Crowood 2006. 192 sidor, 19x24 cm, 155 s/v foton, hft. Utgivarens beskrivning
Whosoever danceth not, knoweth not the way of life
At the time that this line from a second-century Gnostic hymn was written, dancing was still `of the people, for the people, by the people´, a medium in which man took his first faltering steps towards prayer and religion, and so integral a part of life that it was almost akin to breathing. It is at this dance of the common people folk dance that this book takes a long look. Country by country, it explores and compares the cultural traditions that underpin folk dance in various parts of Europe, and it considers the importance of dance both as a patriotic statement and as a force for education and international communication. Written for dance students, teachers and historians, and for anyone interested in the cultural traditions of folk dancing.