page_title: Circle dance
section_title: An Dro
hierarchical_section_title: Circle dance / Modern dances / Western Europe / An Dro
caption_attribution_description: English: Faroese (and perhaps some foreign too) are dancing Faroese chain dance in Tórshavn in a place called Sjónleikarhúsið (a former theatre). The Faroese dance is a very old tradition, no instruments are used, the dancers are only using their voices to sing the Faroese and Danish ballads (kvæði), which sometimes can be very long, more than 100 or 200 verses. This photo was taken on Ólavsøka (Sct. Olav's Wake) which is the national holiday of the Faroe Islands, celebrated in the end of July, especially on 28 and 29 July. The Faroese chain dance (føroyskur dansur) is normally on the programme for Ólavsøka in the evening of 28 until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning. There is also outdoor dancing after the midnight singing on Vaglið in the center of Tórshavn on 29 July, or that will be on 30 July because it is after midnight. Some of the women on this photo are wearing the national costume of the Faroes. Føroyskt: Fólk dansa føroyskan dans í Sjónleikarhúsinum í Havn á Ólavsøku 2011. Dansk: Færøsk kædedans. Folk danser den traditionelle færøske dans i Sjónleikarhúsið i Tórshavn til Olaj (Ólavsøka) den 28. juli 2011 (natten til den 29. juli). Deutsch: Färinger (und vielleicht auch einige Ausländer) tanzen den färöischen Kettentanz in Tórshavn in einem ehemaligen Theater mit Namen Sjónleikarhúsið. Der färöische Kettentanz ist eine sehr alte Tradition, es werden keine Instrumente verwendet, die Tänzer benutzen nur ihre Stimmen, um färöische und däische Balladen (kvæði) zu singen, welche manchmal sehr lang sein können, mehr als 100 oder 200 Verse. Das Foto wurde an Ólavsøka (Sankt-Olafs-Tag) aufgenommen, welches der Nationalfeiertag der Färöer ist, gefeiert Ende Juli, insbesondere am 28 und 29 Juli. Der färöischen Kettentanz (føroyskur dansur) gehört üblicherweise zum Programm von Ólavsøka am Abend des 28. bis 3 oder 4 Uhr morgens. Es gibt auch Tanzen im Freien nach dem Mitternachtssingen auf dem Vaglið im Zentrum von Tórshavn am 29. Juli, d. h. am 30. Juli, da es nach Mitternacht stattfindet. Einige der Frauen auf dem Bild tragen die Nationaltracht der Färöer.
context_page_description: Circle dance, or chain dance, is a style of dance done in a circle or semicircle to musical accompaniment, such as rhythm instruments and singing. Circle dancing is probably the oldest known dance formation and was part of community life from when people first started to dance. Unlike line dancing, circle dancers are in physical contact with each other; the connection is made by hand-to-hand, finger-to-finger or hands-on-shoulders. It is a type of dance where anyone can join in without the need of partners. Generally, the participants follow a leader around the dance floor while holding the hand of the dancers beside them. The dance can be gentle or energetic.
  Dancing in a circle is an ancient tradition common to many cultures for marking special occasions, rituals, strengthening community and encouraging togetherness. The dance can also be enjoyed as an uplifting group experience or as part of a meditation. Circle dances are choreographed to many different styles of music and rhythms. Modern circle dance mixes traditional folk dances, mainly from European or Near Eastern sources, with recently choreographed ones to a variety of music both ancient and modern.
context_section_description: An Dro, meaning "the turn", is a Breton circle dance. The dancers link the little fingers in a long line, swinging their arms, whilst moving to their left. The arm movements consist first of two circular motions going up and back followed by one in the opposite direction. The leader (person at the left-hand end of the line) will lead the line into a spiral or double it back on itself to form patterns on the dance floor, and allow the dancers to see each other.
caption: Faroese chain dance in Tórshavn
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