't Smidje (Belgium)

't Smidje

(Belgium)

Translation: The Blacksmith.

This is a popular dance among youth groups in Europe (all over). It's easy and is mostly being done to the the song 't Smidje by the Folk/Rock Group Lais. It's nearly identical to All American Promenade and Humppa Mixer.

The version described here is the Tucson version. It's very close to the version seen in the following video from the Hamilton International Folkdancers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZS8sCdx-Xg

Slightly less articulated versions can be found in the following vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oapDnsk2DG4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yil398NujU&feature=related

Formation: Couples in a circle facing CCW, holding nearer hands, Man on the inside.

Bar 1: Starting with inside foot (Man's R, Lady's L), Run 123, hop on count 4 and turn towards each other to face the reverse direction (CW).
Bar 2: Going backwards (CCW), repeat bar 1 with opp footwork
Bar 3-4: Repeat  bars 1-2, but in the opposite direction (CW first, then backing up CCW)
Bar 5 facing CCW again, do a pas de basque towards your partner, coming shoulder to shoulder (1&2), then a pas de basque away (3&4).  [Alternately: jump on both feet towards partner (12), and both feet away (34)
Bar 6.  "Roll away with a half sashay". With the man traveling to the Right, and the lady crossing in front of him by first facing him and then switching hands (M's L and Lady's R) and rolling out.  RLR hop
Bar 7. Repeat bar 5 opp foot work and direction.
Bar 8. Progression: Both turning towards the joined hand, but dropping it. Man does a complete turn in three steps going diagonally backwards (to end one person behind him and on the inside), lady does a complete turn moving diagonally forward to end up one person ahead on the outside. if the turns are too difficult for the group, then the lady progresses diagonally forward, and the man shifts to the inside.

Lyrics:
Wie wil horen een historie
Al van ene jonge smid
Die verbrand had zijn memorie
Daaglijks bij het vuur verhit

Was ik nog, nog met mijnen hamer
Was ik nog met geweld op mijn aambeld

'k Geef den bras van al dat smeden
Ik ga naar de Franse zwier
'k Wil mij tot den trouw begeven
Nooit een schoner vrouw gezien

Was ik nog, nog met mijnen hamer
Was ik nog met geweld op mijn aambeld

't Is de schoonste van de vrouwen
Maar nooit was er zo'n serpent
Nooit kan zij haar bakkes houden
Nooit is zij eens wel content

Was ik nog, nog met mijnen hamer
Was ik nog met geweld op mijn aambeld

Nooit mag ik een pintje drinken
Nooit mag ik eens vrolijk zijn
Nooit kan ik iemand beschinken
Met een glaasje bier of wijn

Was ik nog, nog met mijnen hamer
Was ik nog met geweld op mijn aambeld

'k Geef den bras van al dat trouwen
Werd ik maar eens weduwnaar
'k Zou mij in een hoeksken houden
En mij stellen uit gevaar

Was ik nog, nog met mijnen hamer
Was ik nog met geweld op mijn aambeld
Was ik nog, nog met mijnen hamer
Was ik nog met geweld op mijn aambeeld 


-----
Who wants to hear a history 
of one young blacksmith 
Who had burnt his statement 
Daily heated by the fire 


I was still with my hammer 
I was forcibly on my anvil 

I've stopped of all that forging 
I go to the French panache 
I want my wedding to go 
Never seen a woman cleaner 

I was still with my hammer 
I was forcibly on my anvil 


She is the fairest of women
But never was so heralded an serpent
Never can she keep her mouth
Never is she once pleased

I was still with my hammer
I was forcibly on my anvil


I should never have a beer
I should never again be merry
I can never someone pleasures
With a glass of beer or wine

I was still with my hammer
I was forcibly on my anvil

I had enough of all that marry
I was once again widowed
Could I keep myself in a corner
And make me out of danger

I was still with my hammer
I was forcibly on my anvil
I was still with my hammer
I was forcibly on my anvil

Sasha (Russia)

Sasha

Russia

Original Source: Bob Dalsemer

You can find sheet music and an informal description of the dance at: http://www.dancingmasters.com/newdances/web_sasha.html

A downloadable MP3 of the music can be found at: http://www.dancingmasters.com/newdances/sasha.html

Probably a children's dance, this came to the US via bob Dalsemer who learned it from a Danish instructor. I learned the dance from Bill and Keren Faust who saw it done in Phoenix. Sasha is a nickname for Alexander or Alexandra.

4/4

Formation: couples scattered around the room; partners face each other without touching.

