Dances of The Netherlands

<p>Clogs and baggy trousers wide checked skirts</p><p>and white caps - is not this our picture when</p><p>we think of Dutch folk dances? But this</p><p>costume belongs only to one dance and one</p><p>part of the country; even there the women</p><p>are coming to prefer 'a pleated black skirt</p><p>which gives a slim and even elegant outline'.</p><p>And who would suspect the sober Dutch of</p><p>such a dance as the Cramignon a chain dance</p><p>that winds 'in and out of the houses and inns</p><p>of the village' behind a brass band?</p><p>Dr. Elise van der Ven-ten Bensel devoted</p><p>her life to the study and preservation of</p><p>Dutch folk dances. Together with her</p><p>husband another noted folklorist she filmed</p><p>the traditional customs of the country and</p><p>organised folk-dance schools. In this book</p><p>after a lively and amusing essay on Dutch folk</p><p>life the author describes four typical dances</p><p>with their step-notation and music and four</p><p>charming colour plates show the traditional</p><p>costumes for each dance.</p>