The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE WINDMILL

THERE ARE MANY FOLKLORIC DANCES IN LITHUANIA. EACH ONE HAS
ITS OWN KIND OF MEANING. TL[ THE WINDMILL
THIS IS A DANCE CONSISTING OF EIGHT COUPLES. BASICALLY, THE
MOTIONS OF THE DANCE ARE THOSE OF A WINDMILL.
AT FIRST, EACH COUPLE SEPARATELY IMITATES THE MOTIONS OF
SIFTING THE GRAIN INTO THE MACHINES. THE MIDDLE SYMBOLIZES HOW
THE FLOUR IS MADE, WITH THE DANCE ENDING IN THE COUPLES
GOING AROUND IN A VERY FAST CIRCLE, JUST LIKE THE WHEEL OF
THE WINDMILL.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: 03-25-1972

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THE WEAVER--AUDEJELE

THIS IS A DANCE DESIGNED ONLY FOR GIRLS TO DANCE.
IT CONSISTS OF 12 GIRLS AND 3 LARGE PIECES OF WOVEN LINEN.
THE GIRLS START OUT WITH THE MOTIONS OF A WEAVER PREPARING
TO WEAVE SOME LINEN. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DANCE, THE
GIRLS GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF A WEAVER, TILL IN THE END,
THEY PRODUCE THE PIECES OF LINEN. THEN THEY TWIRL AROUND
AND DANCE REAL FAST, AS IF PLAYING AND SHOWING OFF THEIR
WORK TO ONE ANOTHER.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: 03-25-1972

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KEPURINE--THE HAT DANCE

THIS IS FOR 8 COUPLES, BUT STARTS OUT WITH ONLY THE GIRLS.
THE GIRLS HAVE LARGE STRAW HATS AND DANCE SLOWLY, AS IF WORK-
ING IN THE FIELDS. BUT WHEN THE BOYS COME OUT, THEY PLAY
FOR A WHILE--DANCE REAL FAST. BUT THEN THEY GO BACK TO
WORK, AND ONLY TILL THEY DANCE OUT THE MOTIONS OF WORK TILL THE
WORK IS DONE, DO THEY END THE DANCE WITH A POLKA.

Date learned: 03-25-1972

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