A Selection of European Folk Dances. Volume 3

36 Pages·1966·1.699 MB·English

by  Society for International Folk Dancing (Auth.)

A
SELECTION
OF
EUROPEAN FOLK DANCES
VOLUME 3
This book is distributed by
PERGAMON PRESS
OXFORD • NEW YORK • TORONTO
SYDNEY PARIS • FRANKFURT
SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING
LONDON
U.K. Pergamon Press Ltd., Headington Hill Hall,
Oxford 0X3 OBW, England
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FEDERAL REPUBLIC Pergamon Press GmbH, 6242 Kronberg-Taunus,
OF GERMANY Pferdstrasse 1, Federal Republic of Germany
Copyright © 1966 Society for International Folk
Dancing
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or trans-
mitted in any form or by any means: electronic, electro-
static, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without permission in writing
from the copyright holders
First edition 1966
Reprinted 1970, 1976, 1978
Printed in Great Britain by
Express Lit ho Service, Oxford
ISBN 0 08 011926 3 flexicover
INTRODUCTION
This is the third volume of a series of booklets giving the dance sequence and music
for a selection of Folk Dances from various European countries outside the British Isles.
Although care has been taken to make the instructions precise, and national experts have
been consulted wherever possible, it should be stressed that the general mood of the dance
can be conveyed only through a live performance, and the written instructions can never be
a complete substitute.
Readers may have seen the dances performed in their native settings in slightly
different versions; regional variations in steps and music are often numerous and some
dances are performed differently in almost every village. This also applies to the various
holds and basic steps which are described at the beginning of the book.
The music of the first three volumes has been or is in the process of being recorded,
under the auspices of the society. Details of the records will be found at the end of the
book.
Society for International Folk Dancing,
14, Beechwood Avenue,
Kew,
Surrey.
May 1965
ABBREVIATIONS USED
0
l*-^ Line of dance
R
Right
L
Left
R F
Right Foot
-
L F
Left Foot
-
R H
Right Hand
-
L H
Left Hand
-
HOLDS
Peasant Hold
Partners face one another. Man has hands on girl's waist; girl's hands on man's
shoulders.
Open Peasant Hold
Partners side by side. Man has R. arm around girl's waist, L.H. on own hip. Girl
has L.H. on man's R. shoulder, R.H. on own hip.
Ballroom Hold
Partners face one another. Man's R. arm around girl with hand just below shoulder
blades; L. arm held comfortably at shoulder height, L.H. holding girl's R.H. Girl's
L.H. on man's R. shoulder.
BASIC STEPS
BALANCE
The basic balance step consists of:
(a) a very small step to L. with L.F.,
(b) close R.F. to L.F.,
(c) step on L.F. on the spot.
Repeat stepping to R. with R.F. etc.
Many variations of this basic step will be found according to the tempo and nat-
ionality of the dance. In general the steps are small and springy. In the French
Bourree the steps are very small with very little up and down or side to side movement.
WALTZ BALANCE
This is the same as above except that the first step is accented, the body turning
slightly to L. with L.F., and to R. with R.F.
WALTZ STEP
Beat 1 Step forward with L.F.
2 Step forward with R.F. to bring R. instep level with L. toes.
3 Close L.F. to R.F. x
The waltz is usually danced turning on the first step, h turn to each bar.
N.B. The waltz step varies according to the type of dance and the country of origin.
This example is only a guide to give some indication of the general movement. The
first step is not always on the L.F. and may move forward or backwards, depending
on the type of dance.
In the Dance of the Hammersmiths the man springs on to his L.F. turning as he does
so. Girl R.F.
2
STEP HOP - /4 time.
Step with leading foot and hop on it. Repeat with other foot; etc. The weight is on
