Breathtaking Russian dancing - men in uniform

August 18, 2014 4:49 PM

Amazing Russian dancing men in uniform Don't know much about this, but thought you'd like it.
posted by Listener (18 comments total)

without the Moonwalk, it means nothing to me
posted by thelonius at 4:57 PM on August 18, 2014

With the original music.
posted by thomas j wise at 5:09 PM on August 18, 2014 [5 favorites]

I prefer the Run DMC - Roots of Breakdance, version
posted by littlesq at 5:16 PM on August 18, 2014 [9 favorites]

Meanwhile, in England
posted by randomkeystrike at 5:21 PM on August 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

Ow, my thigh muscles are killing me from just watching that.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:59 PM on August 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

I didn't know I needed to see this, and then I saw it and I realized that my life has become just a little bit better.

I prefer this music.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 6:01 PM on August 18, 2014 [3 favorites]

No no no. Run-DMC is the original music. Time travel was involved. I'll never believe otherwise, because it fits so well.
posted by cmyk at 6:13 PM on August 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

"And later, they were all killed in the purge!"...

...was my first thought. Then Google tells me that the video was filmed in '41, so I guess the Nazi invasion got them first. Glad there's footage though. I'd love to learn more about these guys if anyone finds anything.
posted by theweasel at 6:14 PM on August 18, 2014

I don't really know how to use this site, but I came up with this.
posted by uosuaq at 6:22 PM on August 18, 2014

It is a somewhat militarized version of Ukrainian Hopak...
posted by jim in austin at 6:42 PM on August 18, 2014

I once read a heat-rending account of Cossacks, who had fought for the Germans, retreating through Germany at the close of the Second World War. These were guys who'd done and seen terrible things. They were up to their eyeballs in the atrocities of the Nazis, had fought against the Communists with implacable ferocity. And now had nowhere to run as the sword arm of Stalin came down over Germany. In a few months, many would be dead, others would 'escape' to the West, only to be handed over to the Soviets and murdered on mass. Still, as they camped for the night, they entertained the passing refugees with dazzling, thrilling dances. On one side, the darkness of complicity, on the other side the darkness of the grave. And in between, thrilling, balletic, athletic dances: a spark of joy shining against the night of sorrow.
posted by Dreadnought at 7:01 PM on August 18, 2014 [6 favorites]

There was this guy in high school, Pete, who would do the Cossack dance in the halls. He was an odd fellow but he was never bothered, mostly people attempted to pretend he wasn't there and didn't interact because teenagers are teenagers and Pete was different.

Pete and I would nod slightly as we passed in the halls, me being a stoner High School Dude so I had an identity and a group. Pete was just Pete. They closed my High School in my junior year and had a sort of going away party at Gas Works park in Seattle. Pete stood atop one of the lesser hills, far away from the rest, and played his bagpipes.
posted by vapidave at 8:09 PM on August 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

Cossacks and Cossack dancing have been a part of the Russian military since the Tsarist period, and so not only did you have Cossacks fighting on both the side of the Nazis and the Soviets in WWII, but also both Red and White Cossacks during the civil war. Often these differing allegiances amongst the various Cossack hosts would fall along lines laid down during the Golden Horde, or during the Polish-Lithuanian confederation. Even now, we are again seeing these divisions reemerge in Southern Ukraine.

I grew up around Ukrainians, and my understanding of the meanings of the various dances was as follows: "Look- the boys from our village are very handsome and fierce, and will attract good-looking brides!" "Ah-ha, but the boys from our village are even more handsome, and especially athletic, and will attract much finer brides, probably from your village!" "Look- the Tsar has re-organized our society along military lines, and now we all have fancy uniforms! Huzzah!"



Meanwhile, in Pyongyang.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:32 PM on August 18, 2014 [4 favorites]

Is this from some kind of musical or something? Because the soldiers look very ballet trained.
posted by JanetLand at 7:59 AM on August 19, 2014

Is this from some kind of musical or something? Because the soldiers look very ballet trained.


They were probably part of an entertainment/morale unit in the Red Army.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:10 AM on August 19, 2014

Is this from some kind of musical or something? Because the soldiers look very ballet trained.

See Red Army Chorus (Alexandrov Ensemble). Though technically "amateur" I guess, these guys had a serious role in the Army and in the the Soviet Union as a whole, so they were training on a professional level.
posted by Kabanos at 2:18 PM on August 19, 2014

I grew up around Ukrainians, and my understanding of the meanings of the various dances was as follows: "Look- the boys from our village are very handsome and fierce, and will attract good-looking brides!" "Ah-ha, but the boys from our village are even more handsome, and especially athletic, and will attract much finer brides, probably from your village!" "Look- the Tsar has re-organized our society along military lines, and now we all have fancy uniforms! Huzzah!"

For the more lyrical dances and songs, Ukrainians really have a thing for "The boy likes to watch the girl fetch water."

Ow, my thigh muscles are killing me from just watching that.

The Ukrainian "Povzunetz" dance is strictly No Standing Allowed (though occasional sits are permitted).
posted by Kabanos at 2:33 PM on August 19, 2014 [1 favorite]

Darude -- Sandstorm.

Of course it is.
posted by rifflesby at 11:21 PM on August 19, 2014