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Dance
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Dances Around the World presents a wide variety of international dances currently popular today and
being danced by people throughout the world. The dances have been selected for their unique national color
in movement and music, and also for their practical use in school and recreation. They are recorded in
appropriate national styles, using authentic instruments of the various countries.
The dances are interesting and varied, while technically easy to perform and interpret. They can be
quickly taught and easily comprehended. Movement sequences used are basic and range from walking and
running steps, to polkas, two steps, waltzes, and schottisches, thus exposing the students to fundamental
dance patterns.
The dances are divided between couple dances, group dances, and dances without partners. They include
both traditional and new – line dances, mixers, fun dances, and group social dances.
ABBREVIATIONS
B……..Boy LOD…………. Line of direction (CCW)
Bwd…. Backward Meas……........ Measures
CCW... counterclockwise Opp…………. Opposite
COH….Center of hall Opp LOD……. Opposite line of direction (CW)
Cpls….Couples Pt……………..Part
Cts……Counts Ptner…………Partner
CW……Clockwise Q…………….Quick
Diag…...Diagonally R…………….Right
Fwd……Forward RF…………..Right foot
G………Girl RH………….Right hand
L………Left S……………Slow
LF…….Left foot Swd…………Sideward
LH……Left hand Twd…………Toward
1. NEVER ON SUNDAY (Greece)
This dance, which is now enjoyed worldwide, had its beginnings in Pennsylvania in the 1940s.
Originally, Greek steps were adapted to the Greek song “Miserlou.” Later, the popular movie
Never on Sunday provided another song for the same dance.
Formation: A broken circle, with leader at the R end. No partners necessary. Hands are joined at
shoulder level with bent elbows in a “W” position. May also be done in individual lines.
Basic Dance Description
Measures
1. Step and Point, Grapevine
1 Step R in place (ct. 1), hold ct.2), point L toe in front of R (ct.3) and then swing L bwd in an
arc to end in back of R heel (ct.4), with weight still on RF.
2 Moving R (CCW) do a grapevine: step L in back of R (ct.1), step R swd R (ct.2), step L
crossed over in front of R and the same time pivot on L to face CW (cts. 3-4).
2. Two-Steps
3 Moving CW, do a two-step RLR.
4 Moving bwd, CCW, do a two step LRL. On the last step L, pivot to face center to end the
basic dance pattern.
Never On Sunday Variations
From the influence of the Greek taverna dance, the Slow Hasapiko (pronounced Has-sah-pick-oh), folk
dancers have added variations as follows:
Measures
1. Step and Point; Grapevine
1-2 Do movements as described in meas. 1-2.
2. Two Step with Pivot
3 Moving CW, do a two-step RLR, pivoting on the R to face CCW.
4 Moving CCW, do a two-step LRL, pivoting on L to face center.
3. Singles (Swivels)
5 Step on R across L (crossed in front of L), turning slightly L. Pivot on R and on L across R,
turning slightly R. Do with a twisting action, like a swivel.
6 Repeat, stepping R over L and L over R, ending facing CW.
4. Two-Steps (as in the Basic Dance)
7-8 Moving CW, do a two-step RLR. To widen the circle again, move diag bwd R (CCW)
with a two-step LRL. End facing COH.
Suggested Pattern: Do two repetitions of the basic dance (meas. 1-4, then meas. 1-4 again), then do the
complete set of Never on Sunday variations in order ONCE as described in meas. 1-8. Continue.
A. Link R elbows and skip around in place, lifting feet and pointing toes down.
( The L arm may be lifted, elbow bent, palm upward and fingers pointed twd own head).
B. Ptners hold both hands and do seesaw movement one going up while the other goes down and
vice versa. (May begin with slight knee bend and then gradually deeper bends and add jumps
upward, so the movements become gradually larger.)
C. Holding ptner’s LH and moving around in circle in place, do 2 step-hops fwd (L step-hop, R
step-hop), with the free knee bent and lifted up in front, toe pointed down, and then 4 runs LRLR,
leaning fwd with free leg lifted to the rear. Repeat all.
D. Ptners face and each does chugs (short jumps about 2” long, with feet remaining in contact with
and sliding on floor) diag fwd L back to place, diag fwd R, back to place, and repeat. On the fwd
chugs knees are bent and arms are lifted out-and-up in a “V” position with fingers outstretched on
the back to place chugs, legs are straight, with arms relaxed, bending elbows but not bringing arms
back down to sides.
