One of the traditions of Old People’s Day is that, after the senior classes have gone on holiday, the second-graders, who are now the oldest in their schools, dress up in festive costumes and perform old dances for the audience.
In Lahti’s Gaudia high school, the Old People’s Dances were the first in history.
I have been practicing three times a week and on top of that I have been doing home workouts.
– I’ve been looking forward to this dance since the first day of high school. The highlight of high school! Parikka rejoices.
Training has increased their dancing skills, although the couple does not think that they will head to the parquet floors of the future with cicapo or polonaise in mind.
– At least he knows the steps of the waltz, if he ever needs them. They are now in possession, Parikka estimates.
Kalojärvi says that his favorite dance is polonaise. Once again, Parikka warmed up the most to a buggy to the tune of Elvis’ Jail House Rock.
In one of the largest high schools in Finland, three hundred second-graders danced in two groups. The audience was full to the brim.
During the day, people from my own school and a nearby kindergarten could watch the dances, and in the evening, relatives and friends could watch the dances.
There are a total of about 100,000 high school students in Finland, of which an estimated third participate in senior dances in the spring.
The search for a partner starts right from the first day of high school
Kauriala and Lyseo high school dances were held today at the Loimua arena in Hämeenlinna.
– The deals on couples have been made a long time ago, but many guys have had to plan a little about who to dance with. Jätki often has two dances, says Koponen.
– Yes, couples have already started dating in the first year, but for us as a couple it was self-evident that we are a couple, says Saari.