Dances taught so far this semester (and md # or other info for requesting these dances)

Many thanks to Marguerite Frongillo and Ed Abelson for providing the listings and descriptions.

01/27/02: gankino, Bulgaria (19:07), 4321 pajdusko, Bulgaria (19:14), alunelul, Romania (10:15), telegangar, Norway (Loretta Kelly CD)

02/03/02: Chukanoto 21:21(Bulgarian) , Ludo Kopano (Bulgarian; first 2
steps were taught) 19:11, slow gankino (Bulgarian)19:12, lesnoto(Macedonian) 27:8 = Nama medley, Hora Hava Nagila (Israeli) 31:20, Lesnoto Oro (Macedonian) 15:19

02/10/02: review lesnoto 27:8, Gajda Avasi (Macedonian) 37:06, Trgnala Rumjana (Bulgarian) 20:22, Eleno Mome (Bulgarian) 18:22; Elenino (Bulgarian) 25:21; review first step of Ludo Kopano to slow music 19:12

02/17/02: Moje Diri Dika (Croatian) 22:10, Circle Csardas (Hungarian)
41:13, La Bastringue (Quebequois) 35:26

2/24/02: Schottische (Swedish)27:21, Little Man in a Fix (Danish) 22:07;
Wintergrun Zwiefacher (Bavarian) 34:07

3/03/02: Kolo Kalendara 18:17, Croatian; Pravo Rodopsko Horo 34:16,
Bulgarian; all but one variation of LudoKopano 19:11 to slow music 19:12,
Bulgarian

3/10/02: Opsaj diri 45:4 (Croatian), Pokupski Svatovski Drmes 45:4
(Croatian), Oj Rasticu Snusjani Mista 26:25 (Croatian); Sumakjsko 45:1
(Serbian), Tetovsko Oro 45:5 (Macedonian), Baba Djurja 33:07 (Macedonian),
Ca la Balta 35:2 (Romanian); remaining variation of Ludo Kopano 19:11
(Bulgarian)

3/31/02: Telegangar (Norwegian) Loretta Kelly CD; Doiul (Romanian) 30:06

4/7/02: Syrtos (Greek) Ruby Love/Cat Stevens, Kalamatianos "Rakambana"
22:22; Misirlou (Greek/American) 2:03 ; Kritikos Syrtos (Crete), Honiotikos
3:9; Pentozalis (Greek) 27:09; review Ludo Kopano to slow music 19:12;
review  Sumakjsko 45:1 (Serbian)

4/14/02: Rueda de Casino (Cuban) Tu me Quemas [Salsa] 38:18

4/21/02: Rumelaj (Romanian Gypsy) 6:15, Niska Banja (Macedonian) 24:15,
Sweet Girl (Armenian) 36:11, Bufcansko (Macedonian) 29:02, Rampi Rampi
(Turkish) 5:03, Tzadik Katamar (Israeli) 1:12

4/28/02: Royal Empress Tango (England) 4:04, Salty Dog Rag (American)
31:26, basic Jitterbug (American) 13:09

Dances taught by Ed Abelson:

Alunelul (Romania) ‘count down’ dance. Circle formation, arms on shoulders

5 steps, double stamp
3 steps, single stamp
step, stamp, step stamp, step double-stamp.

Lesno Oro (Slavic Macedonia)  basic 3-measure dance, ‘Faroe Islands 2-step’ form.  Three walking steps to right, lift left leg. One step to left, lift right .

Lesnoto Oro (Macedonian)  Same as Lesno Oro,  but add a 4th measure: wrap right foot behind left ankle, then 2 quick steps back.  (When music speeds up,  change those 2 quick steps to a chug back, with weight still on the left foot.)

Hora (Romania,  Israel, Central European Jewish) Like Lesno Oro, but done in much livelier style.  Can be done either clockwise or counter clockwise.

Gajda Avasi (Slavic Macedonia)  3 parts.  First is just like Lesno. Second part is similar, but more energetic. Third part moves to right, in a running step.  Instead of the 2 step-lifts, substitute both-right, left-right-left (3 quick steps.)

Trgnala Rumjana (Bulgaria)  Slow dance, similar to Lesno, but insert two more walking steps. The walking steps are done as a ‘grapevine’ step.

Eleno Mome (Bulgaria and Slavic Macedonia) Structurally similar to Trgnala Rumjana, but more more energetic.  Running steps on the grapevine. Instead of step-lifts, do a step-kick, then 2 quick steps back. (You can stamp, slap, etc. instead of the step-kick.)
 

