Folk music and dance are integral parts of countries’ cultures, values, and aesthetics. For example, the Bulgarian folk dance Varnensko horo is famous for its graceful movements. Maybe the most beautiful of its kind is the Viennese waltz developed into perfection in the early 19th century: delightful music and intricate movements where the dancers appear to fly over the dance floor.

Sweden has Little Frogs.

Little Frogs is a ring dance, always conducted during the midsummer festival. By the way, as Swedish summers are very short, Midsummer Eve is often the only day of the year it is possible to dance outside in Sweden.

How to Dance Little Frogs

The dancers form a ring around the midsummer pole. They walk slowly and counter-clockwise around the pole, facing each other’s backs. While singing, or chanting, the dancers make movements to imitate frogs. They show where their ears are located on the body and show with their hands that their bodies don’t have any tails. While singing the chorus of the song, they make broad jumps in pace to the music, se for example https://youtu.be/on9PLzlY0Ww.

The lyrics (translated from Swedish)

The little frogs

The little frogs

Are very fun to watch (repeat)

No ears, no ears (dancers cover their ears with their hands)

No tails have they (dancers wave their hands over their bottoms)

Chorus

Co-ack-ack-ack (dancers make broad jumps with their hands on their backs)

Co-ack-ack-ack

Co-ack-ack-ack

Co-ack-ack-ack-ack-ka

The Music

The two-stroke melody is simple and includes only a few distinct tones in small intervals. The harmony consists of two chords only and is often accompanied by an accordion. The song is usually repeated three times.

 

 

Although simple in its form, dancing Little Frogs can be quite exhausting. As the song is often sung many times during the Midsummer Festival, there is no real need for you to include any squats in your next workout.

So, if you really want to reach out to a Swede, start making broad jumps and chant “Co-ack-ack-ack”. Swedes will find it fully natural and immediately follow your example.