“Doodt al wie niet dansen kan.”
Jolly jesters, cruel clowns
These wonky fellows may look like your average jester but their sinister song and dance elicit something far more insidious than laughter from their audience.
When Oelewappers of the Wittenuyl-troupe* perform they rile up the crowds into a maniacal reidans†. All must partake, be they old or young, sickly or strong. In hypnotic fashion these wild polonaises trail through villages & woods, across vales & streams. Hours turn into days as the frantic dance continues.
When the song finally ends, the few left standing are free to return home. If they remember it at all.
Notes
The caption reads:
“Grote man, kleine man, doodt al wie niet dansen kan. Als je valt blijf liggen dan.”
Which translates to:
“Tall man, small man, kill all who can’t dance. If you fall don’t try to stand but stay down where you land.“
Oelewappers — Nincompoops.
Wittenuyl-troupe — White-Owl troupe; a troupe of loosely affiliated individuals, they prefer black-and-white costumes and nighttime performances.
Reidans — Round-dance.
