#moves only started being called out loud instead of memorized when enslaved people were playing the music | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

athenasdragon · 15 days ago

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I knowwwww they have square dancing in Ferelden.

From Wikipedia: “Square dances contain elements from numerous traditional dances including English country dances, which were first documented in 17th-century England, and 18th-century French quadrilles and cotillions; square dancing travelled to North America with the European settlers and developed significantly there.”

Ferelden is loosely inspired by England, but its landscape, crops, and some aspects of its culture—particularly in agrarian regions—read very North American. With occupation by Orlais still recent (and Orlais inspired by 18th century France), I think one could absolutely assume that Orlesian quadrilles were adapted for folk dance contexts. We already know Ferelden has folk dances from Alistair’s allusion to the remigold in the first game.

#Wait ok sorry I was double checking my memory of some things on the history of square dancing and the US #and some pretty important elements were that a)#moves only started being called out loud instead of memorized when enslaved people were playing the music #and b) modern (mainstream) western square dance was heavily promoted in the early 20th century #because Henry Ford believed jazz music was a Jewish plot to corrupt the youth.#…And of course we know that American racism is heavily projected into the culture of Ferelden so. That too I guess.#wow anything that is like an American Cultural Institution is deeply deeply soaked in racism huh #dragon age #mine

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