Halling

What is Halling?

Halling is a brisk rural folk dance from Norway, also found in parts of Sweden. It is a rhythmic, acrobatic contest where dancers show off balance, strength, and ease of movement. Although traditionally danced by young men at festive events, skilled women also perform it. Dancers leap, bend, and flip individually rather than in partners, though Western Norwegian traditions include couple dancing. The central spectacle often involves a dancer kicking a hat off a raised stick. The atmosphere is energetic, competitive, and playful, driven by lively music that spurs each performer to execute difficult acrobatic feats.

Where does Halling come from?

The dance developed in rural Norwegian communities, particularly in the valley regions of Hallingdal and Valdres. Locals often call it the loose dance, or laus, because performers dance on their own without partners. Some researchers suggest the name reflects its place as one half of an older performance pairing alongside the springar, similar to classical multi-part dance suites. Over time, the form traveled beyond village halls. In the early twentieth century, dancer Olav Thorshaug toured the United States with halling performances, adding headspins to his routines.

How is Halling danced?

Performers blend springy footwork with demanding tumbling feats. The dance includes moves such as the neck jump, hooked foot patterns, and forward rolls or headsprings. The most famous element is the hallingkast, a striking test of athleticism. In this move, a companion holds a hat high aloft on a stick, between 230 and 280 centimeters off the ground. The dancer launches into the air to kick the hat down with one foot while staying controlled on landing.

The music of Halling

A brisk tempo between 95 and 106 beats per minute propels the dance. It is set in either 2/4 or 6/8 meter. The music has a sharp, driving feel that requires an adept player. Musicians must supply steady propulsion, timing their rhythm so performers can build momentum for jumps, flips, and high kicks.

When and where Halling is danced

Village celebrations and wedding parties have long been the primary setting for halling. It functions as an athletic test and social display among participants. Dancers take turns demonstrating their agility and competing informally against one another. Today, the style also appears on modern concert stages and in international tour performances.

Styles of Halling

While halling is usually a solo dance in central valleys like Hallingdal and Valdres, communities in western Norway dance paired versions with partners. Contemporary choreographers have also created new interpretations. For example, Hallgrim Hansegård and his Frikar troupe have blended traditional moves with fresh staging, taking the dance to modern theater productions and video game animation.

What Halling means

Classical Norwegian composers drew inspiration from the style, including Edvard Grieg in his Lyric Pieces and Geirr Tveitt in a 1954 piano concerto finale. In modern entertainment, the Frikar Dance Company performed halling alongside Alexander Rybak during Norway's winning Eurovision Song Contest entry in 2009. The group has since toured dozens of countries.

Questions people ask about Halling

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Halling (dance) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data
• Videos of Halling on YouTubeSearch results, not chosen by EveryGhunghroo