Filmmaker Teele Dunkley, from County Parnu, told ERR’s cultural portal that the film Salajane rahvatantsija (“Secret Folk Dancer”) explores England’s frenzied A phenomenon in which folk dancers feel compelled. Practice your hobby in secret, so as not to be ridiculed by the wider public.
Till Dunkley said: “It was all a long time ago, back in 2005. I think it’s going to be a really interesting movie – someone’s going to hide a thing that we’re proud of, but it’s That’s what other places think.”
“Last year I taught folk dance to my children’s classes in the UK and they loved it. My children took a lot more pride in Estonia and their interest in the language and culture went up because of it,” continued Dunkley.
Scenes filmed in Estonia are now in cans.
Estonian actors also appear in the film, one of them being Vanemuine Theater actor Reimo Sagor.
“I play a character named Crystal — he’s Renu’s father,” Sagor said.
“The father went abroad to work and the son went to England with his mother,” he continued.
Crystal’s wife Mary, played by British actress and comedian Lia Lena, said she had developed a fascination with Estonian folk dance. “I love folk dancing. It’s amazing, it’s amazing – it’s beautiful. I love all the costumes and everything, it’s impressive how all the different groups that may have never met work together. I think it’s beautiful.”
“Secret Folk Dancer” tells the story of a boy who wants to practice Estonian folk dancing after he goes to live in England, but wants to keep it a secret so he won’t be laughed at.
Dunkley himself comes from a family of folk dance enthusiasts from Parnu County in southwestern Estonia.
She said the idea for the film came to her while living in the UK when she met people who were doing the same thing — practicing folk dancing, but kept a low profile to avoid ridicule.
The traditional dance situation in Celtic countries is much healthier, thanks in large part to the stronger and more confident self-image of these countries.
The scenes depicting folk dances in the film were filmed in the village of Lindi in Parnu County.
