, but in the heat of the party, and you need to be not outside, but in them. But even if outside - when not in public, for some reason it always looks better. And yet - still compare: one, two. In which video is life, and in which - decay and degeneration?
They were Irish. There are also Scottish ones, where the story is a little different.
Solo Scottish dancing (highland dancing) was mired in competitive insanity in the 19th century, so we will not talk about them. A normal, humane genre is scottish country dancing. Unlike Irish dances, its history was not interrupted: at the beginning of the 20th century, the "Scottish Dance Society" was created, which later received the status of a royal one. The Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society, RSCDS, after its inception, did something very dangerous for any traditional genre: they collected dances, standardized them, and published descriptions of the "correct" versions of dances, "correct" movements and recommended music for them. For better or worse, but now these versions have become the only correct ones - and therefore Scottish dances are a little more spectacular, a little more "ballet" and generally more difficult in terms of figures: at some point they stopped collecting them, and began to compose. However, the basic steps are simple and don't have to be perfect, and the complexity of the dance patterns is in the head, not in the muscles, so anyone can dance.
To the point that in Scotland itself, the very old age of the majority of dancers is gradually becoming not only a problem, but a very interesting phenomenon :-))
Looks like this: 1, 2, 3, 4. Pay attention to the third link: these are not some pros, just ordinary guys and aunts from America, Kentucky, the belly is available, but how they dance! From 1:22 there mrs mcleods jig is good, and reel of royal scots from 5:45 too. When viewing, try to imagine yourself not outside, but there, in the set - circling and flying back and forth. :-) And you can go there. Everyone can! And on the fourth link - ball. Fortunately, in the process of formalization, RSCDS was smart enough to introduce not official competitions, but to arrange, along with fun parties (which are not on video), also official balls.
I danced such dances myself a few years ago.
Group folk dances (Irish, Scottish, Breton, French, Russian - any) have one important feature: they are social. Coming to a lesson at a dance school, to a party, to a ball - you will not dance with the same partner.
You will be dancing every dance with someone new, and sometimes couples change during the dance as well. In training and in the dance itself, you will not strive for a standard or an ideal - there is none, any folk dance is danced by a person, and not by a robot sharpened for certain movements. And yet - they, although they are conducive to flirting (that's why everything is thought about!), They do not have an obvious sexual connotation, they are not physiological, which is a rarity these days. And - I think it's very important.
Digression: why there is no Celtic music.
Answer: because it does not exist. The commonality of musical cultures does not come from genetics and not from language, but from geographical and cultural proximity. The people "Celts" have not existed since the time of the Roman Empire, now there are other peoples - the Irish, Scots, Bretons, Galicians. Each of them has its own musical culture.
Yes, Irish music and Scottish music are so similar that an outsider may not be able to tell them apart.
However, Scottish traditional music is quite close to non-Celtic English morris music, and has a strong influence of Scandinavian, in particular Swedish. For purely geographical reasons.
Yes, Breton music has a lot in common with Irish and Scottish music. But she has much more in common (again, sometimes you can’t tell if it’s not in the subject) with the music of the French oppressors - because Brittany has been in France for many centuries, and the rest of the Celts are somewhere overseas.
The "Celtic Music" brand originated from marketing considerations. The earliest records of the folk music of the Celtic peoples are Scottish marches, this seems to be the middle of the 18th century (pipe orchestras were already there, music was recorded for them), but basically everything that we now know about the history of this (and any other European folk) music - these are musical notes of the second half of 19century and audio recordings of the beginning of the 20th. That is, it is not ancient at all, its antiquity is approximately prababkinskaya.
Not interested. Rotten useless redneck. But if you make some simple pretentious ethnofusion "based on", call it "music of the ancient Celts" and wrap it in a beautiful package, then it is sold with a bang.
Riverdance and similar shows is one example of this approach. Not the worst and - spectacular, many people like it.
Part II. Music.
A person who tries to switch from riverdance to more traditional music can be disappointed: what he switches to can easily seem incomprehensible, boring, dull, monotonous. In fact, this is not so, it’s just that you need to have a taste for folk music, like for any other genre, otherwise you won’t hear anything but a boring repetition of melodies composed of a dozen notes according to the same type of patterns. In this record - strength, power, rage, bordering on madness. In this one (from 3:00) - proud calmness and the highest craftsmanship, fine work. This one is a flight of fancy, turning the limitations of style into a picture frame.
Do you hear? If yes, then you have good ears. Can you listen to this for an hour and a half? If yes, then you are probably already in our party, and I probably know you personally :-)
But of course, I tendentiously picked up records without any accompaniment at all. There are quite a few musicians and bands who successfully combine the traditional style of playing with arrangements understandable to an outsider. In particular,
Danu (example, another example, discography)
Lunasa (example, discography)
Flook (example, discography) - these guys have gone quite far from tradition. But, unlike the narrow-minded ethnofusion, they did not make "a la Russe" (well, "a la Irish"), but outgrew, reworked and expanded.
