The language and the dance

Photo: Finnur Justinussen

The traditional Faroese dance is chain dancing

The Faroese language traces its roots back to the Old Norse of the Vikings.

The Vikings, who came mainly from Norway, sailed westwards looking for new land and reached the coasts of Scotland, Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides, the Faroes and Iceland. In due course, the various countries developed their own culture and Old Norse split into different dialects, dying out completely in mainland Scotland and the Scottish islands.

Survival of the language

The Faroese language was for a long time threatened with extinction. After the reformation, Danish became the language of the church as well as the written language. Initial research into the Faroese language in the 18th century revealed the existence of an overwhelming collection of old words and sayings, established turns of phrase, and legends and ballads. The ancient and heroic ballads alone numbered 70,000 verses, all of which had been handed down orally from generation to generation.

Importance of the Chain dance

How could this be, in a population that for hundreds of years had numbered between 4,000 and 5,000 people? An important part of the answer lies in the renowned Faroese dance, for which it is necessary to learn and remember a long story. This dance is a direct continuation of the medieval ring dance that began in France and spread throughout Europe. The ring dance went out of fashion or was forbidden by the authorities, but lived on in the Faroe Islands. Cultural pride

The special features of the Faroese dance are the song and story. There is no instrumental accompaniment. While a single or a few singers lead the song, the others take part with their dance steps and by singing the refrain after each verse. The dance steps are always the same, if the story is a sad one, the steps are soft; if dramatic, the feet stamp hard. If it is a ballad that makes fun of something, the rhythm is full of bounce and light. It is a dance where many take part, faces pass by one another; the dancers face inwards and it can be difficult to appreciate from the outside. You have to participate and when it is at its best, the chain fuses together and you feel a part of something much bigger. The collection and documentation of the enormous amount of oral material formed the foundation for the preservation of the language. The establishment of the written language in the middle of the 19th century created the basis for the renewal that has taken place. While other languages disappear, the Faroese language is developing and is today the pride of the nation.

Try Faroese dancing

Traditional Faroese dance organisations exist in the Faroe Islands and tourists are able to watch or participate in traditional Faroese dance. Contact tourist information or dance organisations directly for more information. The website of the national dance federation, ‘Sláið Ring’, is www.sr.fo.