Part 1: Scolding:

Bar 1 Shaking index fingers at each other, the dancers shout  SA-sha (12) pause (34)
Bar 2 repeat bar 1
Bar 3 Shout  Ras (1) pause (2) Shout Dva (3) pause (4)
Bar 4 Shout Tri (1) pause (234)


Part 2: Clapping

As described on the "dancing masters" website:
Bar 5: Clap with parter  R hand (1), R(2) R, (3) pause (4)
Bar 6: repeat 5 with L hand
Bar 7: repeat 5 with both hands
Bar 8: repeat 5 but patting both hands on your own knees
Bars 9-12: repeat 5-8

As we do it in Tucson:

Bar 5: Clap your hands (1), R(2) R, (3) pause (4)

Bar 6: Clap your both hands against your partners 3 times (123)

Bar 7: repeat 5

Bar 8: repeat 5 but patting both hands on your own knees

Bars 9-12: repeat 5-8

Part 3: Turning

Bars 13-16;  Locking R elbows with partner, walk around in a clockwise direction starting with the outside foot for 7 steps (each step takes 2 beats), on the last 2 beats of bar 16 shout "Hey" and extend left hand up and out diagonally.
Bars 17-20: repeat Bars 13-16, but with L elbows joined, and walking counter clockwise.

Part 4: Walking

Bar 21: Face your partner and say "Dasvadanya" (good bye) and give them a wave.
Bar 22-36: Walk around the room (solo), randomly. Greet people as you pass them. On bar 36 face the nearest person and start the dance again. If there is no one nearby run to the center to see if there is someone else there.

Some Links to Dance Notes for dances we do, but I haven't written notes for

Here are some links for notes for dances that we commonly do in Tucson, but I haven't written up notes for. These notes are all written by others. I might write up notes for these later, but until then...

Ordu or Ordu'nun Işiklari (Turkey): http://www.folkdancecamp.org/10syllabus/Ordu%20(2010SFDC).pdf

Loukỳ (Czech)
http://www.daytonfolkdance.com/mvfd/instructions/louky.html

Do Mar Çiften (Albania)
http://www.andybettis.com/dance/steps/DoMarChiften.html

Mazurca Di Sant'Andieu (Italy/France)
http://www.folkdancecamp.org/09syllabus/Mazurca%20Di%20Sant'%20Andieu%20(&%20lyrics)%20(2009SFDC).pdf

Viele Zwiefachen (Zweifacher, Germany)

In celebration of Oktoberfest...

Zwiefacher

(Germany)

The Zweifacher (translated loosely as "two turns") is a style of dance done in Bavaria and other parts of Southern Germany. The dances usually consist of some sequence of Pivot Turns (or drehersteps) (in the notation below P) and Waltz steps (notated as W). The precise combination of pivot steps and waltz steps is determined by the particular tune, which will have sequences of bars in 2/4 (pivots) and 3/4 (waltzes).

A pivot step is a step on either the R or L foot while turning. A waltz step is 3 steps RLR or LRL while turning.

Formation: Couples in Shoulder-Shoulderblade position or Ballroom position.

There are extensive notes and instructions on various websites, far more comprehensive than mine:

• http://www.phantomranch.net/folkdanc/dances/zwiefach.htm
• http://www.folkdancing.com/Pages/seattle/Zwie-Pattern.html
• http://www.folkdancing.com/Pages/seattle/Zwie-Patn.html
• http://www.stammtischmusik.at/noten/zwiefache.htm
• http://www.germanfolkdancers.org/2010_jan_feb_nl_about_zwiefache.htm
• http://www.dancilla.com/wiki/index.php/Zwiefach
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwiefacher

You can also find numerous Youtube videos.

The notation here should be interpreted the following way. A subscripted number is a multiplier, so P₂ should be interpreted as two Pivots in sequence. A subscripted number after a bracketed string means that that bracketed string should be multiplied (PW)₂ means Pivot Waltz Pivot Waltz.

I did not write these descriptions, I just compiled the ones we have in the Tucson Folkdance Club and Lighthouse Y Club collections.

Name	Pattern	Video link
's Lauda	(P2W2)4P32	Dancilla
44 Hühne und 1 Hahn	(P2W2)2W Polka4 P2W3
Alte Kath	W2P2
Bayerischer Bauer	(W2P2)2W4P2WP2W2
Boehmischer Wind	(PW)3W
Da Hupfate Vuagl	W2P4
Deifi Du Dürrer	(WP2)7W2
Der Wampertgust	P4W2
Eisenkeilnest	(P2W2)2(PW)2P2W2	Dancilla
Hans Sachs	W2P2
Hopfenschnupfer	(P2W2)2PW4(P3W2)2
Leit Leit Leit Muassts Lusti Sein	(P2W3)3P2W2	Dancilla
Lemmennosto (Finland)	(P2W)3P3
Nagelschmied	W12(P2W2)1,2,3,4,3,2,1
Neun Hauser	(W2P3)3W3
Nudeli	P2W2
Sauerlocker/Saulocker	P4W2
Schnieder	((P2W)2W)2(P2WP3W2)2
Schelin Ober (the Post Graduate)	[WP₃WP₂WP₃WP]₂[PWPW₂PW₃P₃WW][PWPW₂PW₃P₃WP] [WP₃WP₂WP₃WP]₂[PWPW₂PW₃P₃WP]₂
Schubkarn	(W2P2)4P16
Sechs Löffel	P6W2
Sechsundreisinger	(W2P2)2W2P4(W2P2)2
Sommermichel	(P4W2)2W4(P4W2)2(WP2)3W2
Suserl	((P2W)3W)2[(P2WP2)3WP2W2]2
Tauberer	(W4P4W2)2(W12P4W2)2
Wingergrün	W4(P2W2)2
Wirt Vo Stoa	(WP2)2W2
Zwei Kapellan	(P4W2)4/2(W2P4)4/2[(WP2)3W2]4/2
Zwei Vier Sechs (246)	P2W2P4W2P6W2

Cumbia Amore

Cumbia Amore

(USA/Mexican)

Dance choreographed by Ira Weisburd.