the ball of the foot. (Step, hop; step, hop; etc.)
3 3
BOURREE STEPS - Version du Berry. In /4 or /8 time.
Progressive Bourree Step
When danced forward in progression, this is a simple long, short, short, step, i.e. L.R.L.,
R.L.R.,etc, carried out smoothly using the whole foot but with the weight forward on
the ball of the foot. This step usually occupies one bar.
Forward Bourree Step.
Part 1 Bar 1 Beats 1-3 1 step forward with L.F., turning shoulder towards L.
Part 2 Bar 2 Beat 1 Step forward with R.F., still turning to L., weight on
R.F., — short step.
Beat 2 Step to L. on L.F. - short step.
Beat 3 Close R.F. to L.F.
10
Backward Bourree Step
Part 3 Bar 3 Beats 1-3 1 backward step (L.F.) revolving on L.F. turning
shoulder to R. Vi turn.
Part 4 Bar 4 Beat 1 Close R.F. to L.F. Transfer weight to R.F.
Beat 2 Step L. on L.F. still turning to R.
Beat 3 Close R.F. to L.F.
Variations of the Forward and Backward Bourree occur. It can be danced facing front
with no shoulder turning, or with an embroidery on the Forward step as described in
Bourre'e Droite du Pays Fort.
ESTONIA KALAMIES 11
j j f r - r r r r r f f n r r r n r f r r rf rr irr B
rr<rr t e ^^
Formation: Couples in a single circle. Man has his partner on his R.
The circle moves clockwise, i.e. to the L.
FIGURE I
A Bars 1-8 Starting L.F. 8 "Kalamies Polka Steps" to L.
A Bars 1-8 Turn. 8 "Kalamies Polka Steps" to R.
FIGURE 2
B Bars 1-8 Girls turn to face partners. Take R.H. Step onto R.F. and brush L.F.
on the ground diagonally in front of R.F. Step on L.F. and brush R.F.
on ground diagonally in front of L.F. Repeat for 8 bars (1 brush step
per bar). Free hands hang straight down.
FIGURE 3 l
B Bars 1-8 Take ballroom hold, and with the same bouncy polka step turn A turn
to make 2 full circles (!4 turn to each polka step). Finish across Lo.d.
FIGURE 4
C Bars 1-8 Release ballroom hold and clap own hands twice. Link R. elbows,
lean slightly away and take 16 walking steps clockwise, free hands
swinging forward on 1st beat of each bar. Look at partner.
12 KALAMIES ESTONIA
C Bars 1-8 Release hold (dancers should be back in starting position), clap hands
twice, link L. elbows and walk 16 steps anti-clockwise.
Repeat the dance.
"KALAMIES" POLKA STEP
This step has been called "Kalamies" polka step to distinguish it
from the Estonian polka step described in Book I. The steps are small,
low and springy.
Bar I Beat I Step forward on L.F.
2 Bring R.F. to instep of L.F,
3 Small step forward on L.F.
4 With a slight lift of L. heel, bring R.F. forward preparatory to stepping
on it on Beat 1 of Bar 2; pause.
Bar 2 Repeat movement, starting R.F.
BRUSH STEP
This is really a pushing or brushing on the ground of one foot diago-
nally in front of the other foot. Timing:- brush, pause, change feet;
brush, pause, etc.
ESTONIA KIVI KASUKAS 13
1 AM.M.J =96
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11B MM. J =138 J J
J I j j 1
J J J
mf
mi
t
l l' JJ J J
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i • » w ^ |—K = J1 —Ji— JI— •H]
fr r r
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J
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lfl> J *\
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i
[• J3. 11
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r T T^
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Formation: Couples in a circle, facing anti-clockwise. Man stands
behind girl and slightly to her L. She has her hands
clenched and the knuckles at her waist. Man holds her
wrists.
FIGURE I
A Bars 1-2 Two limping steps diagonally L. towards the centre, both starting
L.F.
3 Two steps, L- and R. on the spot.
4 Two steps, L. and R. to turn Vi R.
5-6 Two limping steps diagonally R. out from the circle starting R.F.
7 Two steps R., L.
8 Two steps R., L. to turn Vi L.
A Bars 1-8 Repeat Fig. 1 but the girl uses the last 2 steps to face partner.