E. Ptners hold R hands, with arms extended at shoulder level and step away from ptner on LF,
bending L knee and holding R leg straight (almost like a lunge), both feet parallel, and L elbow bent
with L palm upward and held directly above head (cts. 1-2). Ptners are facing opp directions, with
their R shoulders and R hips adjacent.
Exchange positions, stepping on RF in place (ct.3) walking twd ptner on LF (ct.4) while dropping
hands and turning CW, then holding L hands and “lunging” on R leg in opp position (as in a 3-step
turn). Repeat.
4. HE’EIA BAMBOO DANCE (HAWAII)
He’eia (pronounced Hey-ey-ee-uh) is an ancient Hawaiian canoe dance done by children and
adults of both sexes. The movements tell about a canoe trip for spearing fish. This version of the
dance is done in a sitting position, using one puili (pronounced Poo-ee-lee, a fringed bamboo stick).
If puilis are unavailable, used rolled-up newspaper sections secured with tape, 12-20” plastic tubes,
or another substitute.
Basic movement patterns: Two basic movement patterns are used throughout the dance – the
Vamp (done at the beginning of each verse) and the Chorus (done at the end of each verse).
Vamp (holding stick in RH and extending LH fwd over L side of body, elbow bent):
Counts Actions
1 Holding L palm up, tap L palm
2 Tap floor on R side of body
3 Turning L palm down, tap back of LH
4 Tap L shoulder
5-8 Repeat movements of cts. 1-4
Chorus:
Counts Actions
1-2 Extending LH fwd over L side of body, with palm down, tap back of LH 2 times.
3-4 Moving LH in front of body and turning palm up, hit L palm once (ct.3) and hold
(ct.4)
5-8 Repeat movements of cts.1-4
Formation: Lines or scattered informally, all facing fwd.
Position: Kneel with knees about 6-8” apart, and sit back on heels. Feet are close together, soles
up, so that the portions of the legs touching the floor make a V, like 2 sides of a triangle, forming a
firm base of support for the body. Or an Indian cross-legged position could be used instead.
Dancers begin with hands in lap and stick on the floor in front of them horizontally, with the handle
on the R.
Counts Actions
1-16 A. Introduction: When the music begins, dancers pick up stick with RH and tap
back of LH (L arm extended fwd at chest level, palm down). Hold for 4 measures
(16 cts.) until the dance begins.
1.Tap Shoulders
1-8 Do Vamp
1-8 Placing back of LH on L hip, tap alternate shoulders RLRLRLRL.
1-8 Chorus.
2. Paddle Canoe
1-8 Vamp.
1-8 Holding stick with 2 hands as if paddling, paddle twice on R side of body and
twice on L (RRLL).
1-8 Chorus.
3.Flying Spray
1-8 Vamp
1-9 Bending L elbow and holding LH about head high, palm facing twd R, alternate
tapping L palm and tapping floor on R side of body (palm-floor, palm-floor,
palm-floor, palm-floor).
1-8 Chorus.
Ending: Extend L arm fwd, palm down. Tap back of LH and hold, inclining head
downward.
Note: If desired, teacher or leader may call out the names of each of the steps as they occur.
Get ready Maukaukau (pronounced mow-cow-cow)
Tap Shoulders Pa Poohiwi (pronounced pah poh-oh-hee-vee)
Paddle the canoe Hoe Waa (pronounced hoy vah-ah)
Flying spray Lele Ehu (pronounced lay-lay eh-hoo)
Shading eyes Maka Malumalu (pronounced mah kah mah-loo-mah-loo)
Churning the water Wili Wai (pronounced vee-lee vah-ee)
Spearing fish la ihe (pronounced ee-ah ee-hee)
Surf Nalu (pronounced nah-loo)
The end Lawa (pronounced lah-va)
5. KOROBUSHKA (Russia)
This popular Russian couple dance is also known as “Peddler’s Pack.” The literal translation of
Korobushka (pronounced Kuh-row bush-kuh) is “little basket.”
Formation: Couples facing in double circle, both hands joined, Bs with backs to center.
Dance Description
Measures
1. Schottisches, Hop and Feet Together
1-2 Couples do 1 schottische away from center of circle, B walking fwd LRL, hop L
and G walking bwd RLR, hop R.
3-4 Couples do 1 schottische twd center of circle, B walking bwd RLR, hop R and G
walk fwd LRL, hop L.
5-6 Repeat action of meas. 1-2 (schottische away from center of circle).