Deanta (example, discography)
Dervish (example, discography)
Bothy Band (example, discography) - one of those who organized folk revival in the 70s. Then they were innovators, but now of all that I gave a link to - the most traditional :)
John Whelan (example, discography) - a rare combination: it's interesting to listen to the advanced, it's interesting to listen to outsiders, and it's interesting to dance to it.
And, for the record, a little more traditional guys here. Will you suddenly like it? Well, that is, rather, everyone I posted is quite traditional, someone is simply arranged more modernly, someone less. There is the same Whelan and it burns alone, and any other will burn.
If you listen to them for a long, long time, and not only them, then the outrageous fucking of the records on the first three links will become clear as daylight :-)
They were Irish. Now the Scots. I know them a little worse than the Irish, so I'll keep my opinion that I should listen to them (although I have one). But I can't help but give a link to a group beloved by many folk connoisseurs in Russia - Silly Wizard . After this track, I fell in love, after that - I decided that I would learn how to play it (and learned it!), And now I have this one on my alarm clock. Discography.
If you want more, I have it. I have linked to the root tracker for convenience, but my own bins are much, much richer.
Part III. Where is it all.
Alas, in the underground :-) Literally - Vermel and the Prancing Dreadnought, where something usually happens, are in the basements; and figuratively - the fashion for "keltsky" has passed, and where it has not passed, riverdance and comrades of a similar ideology earn money there. Traditional music and dance exist only for those who need it.
Irish shannos (solo and group "sets") are taught at Kaley's school - in general, this school originally taught modern style, but now normal dances have also started there. The teacher and generally the main leader of the whole shannos-dancing-movement in Moscow is Alexei Popov, they have a website http://folkdance.ru - in the section "about dancing" you can read a lot of useful information on the topic. Actually, I am completely unfamiliar with this party, but I have seen it more than once from the side, and I can confidently say - go to study with them, you will not regret it :)
Scottish Country Dancing is taught in several schools, if I were going to study myself now, I would go to Tartan Dreams, to the beautiful anuto4ka .
There are also Shady Glen and MSHSHT schools - the official RSCDS brunch in Russia. However, others also have RSCDS teaching certificates, and they are not the point.
It seems that Breton dances are also taught somewhere, but I don't know. I can redirect to someone who knows.
You can listen to Irish music in Moscow with enviable regularity - follow the concerts of Sandy's Band, Slua Si, Blind Harper, Polca An Ri. It's all honest traditional music, no folk rock or fusion. Set dancers often dance at their concerts - sometimes it's a masterclass, sometimes it's an official part of the program, sometimes they just come to dance.
There is also a regular session of Irish music in Vermel - every other Tuesday, see here. I don't go there for some reason, but they say it's great there. Session - an event for musicians, a game not for the public, but for themselves - they play acoustically, without any program, and everyone can join the game if they can. However, the audience, if it comes, will not be driven away by anyone - and set dancers also seem to go to the Moscow session.
Whatever you play for them, they will dance. :-)
Scottish music is best played in Moscow by the epic band Tin Thistle. It's cool to listen to them, but the live dances at their concerts are somehow not very good. However, they collaborate with Shady Glen, incl. masterclasses happen. There's also White Heather, but I find them boring.
Scottish dancing, due to the scarcity of live music, lives somewhat on its own, so many cool events - from small parties to full-fledged balls - are organized by the schools themselves. Everyone can go to the party (and there is a good chance that they will drag you into the set by force, because you don’t care to sit still!), you still need to be able to dance at the ball, incl. casual wanderers will remain spectators.
Breton music in Moscow is played by Mervent - they are the patriarchs of our scene, and very cool. Fusion is, but appropriate.
If you want to learn how to play Irish music, then there is no big trick either: take an instrument and learn.
When you learn a little, you can start going to play sessions, it will be fun.
If you want to play whistle or low whistle - http://tinwhistle.ru will help you. If on an Irish flute or an Irish bagpipe (uilleann pipes), then first play the whistle too, and then you'll figure it out. If on an Irish button accordion - contact me, I'll tell you, I play it myself :-) If it's some other instrument - write, I'll redirect to the right people. "No hearing", "no talent", "no musical education" - excuses, in fact, should be read as "I'm afraid" and "laziness". Because music is like a foreign language: accessible to everyone, but requires regular work.
Whistle lessons in Moscow are given, as far as I know, by Alexander Karavaev and Anatoly Isaev. Also, Karavaev also teaches Irish bagpipes, and Isaev - Scottish. They are both cool.
It's all in Moscow. In Kyiv and St. Petersburg there are fewer, but they also exist - if necessary, I can send them to knowledgeable comrades.
Part IV. Why and why.
"Well, first of all, it's beautiful" (c). What could be more beautiful than folk music? :-) And if it's not joking, then it's cool music, you can and should listen to it, dance, play it. HHI, people in this environment are selected on the principle of "those who need it" - entertainment, to put it mildly, is not mainstream - and these are often good people.
