Who are Estonians?
Everyone knows about the Finns and the Swedes, but who are the Estonians? Estonians are the oldest known inhabitants of the Northeastern shores of the Baltic Sea, having been there since the second millennium, BC. The Gulf of Finland in the north, Latvia in the south, and Russia in the west bound Estonia which is 18,370 square miles in size, equal to Denmark and the Netherlands. Estonians are decidedly Western; part of the Finno-Ugrian family of nations speaking the language called Estonian. What do we dance? Enjoyed by both young and old, the traditional dance is for those who have a love for music, dance, and keeping fit! Danced in circles and lines, the basic steps are the polka, waltz, and walk and are similar to square and contra dances. Dances traditionally depict the lifestyles of the ancient working people: Fishermans and Pipe Maker’s Dance; animal mimicry such as the Bear and Frog Dance; and party dances: Wedding Dance, Grandfather’s, and the Kings Polka Music of Estonian Folk