7 Partners face, B hops on LF and touches R toe crossed in front of LF (ct. 1), hops
and touches R toe swd R (ct. 2). G does opp.
8 Both partners jump in place bringing feet together (ct. 1), then hold (ct. 2), releasing
hands.
2. Walk and Stamp, Balance, Change Places
1-2 Each partner walks to his own R on the rim of the circle with RLR, stamp L.
Clap hands while stamping.
3-4 Reverse (each walks to his own L with LRL stamp R and clap hands).
5-6 Joining R hands, balance twd ptner (fwd on RF) and away from partner (bwd on
LF).
7-8 Exchange places with ptner, walking fwd RLRL.
9-16 Repeat all of step 2, returning to original position when exchanging places the
second time. The G takes 4 steps as usual, but the B takes only 3 (RLR), holding
ct. 4 in order to have his LF free to begin again.
Variations:
1. In step 2, do schottisches (RLR, hop R and swing L across in front of R; reverse) instead
of walk and stamp.
2. To make this a mixer dance, on the second balance in the last section of Part 2 each
partner balances diag fwd R to meet a new partner.
3. Mature classes may do a 3-step turn in step 2 instead of plain walks.
Numero Cinco, a recreational dance created by Henry “Buzz” Glass, reflects its sources in the
rhumba, danzon and Mexican Jarabe (pronounced Hah-rah-bee). It has been called a composite of
the cultural influences of Latin America-the European, the native American, and the African. The
dance was published in the professional journal Dance Magazine and is done throughout the world.
Formation: As a NO-PARTNER dance, form a single circle, all facing COH, hands free (may be
joined if desired).
Dance Description
Measures
A. Introduction
1-2 Wait in place
3-4 Step LRL and RLR in place (QQS-QQS, with Q taking 1 ct of music and S taking 2 cts.)
Variation: As a COUPLE DANCE in social dance position, start with the Box.
On the Mambo Break, B breaks back on L, steps in place on R and then steps fwd on L
(G does reverse), as ptners come to Banjo position (R hips adjacent). Cpl then turns CW 3
steps, B moving LRL, and G moving RLR to turn halfway around the circle; repeat to
end in orginal position. In closed social position, do the Off-beat Rhumba, moving CW
(B starts L, G starts R). Dropping hands, do the Jarabe pattern (B starts L, G starts R).
As a MIXER, each ptner moves to own L on the last 3 steps to meet a new partner.
Dance Description
Measures
1. Polka Face to Face and Back to Back
1 Cpl does polka face to face, with joined hands held to the rear B begins with hop on
R, steps swd L on L, closes R to L, and steps swd L on L; G begins with hop on L, steps swd R on
R, closes L to R, and steps swd R on R.
2 Then cpl does polka back to back, on the opening hop thrusting arms fwd and reversing
direction: B begins with hop on L, turning back to back with ptner as arms are thrust fwd, then steps
fwd on R, closes L to R, and steps fwd on R. Girl does same on opp foot.
3-16 Continue with polka steps, alternating face to face and back to back.
Note: Less experienced dancers may do all fwd polkas or do a two-step in place of a polka
step. More mature dancers may do a regular polka in closed social dance position.
1-16 B and G assume Open Position, standing side by side and holding inside hands joined at
shoulder height (or may join inside hands, held low, and place free hand on hip). March fwd CCW
in one big circle, all singing “La la la la,” etc. with each B placing his LH on the shoulder of the B
ahead to close up the circle and form a revolving wheel rotating CCW. If Bs move swd L twd the
center of the circle when placing LH on shoulder of B ahead, it will save time in forming the circle.
Or if group is large, several smaller circles may be formed.
1-16 Bs remain in one large circle (or several smaller ones) and face center while Gs drop behind
their partners. Gs turn to face other way (CW) and take 16 polka steps fwd CW around the outside
of the Bs’ circle, hands on hips. (If there is more than one circle, Gs may “cheat” by changing
circles.) Boys, facing center, clap own hands twice (cts. 1 and), then extend hands, palm outward, to
B on each side and clap hands with them once shoulder high (ct. 2). Continue repeating this
clapping pattern ( ♫ ♪ ). At the end of this part, Bs turn and face new partner (whatever G is in
back of them) to repeat the dance. Any “extras” can go to the center of the circle to find another
extra there as a partner.
Note: Extra Bs may join the dance during Pt. 2, joining the circle without a partner. Extra Gs may
join the dance during Pt. 3, adding to the fun of finding a new partner.
