Traditional dancing in the Netherlands is often called "Folkloristisch", sometimes "Boerendansen" ("farmer-dancing") or "Klompendansen" (clog dancing). Wooden shoes are worn as an essential part of the traditional costume for Dutch clogging, or Klompendanskunst.
Clog
Clogs are a type of footwear made in part or completely from wood. Used in many parts of the world, their forms can vary by culture, but often remained unchanged for centuries within a culture.
Traditional clogs remain in use as protective f ...
s for dancing are made lighter than the traditional 700-year-old design. The soles are made from ash wood, and the top part is cut lower by the ankle. Dancers create a rhythm by tapping the toes and heels on a wooden floor.
In 2006, nearly 500 teenagers attempted the "
Guinness Book of World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
" bid for the largest number of clog dancers.
It took place in
The Hague
The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
. They were dancing the ballet version of the Dutch clog dance rather than the folk version. The ballet ''
La fille mal gardée
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
* "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...
'' contains a well-known clog dance. For this specific dance the choreography was created by
Stanley Holden
Stanley Holden (27 January 1928 – 11 May 2007), born Stanley Herbert Waller, was a British American ballet dancer and choreographer.
Born in London, he joined the Royal Ballet in 1944 and won notice for performing numerous character roles, esp ...
(1928–2007), though
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton (17 September 190418 August 1988) was a British ballet dancer and choreographer. He also worked as a director and choreographer in opera, film and revue.
Determined to be a dancer despite the oppositi ...
took overall responsibility for it.
See also
*
Dutch folk dance
Dutch folk dance are the traditional dances that were performed by the folk.
Foreigners and the Dutch, alike, associate Dutch folk dance with clog dancing, though clogs in practice limit the dance moves. Therefore, the folk dance is mostly danced ...
References
External links
Folk dancing in the Netherlands, dance descriptions, video's, costumes and groups
{{dance-stub
Dutch dances