Kopanica/Gankino  (Bulgaria) 3 measures of 4 pulses each (third pulse is a bit longer.) 2 measures right (end with step-close), 1 measure left (end with step-close)

Ludo Kopano  (Bulgaria)  The seven-figure dance that I am teaching over the course of several weeks.  Same rhythm as Kopanica/Gankino.  Sometimes 4 pulses per measure, sometimes 5. (The measure can end with one slow pulse or two quick pulses.)
 
 

Moja Diridika (Croatia) Circle dance, going to the left.

 part 1: grapevine
 part 2: ‘buzz’ to left (right foot in front of left)
 part 3: grapevine
 part 4: little ‘threes’

La Bastringue (Quebec; French Canadian) change couple dance.

 part 1: in 4 steps, out 4 steps
 part 2: circle left, circle right
 part 3: follower turn under leader’s arm, buzz couple turn (square dance swing)
 part 4: promenade to right  as couples

Circle Czardas (Hungary)

large circle left, circle right
in couples: side-step turn right. left, right
walking turn left, right
buzz turn left

3/3/02

Kolo Kalendara   (Croatia)

 Circle, front basket hold
 1) start stepping onto Right foot:  3 step-swings, step Left to Left, step Right across Left
 2) 3-count step-bounces

Pravo Rodopsko Horo (Bulgaria)

 Line, hands held at shoulder height (”W” position)
 1) 3 steps moving right, start with right  One step on left, swing right;  step on Right, swing left
 2) 3 steps in, end with lift.  3 steps back, end with lift
     in place: step stamp, step stamp, 3 steps

Ops’aj Diri (Croatia)

 Circle, with back basket-hold.Moves to Left.  Cross Right foot to Left; first smoothly, then more down/up movement as music gets faster.  Then 3-count bouncing step to Left

Pokupski Svatovski Drmes’ (Croatia)

 Circle, with back basket-hold.Moves to Left. 3-count bounce step to Left.  Then in and out step: 2 slow steps in, 4 faster steps out

Oj Rastic’u Sus’njati - Mista  (Slavonia)

 Circle, front basket-hold. Moves to Left.
 1) slow grapevine to left
 2) 3-count bounce step to Left.
 3) 3 hops on left foot

1) 3-count bounce in place, on both feet equally
2) 4 steps in, 4 steps out

S'umadjisko Kolo  (Serbia)

 arms linked, facing slightly to right
 Men: 4 steps closes to right; one left, one right, two left
 Women: 2 steps closes to right; one left, one right, 2 left, one right, one left

Pajdusko (Bulgaria)  "4321" for a line of people

wt on L, 4 hop-steps to R;  3 step-steps starting R over L, to L; wt L, 2
hop-steps backwards; 1 step-step R

Telegangar (Norway)  for partners

walking with lilting step, start side by side, she's on his left side, inside hands joined; start with any foot
three "roses" 1) turn L as couple, 2) her underarm R twirl, 3)her
walkaround, his R hand over own head
five "moves" note, she walks fwd, he often goes backward
1) "L shoulder" He changes hands on walkaround by putting his L hand near
his L shoulder, placing her L hand in his; joined R hands to R side; L turn
as couple
2) "Telemark Hook" (this is done as a "refrain," after most other moves) He
releases his L hand, turns her with his R hand in a L underarm twirl; he
bends his L forearm up to make "hook," puts her R arm into it, her forearm
bent down; he backs up she goes fwd in L turn as couple; to end move, he
takes her L hand in his R and leads her in an underarm R twirl, opening
into fwd walking side by side
(embellishment, 2 hand turns into the Telemark hook)
3) Napoleon
He backs up, doing a tight R turn, leading her in a walkaround, lifts his R
hand (holding her L hand) over his head, then places her L hand on top of
his L forearm as he bends his L arm with his so his L hand rests on his
chest; takes her R hand in his, turning L as couple (she pushes her L hand
down,and holds R taught, strengthening frame
4) Basket
starts as move 1, but switch hands as his R hand nears his L shoulder, then
his L hand (with her L hand in it) goes smoothly over his head, takers her
R hand in his, all hands held in front at shoulder height, arms bent in
W-shape; strong frame; do L turn as couple
5) Laus dans (meaning loose or liberated, not biting insects!)
He leads her in a R underarm twirl and releases her; both walk fwd & to L
in small circle; he can do variations; she makes small R 2-step turns
occasionally; shoulders are back, his arms are bent slightly fwd at elbows;
her arms are relaxed & down at sides; after a while he signals joining up
by raising his L arm and placing it towards her, she puts her L arm towards
him, joining arms so hand is slightly below the elbow; from here he will
either turn R and go into napoleon position OR bend over, doing a tight R
turn while keeping her L hand rotating on his arm much like an axle in a
wheel, straightening up into Napoleon position; either way she keeps
walking fwd