Dance Description
Count Basic Round Dance Step
And ♪ Step R together by L
1 ♪ Step L to L side, weight all on the L foot, body and L knee going down a little, and R
knee lifting. Repeat, always moving L (CW) in the circle with body relaxed, shoulders
and head loose, arms limber and knees bent and relaxed. You should feel your whole
body going slightly up and down. Step in time with the drum beats and 1 and 2 etc.,
RLRL
L foot always stepping on the louder, longer, accented drum beat.
Variation 1: Fwd and Bwd
+1+2etc. Allow LF to stamp alternating fwd and bwd while moving swd. RF continues to move
directly swd as before.
Variation 2: From the Owl Dance
+1+2etc. Step fwd on L and close R to L step L swd L and close R to L, step bwd L and close R
to L etc.
Variation 3: Hitch Step
+1+2etc. Step fwd on L flexing knees, skp on R beside L and straightening knees Skp bwd on L
flexing knees, skp, on R beside L straightening knees. Continue, moving swd L.
Variation 4: Serpentine
+1+2etc. A designated Leader leads the circle in serpentine fashion. The Basic Step is now
performed with all facing fwd in the direction they are moving-step fwd L, close R to L;
continue: At any time the Leader may lead back into a circle.
Notice that all the variations blend smoothly from one to another.
Dance Pattern: The dance pattern may vary according to th e students’ ability and the teacher’s
wishes.
For example:
1. The Basic Round Dance Step may be done throughout.
2. The Basic may alternate with the Variations, e.g. Basic, Var. 1 Basic, Var 2, Basic, Var.
3, Basic, Var.4, changing after each section of the music (marked by a drum accent in
the recording) or upon signal from Leader.
3. A Leader may call out the Basic and separate the Variations as he wishes.
Teaching Suggestion: Student volunteers may play drums, bells and shakers with the recoding. If
commercial instruments are unavailable, students may construct their own.
9. APAT APAT (Philippines)
Apat Apat (pronounced Ah-put Ah-put) is a Philippine partner and mixer dance that uses only
walking steps.
Formation: Partners in double circle facing CCW, G, on B’s R.
Dance Description
Measures
1-4 1. Walk FWD and Return
Facing CCW and joining inside hands, B and G both start with RF and walk fwd 4
steps RLRL. G is on B’s R. Releasing hands, each ptner individually turns R (CW)
to face opp direction. Now G is on B’s L. Then join inside hands (B’s LH and G’s
RH) and walk fwd 4 steps, RLRL, thus returning to the place where they started.
5-8 2. Four Steps Bwd and Four Fwd
Ptners release hands and face each other. Walk 4 steps bwd away from ptner, RLRL.
Walk 4 steps fwd twd ptner, RLRL.
9-12 3. Turn R, Walk Fwd and Bwd
Face ¼ turn R (90 degrees CW), so that L shoulders of ptners are adjacent. B remains
on inside of double circle. Each walks fwd 4 steps RLRL (B moving CW and G
moving CCW), and bwd 4 steps RLRL, ending beside ptner again.
13-16 4. Star Hold Turn and Change Ptners
Face ptnr. With R star hold (join R hands, elbows bent), walk RLRL around in place
CW. Releasing hands. B walks fwd RLRL (CW) to meet the next G as his new ptner.
G. steps RLRL turning CW in place to await new ptner.
Repeat all.
10. SAVILA SE BELA LOZA (Serbian)
Savila Se Bela Loza (pronounced Sah-vee-lah She Beh-la Loh-zah and translated “a grapevine
entwined in itself”) is a lively dance from Serbia.
Formation: Single circle with hands joined and held low. Circle is broken, with the Leader
at the R end.
Dance Description
Measures
1. Running Steps
1-8 All face CCW in the circle and move fwd with 16 small running steps beginning R.
9-10 Facing COH, all do 3 stamps RLR and hold.
11-18 Reverse-all move fwd in opp direction (CW) in the circle with 16 running steps
Beginning L
19-20 Facing COH, all stamp LRL and hold.
2. Six Schottisches
1-12 Facing COH do schottische step swd R with small, bouncy steps (step swd R on RF,
close L to R, step swd R and hop R, lifting L with bent knee). Reverse-facing COH, schottische swd
L (step swd L on LF, close R to L, step swd L and hop L, lifting R with bent knee). Repeat
schottische pattern again moving R,L,R, L (total of 6 times in all).
Repeat whole dance.
Note: Another version of the dance does 19 running steps starting R and ending with a hop on RF,
then 19 running steps starting L and Hop on LF.