This dance….
is called: Kontra mit Plü - Blankeneser Fischertanz (Fisher dance)
The Blankeneser Fischertanz is a German "Kontratanz" - meaning: „Dancing opposite to each other”
Societal relevance
The Low German folk dance is found in the areas of Germany where Low German is spoken, i.e. in the entire North German region between the Dutch and Polish borders and from the border with Denmark to the first foothills of the low mountain ranges, that forms the southern border.
Kontratanz or Kontertanz - meaning: „Dancing opposite to each other”, is an originally English group dance that originated in the 16th century, which became a very popular social dance throughout Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. The so-called English "country dance", was translated on the continent not as a "rural dance" but as a "contradance", in French as "contredanse", a dance in which the dancing couples face each other.
The main purpose of this dance was to allow the sexes to meet under social control during adolescence. The main purpose of this dance was thus not for the entertainment of the spectators, although there were spectators, but for the performing people themselves. Nevertheless, the Kontratanz is not yet a couple dance, which signals isolated togetherness like today's standard dances, but emphasizes the commonness of larger societies and the community group as a whole. The dance is performed in units of couples. In each couple the lady stands on the right side of the gentleman. Throughout the dance the couples disperse, rotate partners and dance complex geometric step sequence that are interwoven with the whole group.
Music
The procedures in contra dancing must be well thought out to fit the structure of the music. The fixed interwoven geometric step sequences are danced in accordance with the structure of the music. The music consists of periods of eight bars each. With each period of the music the dancers change their movements and step form. The music in contra dancing is structured in such a way that a sequence of eight beats corresponds to a musical phrase, and eight such phrases form a figure part. This figure part is repeated until the end of the dance.
The melodies of the music, usually in two measures, are songlike. The music consists of two melody parts A and B, and the connection is reminiscent of a verse and a chorus. Each part consists of 16 beats (steps) and is repeated, resulting in the clearly recognisable structure A-A-B-B. The complete sequence of figures thus contains 64 steps. Since most of the figures are danced with eight, some with four or sixteen steps, there is a harmony between music and movement. Kontra dance Music must always have a clearly recognisable structure, even if it is not always A-A-B-B.
Several melodies for this dance have been published. The most widespread melody was published by Kattfuß in 1802 and is also mentioned here.
Costume
The costumes are in reference to the „Tracht“ - the traditional regional cloth order of that time. More profound information about the history of the „Tracht“ can be found in here.
Typical for the woman at that time was a skirt that reached down to the calves, a white blouse and a white linen apron. A bodice was often worn over the blouse. Headgear was also part of the costume: a simple cotton bonnet or a woman's hat. White knee-length socks and black shoes were worn.
Typical for the man at that Time was a white linen shirt, black velvet knee breeches and white woollen stockings.
There were working cloths and festive cloths, which differed in quality, adornments and decorations.
[1] Dancilla, Letzter Zugriff: 24.02.2022, www.dancilla.com/wiki/index.php?title=Kontra_mit_Plü
[2] Heinerfischle.de, Letzter Zugriff: 24.02.2022, www.heinerfischle.de/contra/index.htm
[3] Kompage.de, Letzter Zugriff: 24.02.2022, www.kompage.de/download/Blankeneser_Trachtenguppe_web.pdf
[4] Wikipedia, Letzter Zugriff: 24.02.2022, www.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niederdeutscher_Volkstanz
[5] Lwl, Letzter Zugriff: 24.02.2022, www.lwl.org/voko-download/BilderNEU/422_053Vogt.pdf
How to dance the dance
Dancers- Starting position
Four pairs in the cross
Location in performance space
The dance is performed in the centre of the space.
Form
The dance consists of several units of repeating step patterns/phrases. The locomotion of the dance is very regular without any climaxes as such.
Movements & Patterns
The movements are performed with the feet/legs and the arms with the rest of the body being still. The dance consists of small steps and jumps and turns through space that are performed on a circular floor pattern and movements on place. The shapes and the patterns of the dance are very structured.
Step types: jumping steps, Plü- steps
1st. Round
Starting Position: Single-handed GraspMale dancer on the left, female dancer on the right. The dancer holds with his right hand the left hand of the dancer at breast height. The arms are bend with the elbow facing downwards. The palm of the dancer's hand is pointing upwards, the female dancer puts her left hand with the back of her hand facing upwards slightly - without weight and without cramping - into the hand of the dancer.
Pattern 1
Bar 1-8:Large circle with 16 jumping steps clockwise. The dancers hold each other’s hands such asin the single-handed grasp at breast hight. The arms are bend with the elbow facing downwards
Bar 9-16:repetition bars 1-8 anti-clockwise.
Pattern 2
Bar 17-24:The four pairs face each other performing 4 Plü-steps (left-right-left-right) in place.
Plü-step: In 4 counts: jump on both feet parallel, right leg goes front with parallel foot, right leg goes side with parallel foot, jump on both feet parallel.
In 4 counts: jump on both feet parallel, left leg goes front with parallel foot, left leg goes side with parallel foot, jump on both feet parallel
Pattern 3
Bar 25-32:circle chain with jumping steps to the opposite place of the circle.
The pairs part jumping into opposite directions performing 16 jumping steps. The dancer follows the circle pattern anti -clockwise, the female dancer clockwise. The dancers jump around the dancers that are facing them from the front, passing them with their shoulder (right, left, right, left). While passing around each other the dancers give each other their hands (right, left, right, left). After passing 3 other partners, the couples arrive back in front their original partner facing each other, now standing exactly on the opposite side of the circle.