Doiul (Romanian)  for 3 people

(our music is enough for 2 1/4 times through the dance)
Basic step: starting with either foot, 1-2-3, 1-2-3,  down, up, 1-2-3;
start with leader backing up and 2 followers going fwd, their inside hands
joined with his and followers' outside hands joined over his. Four patterns:
1) 4 twirls, leader turning followers simultaneously on the "down-up" in
each basic equivalent; pull, push, pull, push
2) circling for 4 basic equivalents, the 3 join in shoulder hold, going L
on first 2 basics, then R on last 2
3) meld, for 4 basic equivalents the 2 followers join at the hip, holding
each other in tight one-armed back basket so they now dance as one, with
leader holding their outside hands.  First basic equivalent (BE,) start
circling to L, he raises his R hand and turns himself sharply L under (on
the down, up), lowering his R hand in a front basket so he's now on their R
side at the last 1-2-3
Second BE, keep circling L and he releases his L hand, turing the 2
followers (on the down-up) with his R hand in an underarm R twirl. Next 2
BE's repeat pattern in opposite direction.
4) Alternate turning, the leader releases the 2 follwers who join outside
hands in an arch and slide apart releasing inside hands, he takes the
follower to his R

Schottische (Swedish) for partners

Basic:going around the room counterclockwise, start side by side, her
inside hand on his shoulder, his inside arm around her waist, start on
outside foot, step-together-step-lift, repeat starting on inside foot, then
he comes in front of her to closed shoulder-waist position, and starts step
lift on L bkwd while she starts same on R fwd. This is the first of 4
progressive step-lifts in which the couple rotates R while moving fwd ccw
around the room; next one he is stepping fwd R while she goes bkwd L, etc.
On last step-lift he releases L hand so she rolls out to starting position.
Some variations:
1) straight forward on step-lifts, without going into closed position
2) he backs up on step lifts so couple rotates ccw, without going into
closed position (she goes fwd)
3) he goes fwd on step-lifts so couple rotates cw,without going into closed
position (she goes bkwd)

Little Man in a Fix (Danish) for pairs of partners

(NOTE, if there is an uneven number of pairs, the "odd couple" can waltz
together throughout parts I and 2)
To get into starting pattern, she's on his R, her L hand on her R shoulder,
his R arm around her waist; they face another couple in similar position
and the leaders link L elbows, then extend their L hand to take R hand of
the other follower behind the other leader's back. Practice doing this so
you can get into starting position without missing a beat.
There are three figures, one running in this formation, second running to
make cloverleaf pattern, third waltzing with partner:
1) running in formation: in starting position, run fwd 8 measures (24
beats), but slide apart on last 3 beats so he holds her in his R hand, and
the other leader in his L hand
2) cloverleaf  (again 8 measures): followers run fwd, ducking under
leaders' joined hands, then turning towards other follower, and followers
join hands above the leaders' hands and run fwd in this cloverleaf for the
remainder of the 24 beats
3) waltzing (8 measures repeated=16 measures): at this point daring dancers
may take the other person's partner to finish the dance, but you may prefer
to keep your original partner. Drop hands with the other couple, keeping
his R hand joined w her L hand. Waltz away 1 measure (3 beats), together 1
measure, and repeat.  Then assume closed position, waltz 4 measures
together; repeat this 16 measure pattern, finding a new couple to dance
with you by the end of the last measure.

Wintergrun Zwiefacher (Bavarian) for partners

has 2/4 and 3/4 measures, done in in closed position, with waltzing on 3/4
measures and pivoting on 2/4 measures, with this pattern:  wwww ppww ppww

Rueda de Casino (Cuban) for partners in circle with caller; done to salsa music.

