Peasants Dancing

The book explores Ukrainian dance in various settings, performed for different purposes. In particular, we contrast “vival dance” (performed with the participants clearly focused on the current moment) and “reflective dance” (performed in the present, but also partially engaged with the dancing tradition in the past).

In this section we can see videos of villagers in Toporivtsi, Ukraine, as they celebrate and dance at a large and elaborate wedding. These dances are good examples of vival dance.