Pattern 2
Bar 33-40: The four pairs face each other performing 4 Plü-steps (left-right-left-right) in place.
Pattern 3
Bar 41-48: Repetition bar 25-32, circle chain with jumping steps to the opposite place of the circle being the starting point of each couple.
2nd. Round
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 4 - Version 1
Bar 1-8: Couple circles: Handtour with the single-handed Grasp with the right hand, performing 16 jumping steps clockwise around their own axis. The outer arm is bend with the elbow facing outwards, the hand resting on the hip.
Bar 9-16: Repitition anti-clockwise
Bar 17-48: Same as in 1st. Round
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
3rd Round
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 4 - Variation 2
Bar 1-8: couple circles: The couples are holding each others hands with the elbows slightly bent outwards forming a horizontal circle with their arms while performing 16 jumping steps around their own axis clockwise.
Bar 9-16: Repition bars 1-8, anti-clockwise.
Bar 17- 48: Same as in 1st. Round
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
4th. Round
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 4 - Variation 3
Bar 1-8: Couple circles: Holding their hands in back cross version performing 16 jumping steps clockwise around their own axis clockwise
Bar 9-16: Repition bars 1-8, anti-clockwise.
Back cross: The couple holds each other’s hands in a cross having their left arm streched out horizontally in front of the partner and the right arm bent behind the back with the elbow bend. When switching direction they also switch the arms.
Bar 17- 48: Same as in 1st. Round
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Final circle
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 1
Bar 1-8:Large circle with 16 jumping steps clockwise. The dancers hold each other’s hands such asin the single-handed grasp at breast hight. The arms are bend with the elbow facing downwards
Bar 9-16:repetition bars 1-8 anti-clockwise.
Dancers- Starting position
Four pairs in the cross
Location in performance space
The dance is performed in the centre of the space.
Form
The dance consists of several units of repeating step patterns/phrases. The locomotion of the dance is very regular without any climaxes as such.
Movements & Patterns
The movements are performed with the feet/legs and the arms with the rest of the body being still. The dance consists of small steps and jumps and turns through space that are performed on a circular floor pattern and movements on place. The shapes and the patterns of the dance are very structured.
Step types: jumping steps, Plü- steps
1st. Round
Starting Position: Single-handed GraspMale dancer on the left, female dancer on the right. The dancer holds with his right hand the left hand of the dancer at breast height. The arms are bend with the elbow facing downwards. The palm of the dancer's hand is pointing upwards, the female dancer puts her left hand with the back of her hand facing upwards slightly - without weight and without cramping - into the hand of the dancer.
Pattern 1
Bar 1-8:Large circle with 16 jumping steps clockwise. The dancers hold each other’s hands such asin the single-handed grasp at breast hight. The arms are bend with the elbow facing downwards
Bar 9-16:repetition bars 1-8 anti-clockwise.
Pattern 2
Bar 17-24:The four pairs face each other performing 4 Plü-steps (left-right-left-right) in place.
Plü-step: In 4 counts: jump on both feet parallel, right leg goes front with parallel foot, right leg goes side with parallel foot, jump on both feet parallel.
In 4 counts: jump on both feet parallel, left leg goes front with parallel foot, left leg goes side with parallel foot, jump on both feet parallel
Pattern 3
Bar 25-32:circle chain with jumping steps to the opposite place of the circle.
The pairs part jumping into opposite directions performing 16 jumping steps. The dancer follows the circle pattern anti -clockwise, the female dancer clockwise. The dancers jump around the dancers that are facing them from the front, passing them with their shoulder (right, left, right, left). While passing around each other the dancers give each other their hands (right, left, right, left). After passing 3 other partners, the couples arrive back in front their original partner facing each other, now standing exactly on the opposite side of the circle.
Pattern 2
Bar 33-40: The four pairs face each other performing 4 Plü-steps (left-right-left-right) in place.
Pattern 3
Bar 41-48: Repetition bar 25-32, circle chain with jumping steps to the opposite place of the circle being the starting point of each couple.
2nd. Round
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 4 - Version 1
Bar 1-8: Couple circles: Handtour with the single-handed Grasp with the right hand, performing 16 jumping steps clockwise around their own axis. The outer arm is bend with the elbow facing outwards, the hand resting on the hip.
Bar 9-16: Repitition anti-clockwise
Bar 17-48: Same as in 1st. Round
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
3rd Round
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 4 - Variation 2
Bar 1-8: couple circles: The couples are holding each others hands with the elbows slightly bent outwards forming a horizontal circle with their arms while performing 16 jumping steps around their own axis clockwise.
Bar 9-16: Repition bars 1-8, anti-clockwise.
Bar 17- 48: Same as in 1st. Round
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
4th. Round
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 4 - Variation 3
Bar 1-8: Couple circles: Holding their hands in back cross version performing 16 jumping steps clockwise around their own axis clockwise
Bar 9-16: Repition bars 1-8, anti-clockwise.
Back cross: The couple holds each other’s hands in a cross having their left arm streched out horizontally in front of the partner and the right arm bent behind the back with the elbow bend. When switching direction they also switch the arms.
Bar 17- 48: Same as in 1st. Round
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Pattern 2
Pattern 3
Final circle
Starting Position: Single-handed Grasp
Pattern 1
Bar 1-8:Large circle with 16 jumping steps clockwise. The dancers hold each other’s hands such asin the single-handed grasp at breast hight. The arms are bend with the elbow facing downwards
Bar 9-16:repetition bars 1-8 anti-clockwise.