An Dro Dance

Origin: France (Brittany, Morbihan region).

In ancient times Breton dances were danced in a closed circle. An dro means “in a circle” and we can distinguish some kinds of this dance such as:

1 – an dro à l’ancienne mode (the old way)

2 – an dro en hanterdro (danced in a half circle)

3 – an dro in laridé (dance with the songs)

An dro dance comes from the 17th century and it is still danced a lot today.

There were originally songs sung by the dancers in a different singing techniques to answer. The An dro is the oldest and most widespread Breton dance derived from medieval carols.

Nowdays, the circle is open, dancers dance in chain, and the song has fallen into disuse. Also it started to intensify the sexual difference: while in closed circles everyone held equally by the hand, now, in the open circle the structure tends to be always the same: the row (called interchangeably a „chain“) is conducted and closed by a man, and men are allowed to decorate the dance with their own variations. An dro is the most know Breton dance outside the borders of Brittany.

Execution

Starting position: In an open circle the dancers are holding the little fingers and roll up and unroll arms with big movements following the steps (two left and two right) moving clockwise, since the steps are equal, to advance you make larger ones to the left.

Enjoy it !!!