I recently had the opportunity to attend a witch dance tutorial, and it was truly a captivating experience. The tutorial was led by a talented and experienced witch who guided us through various movements and steps that are commonly associated with witchcraft. The session began with a brief introduction to the history and significance of witch dances. We learned that these dances have been a part of witchcraft traditions for centuries, often used as a form of celebration, ritual, or communication with the spiritual realm. It was fascinating to delve into the rich cultural and historical background of these dances. As we moved further into the tutorial, we started learning the basic steps of a witch dance.
Playlist, October 2, 2023, Witches' Broom Dance (Germany), Weekly Dancing - Except No Monday Dancing Next Monday, 10/9/23.
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– International Folk Dance Club of Detroit Hi, dancers, On Monday we enjoyed dancing the Witches' Broom Dance, choreographed by the Witches of Wolfshagen (Wolfshager Hexenbrut), a group of women in the Germantown of Wolfshagen im Hartz. This town has a history of Medieval witchcraft and sorcery. and today holds a festival in which this dance is a highlight. The dance is choreographed to "Shake Your Bacon /Shuttel Deinen Speck" by Peter Fox.
Elizabeth taught the dance to our group, and she brought full-size brooms for all of us. Our group made a brief descriptive list of the figures as done in the excellent tutorial in the playlist below. 1. Circle the Broom 2. Lift weights 3. Open up+hips 4. Bounce with Broom Lift+hips (Subject to revision.) Simple steps include tap and step and cha cha cha. Egyptian Hands are done once for a finale. 2016 Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjUV-byB8lsWe featured the Witches' Broom Dance i n our IFDCD posting on Halloween in 2022, and we included the following background information:
German folklore tells us that on April 30, Walpurgis Night, witches met on Brocken mountain (the highest peak of the Harz mountains) and partied with the Devil. That night, also called May Day's Eve, is widely celebrated throughout Northern and Central Europe. P eople celebrate with costumes, bonfires, fireworks, folk songs, and dancing.
What began as a pagan festival to welcome spring evolved into a night of fear and witch-burning, but today Walpurgis Nacht is like another Halloween, and it falls exactly six months from our holiday.
"Medieval Germany bore witness to some of the largest and most gruesome witch hunts in history. Walpurgisnacht is even sometimes referred to as the Hexenbrunnen (the burning of the witches) due to its bloody past."
Naina Pottamkulam - From I Am Expat ( Updated: 30 April 2022)There Is Dancing Every Friday and Monday in October - Except Next Monday, October 9th.
PLAYLIST Monday, October 2, 2023
1. Karsi Bar (Armenia)
2. Kostursko Oro (Macedonia)
3. Nestinarsko (Bulgaria)
4. Dragaicuta (Romania)
5. Scottish du Point Sublime (France)
6, Siriul - The slow Theodore Vasilescu version (Romania)
7. Siriul - The fast Iacob Lascu version) (Romania)
8. Ajde Jano (Macedonia)
9. Bi Li Tong (Yi people of China) TAUGHT Music by Shanren: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pze2i-d4IXQ 10. I Trata (Greece)11. Vrapcheto (Bulgaria)
The witches of Oak Park are back with a spook-tacular flash mob
The witches aren’t real witches — they’re a group of Oak Park residents who gather once a year dressed in a variety of black skirts, sparkly dresses, pointy hats and green face paint. This year marks the sixth time the Oak Park witch flash mob will perform the dance, which is a choreographed piece performed around the world to Peter Fox’s “Schüttel deinen Speck.”
When Oak Park resident Sarah Corbin stumbled in 2018 upon a video of the dance, which is performed near Halloween all over the world, she wanted to bring it home. Corbin created a Facebook group for interested locals, which now has nearly 300 members.
“Sometimes you need to do something just for fun, for no other reason other than you just have to let your hair down,” Corbin said. “It’s become a really nice group of women.”
Since its start seven years ago, the group has missed just two performances — one for bad weather and another during the pandemic, Corbin said. They learn the dance mainly from a YouTube tutorial, with help from the more experienced group members. Corbin estimated 25 to 40 people have participated in the dance each year.
Each witch creates their own costume, adding unique flairs to their getup. Last year’s performance included a variety of pointy hats — black, orange, purple, starry — hair-raising wigs and colorful striped leggings, along with the traditional all-black ensemble.
Group member Joanna Moran, who joined the group in 2021, said getting ready at a friend’s house before the dance is one of her favorite parts. Joining the group was a welcome opportunity for Moran, who always wanted to be a part of a flash mob.
“I didn’t expect it to be as much fun as it was. I was actually kind of nervous — ‘Oh, am I going to do the dance right?’ (But) the dance has pretty simple steps and if people aren’t doing it exactly right, it’s okay,” Moran said. “It’s fun watching people’s reactions as the dance starts forming and people are pulling out their phones videoing it or taking pictures”
For group member Nicole Lombardi, the dance is fun, as is making audience members laugh throughout their performance at the park and onward as they dance through town. But she also said being in community with other women feels empowering.