Basic salsa step in slow, quick, quick 2 measure pattern measure 1,2
is leader's pattern; measure 2,1 is follower's pattern:
1: in place on R (s), "rock step" fwd L (q), back R (q) ;
2: in place on  L (s), "rock step" bk R (q), fwd L (q);
But in the rueda, leaders usually do a contra step while followers do the
above salsa step:
1: in place on R (s), bk L (q), fwd R (q)
2: in place on L (s), fwd R (q), bk L (q)
We did 2 moves:
"Dame:" leader releases original partner, does salsa measure 1 towards
follower on his R, does left cross body turn with her on measure 2
"Enchufe" on measure 1, leader does contra step but gives arm tension and left foot
(right foot for follower) crosses behind right (left) foot with slight turn of hips, then
on meas 2 changes places with followerduring beat 1 (slow), sending her under
his L arm, then both do back cross with right (leader) or left (follower) then leader
lets go, subtly switches hands, leading her to the next leader ccw in the circle,
then does a "dame" taking the follower that was on his right as new partner.

Rumelaj (Romanian Gypsy)

done in line, facing diagonally R and moving to R;
4 even beats per measure
measure 1: (1)touch R toe, (2)step R; (3)touch L toe, (4)step L
measure 2: (1) touch R toe, (2)step R facing center, (3)step fwd L, (4)back R
measure 3: (1) touch L fwd, (2) step to L on L, (3) step fwd R, (4) step
back L & turn diagonally to R to repeat dance
variation, turning: let go hands while each individual does a slow R turn
on the 3 touch-steps (first 6 beats of pattern), rejoining hands at end of
turn; rest of dance same as before

Niska Banja (Serbian Gypsy)

in 9/8, rhythm is q..q..q..s..., line formation
with dancers facing center of room
During singing, move fwd R(q), L(q), R(q), touch L(s); on next measure
similarly move back starting L; during insturmental break do side to side
pattern (not taught 4/21), move to R on R(q) , L(q), R(q), pausing on R(s)
then move to L starting on L in next measure; traveling pattern always
moving to R with same footwork, R(q),  L(q), R(q), L(s), can do grapevine
pattern and leaps.

Sweet Girl (Armenian)

music in 2/4, even rhythm; phrase of dance doesn't
match musical phrase;  line, face diagonally fwd with little fingers joined.
Starts with two 2-steps to R, (R on beat 1, L on "and", R on beat 2; then L
on beat 3, R on "and", L on beat 4) then every further step is on the beat:
step R to side, behind L, side R and let go hands while turning 180 degrees
to R so you're now facing outside of room; still travelling ccw around
room, step to your L side on L ; still facing out , step behind with R,
simultaneously clapping your hands, then step to side on L, turning L about
90 degrees, step to side on R, turning another 90 degrees to face center
again, step behind L

line, facing center; dance phrase is 4 even 4/4/ measures; 2 phrases:AA,BB, etc.
Music/dance phraseA: start L behind. R (beside L), fwd L, keep wt on L foot
while turning L 90 degrees, step bkwd R, L (beside R) bkwd R, keep wt on R
while turning R 180 degrees (facing fwd in line of direction), fwd L, R
(beside L), fwd L; keep wt on L while turning L 90 degrees to face center,
step R to side , touch L beside R
phrase B: same as above except replace underline with "step fwd R (moving
cw around room), L (beside R), fwd R"

in 9/8, rhythm is q..q..q..s..., line formation with dancers facing center of room, holding little fingers, forearms up
Two variatins, done when leader calls
traveling to R: (q) step side R, (q) step L behind R,  moving forearms and
hands in towards center (q)step side R, moving arms, hands back to original
position (s) step L behind R,  moving forearms and hands in towards center
; raise to original position when starting phrase again
in place: 3 measure phrase
1. (q) step in place R, (q) lift L fwd, (q) step fwd on L, (s) double stamp
on R (next to L) bringing hands down
2. With hands in normal position (q) step back on R, & drag L heel, (q)
lift L, (q) drag L heel, (s) lift L
3. As but opp ftwk

Tzadik Katamar (Israeli)

circle dance, holding hands; has walking and grapevine steps with swaying
at end of phrase; during swaying, hands are palm to palm