Second.
Russian folk music as a living tradition passed down among people is dead. Completely dead. She died along with the traditional rural way of life in the twentieth century, and was not revived in the cities, as happened in other European countries. Now, instead of folk music, there is a kind of dummy - academic folk music, which is taught in music schools, colleges, conservatories. She relates to live Russian music as riverdance to Irish dance. From TV and radio, instead of live music, we get a dummy - folk song and dance ensembles, where a certain stylization of a woman in kokoshniks is sung in a trained voice.
Have you looked at the links in the first and second parts? Did you not pay attention to the fact that neither dancers and musicians have kokoshniks, but have ordinary clothes? Now remember the last time you saw a Russian-folk-song-dance without colorful costumes. And think about why.
By the way, we are not the only country in Europe where folk culture has died, another striking example is Germany. There is no dummy either. The Germans in the 20th century were also somehow not up to the rebirth of folk music.
And it's all very bad. It is bad to live without roots, without a homeland - they love culture, and not a piece of a geographical map. But besides that: acquaintance with a living, natural musical (or dance) tradition greatly changes the worldview and improves musical taste. And - to be honest, many people are wildly lacking such an acquaintance, although they themselves do not suspect it. Some people are lucky enough to hear some other tradition - most often it turns out to be Irish music, as the strongest, liveliest and most prosperous of European folk music.
So prosperous that you can sit here in Moscow and calmly study it, be a part of it. Some Swedish or Bulgarian music is no less beautiful (no, really!), but it is more difficult to pull off such a trick with them.
And it has long been noted that many Irish musicians in Russia after some time begin to play Russian music too - and somehow very differently from the way it is played by "populists" from music schools; St. Petersburg teams Belorybitsa and Reelroad are a vivid example of this. This cup has not passed me either: it will soon be a year since I sing Russian folk music in a semi-amateur choir. "No voice and hearing" turned out to be crap: the hearing, it turns out, was quite good (and is improving), and now the voice has begun to erupt under the wise guidance of the teacher. (in the choir, by the way, in the fall there will be a new set of all comers, write if interested)
It seems to me that if Irish traditional music suddenly becomes much more popular here than it is now, then this will be a good chance to revive Russian music as well.
The one that's real.
Third.
Folk culture has one important difference from modern mass culture: folk culture is not consumer culture. Those bands that I gave links to in the second part are, of course, pros, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Below are lesser known musicians. Even lower - just cool musicians who never recorded and did not give concerts further than the neighboring town. And at the very bottom - ordinary sessions on ordinary sessions. Who play in the evening in the pub for their own pleasure over a glass of beer - sometimes they play well, sometimes they play so-so, but everyone tries to play better.
And this is a self-sustaining system: the more stars, the more simple sessioners. The more simple sessioners, the more stars will grow.
We live in a very consumerist world. Not only in the sense of delicious food and cool short-lived things, but also in the, uh, spiritually active sense.
We watch football on TV instead of playing it in the yard.
We watch movies, but we don't organize an amateur theatre.
We download music and never try to play it ourselves.
We read on the internet for politics and don't try to go and do anything.
We go to the Riverdance show, but we don't try to get in a set and dance.
And we create nothing, absolutely nothing outside the framework of the work for which we are paid a salary.
You look at our hobbies, and everywhere there is either consumption or, at best, a nerdy quality - an elf of level 80, a 100 kg chest press, a medal from an Irish dance competition. We don't create anything. And there are always excuses - "no talent", "no data", "no voice", "no hearing", "I'm clumsy", "health does not allow", "it's too late for me, age."
But folk music and dances are not like that. They appeared when there were no entertainment and cultural products to simply consume, when it was the norm to create them yourself. Every smelly, unwashed, uneducated Cossack, every Russian woman with a dozen children, who plowed like an ox all her life - they knew how to sing, so much so that you sway - and you, a free person of the 21st century, therefore, have no hearing and no voice.
Some impoverished, hungry Irishman, who all his life ate only potatoes and could not read, burns on the violin inherited from his father until itching in his heels, and you have no talent and a musical education. Some Irish and American grandfathers on the forum thesession.org are discussing what it's like to start playing after 60, and your fingers do not bend at 30. Scottish grannies under 70 at balls imposingly fly in jigs, stride stratspei, circle waltzes - and Lyudmila believes that it’s too late for her to dance. Oh well. :-)
All these excuses boil down to "I'm afraid I won't be able to" and "I'm too lazy". However, any business can be learned to some average level, if you spend some time on it, although many do not believe. You need less for dancing, more for music, but everyone can do it.
Talent is a separate issue. First, you plow over the pipe for two years, then two more years over the accordion, then you show someone the blood and then the result (not God knows what, but it’s like it is), and you - “wow, you’re a talent! sorry that I’m so I can not".