“Watching women all over the world putting out there the garb of witches added to the whole motivation of mine,” Lombardi said. “It’s kind of pushing through, past oppression and taking it back in an artistic way.”
The group is now using the annual performance to fundraise for women-led social justice causes, Corbin said. This year, the funds will be split between the Oak Park-Austin Area Moms Demand Action chapter and the Mercy Garden of Peace and Healing, a community space for survivors of gun violence in the Austin neighborhood.
Corbin said this adds a whole new meaning to the dancing.
“It’s nice to have an empowering space knowing that we’re making the dance expand into helping women in other areas,” she said. “We’re having fun, but it’s fun for good.”
The magic starts at 6 p.m.
DarkDimension
I can't get enough of this: German hausfraus in full witch regalia, dancing in unison to a vaguely pagan-mixed-with-ska(?)-or-reggae(?) song with a thumping beat to celebrate Walpurgisnacht. Since Walpurgisnacht is a bit like a summertime Halloween, I'm including it here for the 31 Nights of Halloween. Here's the Wolfshäger Hexenbrut dancing to Schüttel deinen Speck.
Yeah, and that song? If you're as German-deprived as me (I failed a year of it my junior year of high school), you might have figured it was some pagan ode to nature or witchcraft, but nope. It's about shakin' that bacon in a nightclub.
There's something strangely enchanting about the effort put into this production, from the elaborate costumes to the choreography. The women have gained international fame for it, rightly so, and apparently had requests for the choreography to be demonstrated. And they did demonstrate it, sans make-up, in this charming tutorial.
The more witch dances, the better. Posted by Jeff B. at 8:07 PM Labels: 31 Nights of Halloween, Halloween, Walpurgisnacht, witch dance, Wolfshäger Hexenbrut
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Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)As we moved further into the tutorial, we started learning the basic steps of a witch dance. The instructor emphasized the importance of grounding and connecting with our inner energy before starting the dance. We were taught to focus on our breath and visualize ourselves embodying the essence of a witch, channeling our personal power into the movements.
That's me.
..grizzled as usual.
Throughout the tutorial, we practiced different sequences and choreographies that involved fluid arm movements, rhythmic footwork, and dramatic poses. The instructor encouraged us to let go of any self-consciousness and fully immerse ourselves in the dance. It was a liberating experience to let our bodies move freely and expressively, without judgment or inhibition. One of the highlights of the tutorial was learning about the symbolism behind certain dance moves. For example, we learned that sweeping motions with our arms can symbolize the act of clearing away negative energy, while sharp, angular movements can represent the wielding of magic or casting spells. Understanding the meaning behind each movement added a deeper layer of significance to the dance. As the tutorial progressed, we also explored the use of props such as broomsticks and cauldrons. Incorporating these objects into our dance routines allowed us to further embody the image of a witch and enhance the overall visual appeal of the performance. By the end of the tutorial, we had learned a complete witch dance routine, complete with transitions, variations, and even a few improvised sections. It was empowering to witness the transformation that occurred within each participant as we embraced our inner witches and danced together as a group. Overall, the witch dance tutorial was an enlightening and enchanting experience. It provided us with a unique opportunity to explore the art of witchcraft through movement and self-expression. I left the tutorial feeling inspired and eager to incorporate the knowledge and techniques I had learned into my own practice. Whether one identifies as a witch or not, participating in a witch dance tutorial can be a powerful and transformative experience that celebrates the power of movement, symbolism, and connection to the spiritual realm..
Reviews for "The Magic Within: Master Witch Dance Moves with This Tutorial"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the witch dance tutorial. The instructor went way too fast and didn't break down the moves at all. As a beginner, I found it really hard to keep up and follow along. I wish there was more explanation and slower pacing to make it more accessible for all skill levels.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - This witch dance tutorial was a total waste of time. The instructor seemed more interested in showing off her own skills than actually teaching. The steps were so complicated and she didn't provide any clear instructions or breakdowns. It was frustrating and I ended up giving up halfway through because it was just too difficult to follow along.
3. Alex - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for this witch dance tutorial, but it fell flat for me. The instructor lacked enthusiasm and it made the whole experience feel dull. Additionally, she didn't provide any modifications or alternatives for those who couldn't execute certain moves. As a result, I felt left out and discouraged. I think this tutorial could be improved with better instruction and more inclusivity.
4. Emily - 1/5 stars - I did not enjoy this witch dance tutorial at all. The instructor's explanations were unclear and she seemed unprepared. It felt like she was just improvising and making up moves on the spot. I found myself constantly pausing and rewinding the video to try and understand what I was supposed to do. Overall, it was a frustrating and confusing experience.