Secondary abstract: |
A child's experience of the world is comprehensive and is best reflected through play and dance. Therefore, they play an important part in the development of a child's personality and creativity. In a field study, I have identified some well-known traditional games, motion and dancing games and songs that have survived from the 19th century and been transformed through the course of time up to the present day. These preserved games are a great contribution to the people’s prosperity, as they were passed on orally, as we say, “from the mouths of our grandmothers and grandfathers”. It is very difficult to define the "age" of folk culture, and even more difficult to define how old children's folk games are. Some date back to as late as the Middle Ages, or the origin is unknown. Folk plays or motion and dancing games are of significant importance for a child’s development, as they influence the development of a child’s personal, social and creative abilities. Dance education is an equal part of early childhood education and further educational process.
The image of dance tradition (folk dances, games, customs, etc.) in Slovenia was formed largely on the basis of field research. Although geographically small, Slovenian ethnic territory is very diverse, and has a rich cultural heritage of folk dances, customs and traditional games. Researches only show records of dances from the end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. Much is revealed about dancing culture of adults, but there are very few records of children's games, motion games and dancing. It is important to explore, preserve and reproduce the dance tradition, and most importantly, to pass it on to younger generations.
In Ljubno ob Savinja, such preservation of cultural dance heritage began in 1962 when a folklore group named Raduha was founded. Fieldwork and records provide evidence of a rich dance heritage in the the Upper Savinja Valley, and in Ljubno of Savinji. Unfortunately, the above mentioned folklore group was active only for a few years. Later, folklore activity again occurs in Ljubno, but only in connection with the local primary school and solely for the needs of school events as part of a play or a dance.
It is worth focusing our current thoughts on the preservation of the cultural heritage of dances in Slovenia. We should respect and be aware of our folk culture left to us by our ancestors. It is our responsibility to reproduce it and preserve it for future generations. |