Several videos for this 32 count 1 wall line dance can be found online. Here's a couple:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNQ_xNf4ySg
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAIpfKI224Y&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxJBVaMxMKQ&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxJBVaMxMKQ&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwpOHdsar48&feature=related

In the Tucson Folk Dance community, we do this dance as a circle facing in, no hands. It works well this way too.


The notes here are in terminology that will be familiar to Folk  Dancers (i.e. different from the terminology used by line dancers).


Music: Dulce Amor by The Tequila Band (CD: Ballo Di Gruppo Vol 2 )


------
Basic Dance
Bar 1 Step Left to Left (1) close R with weight (2)
Bar 2 Step Left to Left (1) close R with weight (&) Step Left to L (2)
Bar 3 Step R behind L (1) Step L to L (&) Cross R in front of L (2)  (i.e. a 3 step grapevine)
Bar 4 Staring to turn to face R (LOD), step L to L (1) , Step R backwards in RLOD (facing R) (&), Step L forward in LOD (facing R) (2)
Bar 5 in LOD Step R (1), Left closing slightly behind (&), Step R
Bar 6 still traveling LOD repeat bar 5, opp footwork.
Bar 7 Starting to turn to face center (or front in the line dance version) Step on ball of R foot (1) step on L flat footed continuing turn (&), repeat counts 1& to face center (2&)
Bar 8 repeat bar 7 but traveling slightly to the left, facing center, end on count 2, do not step on L on the final & count
Bar 9 Step Left to L (1), step R in place (&), step L next to R (2)   (mambo L)
Bar 10 repeat 9 with opposite footwork and direction (mambo R)
Bar 11 repeat 9, but stepping forward on L instead of to the side (Mambo forward)
Bar 12 repeat 10, but stepping backwards (mambo back)
Bar 13 facing diagonal R, step forward on L (1) Step in place on R (&) step back on L (2) step in place on R (&)  (Cherkessia or Rocking Step)
Bar 14 repeat bar 1, omitting final step on R, The step back on count 2 is used to run to face diagonal L
Bars 15-16 repeat 13-14 with opp footwork.


Tag
There is an 8 count tag done after times 1, 4, and 7.
Bar 1: Turning to face out (back) step L (1) R (on ball of foot) (&) L (2)
Bar 2: Step R backwards (1), Left backwards (&), R forwards (2)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 of tag to face center again.

Fiona's Saunter (USA)

Fiona's Saunter

(USA)

This is a contra-style mixer version of the Scottish Country Dance mixer "McDonald's Saunter". The contrification was done by the Tucson Folkdance Club.

Couples in promenade/Skater's position facing counter-clockwise around the room.

1-4 Promenade forward CCW 7 steps, on 8th step, pivot towards one another to end up facing CW.
5-8 Repeat 1-4, but end facing each other, Ladies facing in, Gents facing out.. Retain L hands, drop R.
9-12 Reach out with the R, and allemande R with your corner (turn your corner all the way around with the R)
13-16 Allemand L your original partner
17-20  Form a wavy line (a.k.a. alamo style), Balance to the R (corner) and L (partner) twice.
21-24 Allemand R your corner
25-28 Do Si Do your corner
29-32 Swing your corner end with corner as your new partner ready to promenade.

Gay Gordons (Scotland)

Gay Gordons 

(Scotland) 

Couples in Varsouvienne position (called Allemand position in Scottish Dance): Both facing the same direction (CCW in a circle), man on the left (inside), woman on the right (outside), man is slightly behind the lady. The lady's R hand is held up at her R shoulder and her left hand at her left shoulder. The man holds the lady's R in his R, and her left in his left.

Bars 1-2,  Take 4 walking steps forward (CCW forwards in the circle) (Can be on either foot, but traditionally start on the R) (2 skip change steps may be used instead of the walks)
Bars 3-4, Pivot to R without dropping hands, end facing CW. Walk backwards 4 steps (again skip change steps may be used instead
Bars 5-8, Repeat 1-4 traveling CW, then CCW.
Bars 9-12, Drop L hands, but retain R. with 4 pas de basque steps, the man travels forward in CCW Line of Direction, while the woman turns (usually twice) under the man's arm, still traveling forward. End facing one another and shift to Ballroom position.  Depending upon what foot you started on, someone might have to end with a touch instead of a step, end with M's L foot free and W's R foot free.
Bars 13-15,  4 polka steps turning and traveling in LOD.