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koseder

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The Kashubians regard the kòséder as their national dance, although a similar form was also known in the area of Warmia, where it was called the kosejder. The koseder retained many relics of old Scottish dances, which were very popular in both regions thanks to the maritime contacts in the past. It is danced in pairs and in a very dignified manner. One significant feature of the dance is the jump from the left leg and crossing it in the air with the right leg.
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The name of the dance likely comes from the Kashubian word koso (from French écossaise - Scottish), meaning the distinctive gesture of legs (literally "to mow with legs"). It is the relic of old Scottish dances, popular in the past in the area of Kaszuby and Warmia. The koseder consists of two choreographic parts, and is meant to be performed in a fast tempo, according to the 2/4 metre. In the first part of the dance, dancers stand in pairs, theirhands crossed in the front, and through the first eight bars of the music they dance (walking) along the circle, moving against the sun (counterclockwise). They later repeat the sequence moving in the opposite direction (with the sun). Obligatory figures called "przegrody" (barriers) were also performed when a large number of pairs was involved in the dance. "Przegrody" were the lines of female and male partners moving forward and backward. One characteristic of the koseder is the jump featuring the crossing of legs in the air (performed only by men). In the second part of the dance pairs, which would now dance in the closed position, performed a typical polka, whirling along the circle in both directions.

 

Lorentz, Friedrich; Fischer, Adam; Lehr-Spławiński, Tadeusz. Kaszubi. Kultura ludowa i język [The Folk Culture and Language]. Toruń: Instytut Bałtycki, 1934.

Madejski, Zbigniew; Szefka, Paweł. Kaszubskie pieśni i tańce ludowe [Kashubian Folk Songs and Dances]. Wejherowo: Drukarnia Przemysłowa, 1936.

Szefka, Paweł. Tańce kaszubskie [Kashubian Dances]. Vol. 1. Gdańsk: Wojewódzki Dom Twórczości Ludowej, 1957.