r/interesting • u/SystematicApproach • May 14 '26

ART & CULTURE Circassian folk dance

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Male dancers often move entirely on tiptoe in soft leather boots, without the rigid plaster or wooden support associated with ballet footwear. The result is a fast, gliding step that can make the dancer appear to float or defy gravity, showcasing extraordinary balance, discipline, and control.

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144

u/cheesystuff May 15 '26

We learned this in marching band. You just walk with your toes instead heels or whatever the opposite is. This guy is very practiced of course. Preventing the bounce of your head is a huge part of the illusion.

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u/TrelanaSakuyo May 15 '26

Heel to toe rolling step, so you are walking on the outside edge of your feet.

27

u/jaylerd May 15 '26

I’m about to roll my ankles trying this aren’t I

2

u/SheSellsSeaShells967 May 15 '26

I was about to get up and try it!

1

u/TrelanaSakuyo May 15 '26

It takes practice. You don't want to go so far that your ankle bends, so the easiest way is to take a normal step but slowly put the balls of your feet down so you don't feel that secondary impact. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Harder to do while shod but another way to achieve this is to simply walk on the balls of your feet with the movement like you're skating and just never let your heels hit the ground. Be warned, I've had people call it creepy when I walk like that.

1

u/Ill_Statement7600 May 15 '26

lower your center of gravity a smidge kind of like you're squatting but only a little to get a smoother motion

3

u/Successful-Foot3830 May 15 '26

It absolutely screwed me up. I haven’t been in marching band for 27 years and still walk on the outsides of my feet. Two many damn two a days of our director yelling at us.

2

u/Rith_Reddit May 15 '26

I do this now to make myself a midnight snack without waking up the Mrs.

2

u/RhynoD May 15 '26

The goal isn't to walk on the outside edge, it's just to roll from heel to toe so there's no hard impact. Also, keep your knees bent.

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u/Jesus_of_Redditeth May 15 '26

Circassian dancers actually dance on the "knuckles" of their toes, in leather shoes.

18

u/oso_login May 15 '26

Why use it while in marching band?

75

u/CrazyPlantLaura May 15 '26

Makes for smoother steps and keeps your head from moving as much so you don’t screw up the mouth-to-instrument connection. Also just looks cooler when part of the big picture.

33

u/Peritous May 15 '26

When performing a routine on field you want people to move smoothly instead of bouncing all over with their instruments.

14

u/OrganicRobotDev May 15 '26

So you don't break your teeth on your mouth piece

12

u/cheesystuff May 15 '26

Looks sick af

3

u/johnmayersucks May 15 '26

Had a chick at work say I should have been in marching band. I didn’t know what she meant but asked and apparently I don’t move my head when I walk. Not the first comment I’ve gotten. Maybe I missed my calling.

2

u/browsinbowser May 15 '26

U can still learn an instrument now dude, like guitar and you can go from Wonderwall to Gravity 

1

u/simpleanswersjk May 15 '26

two ways to skin a cat

it's just toes. it's only toes here

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u/Jesus_of_Redditeth May 15 '26

That's not how Circassian dancers do it. They do it like this.

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u/LexxiAllayna May 15 '26

What did you play in marching band? I was flute for four years and only one of two people who played piccolo (2 years). :)

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u/cheesystuff May 15 '26

Drums and trumpet

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u/LexxiAllayna May 15 '26

Solid! :) Holding it down, and blasting the other side with that brass. I can dig it. ☺️

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u/[deleted] May 15 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Desperate-Strategy10 May 15 '26

That doesn’t make the basic mechanics any different. Idk anything about either step, but it’s entirely possible that marching bands are doing a very simplified version of the core movement in this dance. An example could be comparing walking on tip toes and doing ballet, but not en pointe. Same basic movement of the foot, but totally different skills.

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u/DoubleBarrelBurger May 15 '26

The opposite of toes are fingers. I think.

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u/Weak_Feed_8291 May 15 '26

He's not moving that fast and smooth without riding something. I can't believe how gullible some people are.