Royal Empress Tango (English)

partner dance in closed ballroom position, footwork described for leader; follower does opposite footwork
This pattern repeats for the duration of the music...
ssss: fwd L, fwd R bending knee (lunge); bkwd L, bkwd R bending knee (lunge)
qqs, qqs: two 2-steps fwd in LOD (ccw around room)
ssqqs: abruptly move to ctr starting on L, in open position; abruptly
reverse direction at end, raising joined hands over your heads in
"scorpion" formation
ssqqs: move to outside starting on R; abruptly face partner at end (back in
closed position)
ssss: 2 steps fwd in LOD, starting L; 2 pivot steps ( 360 degree R turn as
couple)
ssss: in open position walk 3 steps fwd in LOD, L, R, L (all slows) last
"slow" is a turn keeping wt on L foot, pointing couple in reverse LOD with
R toe (follower's L) pointing fwd in that direction
ssss: repeat above in opp direction, opp ftwk
qqs, qqs: closed position, 2 two-steps with progressive R turn as couple in
LOD

partner dance, starting in skaters' position, both use same footwork; each section is 4 measures; pattern is AA,BB, A'A', BB, etc
A (plain)
measure 1: both going diagonally fwd, R on beat 1, close L on beat 2, fwd R
on beat 3, lift L on beat 4
measure 2: repeat meas 1 with opp feet
measure 3: going straight fwd, step R fwd on beat 1, lift (almost hop) on R
for beat 2; step L fwd on beat 3, lift (almost hop) on L on beat 4
measure 4: repeat measure 3
B (Chorus)
measure 1: [pull apart to your Rt] push and drop R hand, pull & keep L
hand, and step towards partner on R foot, facing partner, all on beat 1;
rock back from partner on L on beat 2, step to your right side on your
right so you're now looking at your partner over your left shoulder on beat
3, kick your left foot to the right, (in front) while still looking at your
partner as above, on beat 4 (joined arms slightly bent)
measure 2: [L 3 step turn & kick, changing places] quick tug and instant
release of L hands, rotate 180o to L while stepping on L, all on beat 1;
still rotating 180o to L, step on R on beat 2; still rotating 180o to L,
step on L beat 3; kick R foot to your Left, crossing in front, and clap
hands while looking at your partner over your Rt shoulder, all on beat 4!
measure 3: [rotate R as couple] take partner's R hand, elbows bent, vibrate
L hand, while stepping forward on R on beat 1; lift (almost a hop) while
still on R on beat 2; repeat beats 1 & 2 on beats 3 & 4, respectively.
measure 4: exact replica of meas 3!
A' (fancy) in skaters' position again
measure 1: wt on L, touch R heel to R on beat 1; R in place on beat 2; opp
ftwk on beats 3 & 4
measure 2: both heels out, toes point in, in beat 1; feet return to normal
position, beat 2; R heel out to R side, beat 3; R knee lift on beat 4
measure 3 & 4: same as measures 3 & 4 in A

Jitterbug (American) also called "East Coast Swing"

partner dance to 4 count music moderate to fast tempo, with a back beat
Rhythm at fast tempo is qqss, step is counted 1(q), 2(q), 3-4 (s), 5-6 (s).
 but rhythm changes with slower music when the slow beats are danced as
"triple steps" = 1 (q), 2(q), 3&4, 5&6. Footwork deschribed is for leader;
follower uses opp ftwk.
BASIC STEP:  face partner in this stance: knees slightly  flexed, weight on
balls of feet, feet comfortably  spaced (each right under its respective
hip), arms towards partner, elbows bent (firm); lady's forearms parallel to
floor, "doggie paw" hands; gent's hands pointing towards each other,
supporting lady's hands. The first 2 beats are quick and are the rock step,
a very important anchoring feature of the dance. Step L slightly backward
on beat 1(q), at the same time pulling slightly with your arms. This causes
the distance between you to increase momentarily, but don't let your elbows
get more than about 6" in front of your body.  (No straight arms!) Then
step R back to place on 2 (q), simultaneously pushing slightly with your
arms.  When pushing, don't let your elbows go behind the front of your body
 (give your partner some pressure!) This gives a nice spring action to your
dance, enabling fast turns to happen effortlessly, and keeping you near
your partner.  On the slow beats, step L in place (3-4), then R in place
(beats 5-6), with your hands pushing towards your partner slightly;
Upper body is relatively quiet, unless distinct lead is given; feel the
beat from your hips down.  Swing dancing was born along with jazz in black
American culture .  The oldest style of swing is Lindy Hop (named just
after Chas. Lindberg landed in Paris), which is mostly 8 count; 6 count
moves were done for variety.  Jitterbug, with predominantly 6 count moves,
became popular in the 1940's and ‘50's.
Some VARIATIONS include
1. inside & outside turns for follower
2. Cuddle
3. Window
4. Side lean

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