MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
I have some pretty major issues with the politics behind the creation of "arranged folklore," but some of it is really beautiful to watch nonetheless. Thanks!
When it started with all of them doing something with invisible strings or threads, I thought "I NEED THEM TO UNTANGLE THE WIRES BEHIND MY DESK!" (and probably ALL of them).
Still, if you could see their feet, you'd be watching some cool moonwalking...
Deborah, you are correct. The name of the piece is "Pryalitsa" ("The Spinner"), and it's a well-known Russian round dance (khorovod).
This particular version is from this movie, in which it's preceded by a choral arrangement of Feodor Chaliapin's "Lutchinushka" (The Little Birch Splinter).
You can read a tiny bit about the khorovod and its links to weaving here (bottom of p. 68).
"Pryalitsa" is a popular song among amateur folklorists, much in the way, say, "Yankee Doodle" is here in the USA. For example, here's a bunch of little kids dancing to this song. Here are some teenage girls singing it.