RUSSIAN
FOLK DANCE
Teaching
folk dance is fun, educational and good exercise for teacher, children and
parent. Although it may seem hard to remember how to do the dance after the
brief session at the teacher’s workshop, we promise that it will all come back
to you as you hear the music and read the instructions.
Although
some groups show initial resistance to dance, most students really enjoy it once
they get going. It is well worth the effort to get them going.
Position:
Sets of three facing counterclockwise in a circle: e.g. sets of three arranged
like the spokes of a wheel. All hands joined at shoulder height.
Starting with the right foot, take 8 straight-legged running steps forward.
Repeat
with 8 running steps backward.
Retain
joined hands. The right-hand person runs in front of the center person and
through the arch made by the center and left hand person. The center person
follows the right hand person, unwinding and all get back to their original
positions. The left-hand person runs in place during this movement.
Repeat
the above movement, this time with the left-hand person going through the arch
formed by the center and right hand persons.
Join
all hands together in circles of three dancers. Circle left with 12 running (or
grapevine) steps. On measure 12, finish up with three steps in place.
Repeat
running circle in the other direction. Instead of finishing with three steps,
break circle between the left-hand and right hand person. Center person runs
forward to join 2 new partners.
Repeat
dance steps from the beginning.
Position:
Double
circle, men’s back to center, holding both hands (on hand hold, interlock tips
of fingers with man’s palms up).
Starting
on man’s left (man going forward) and lady’s right (lady going backward),
take one schottische step away from center of circle.
Man
- LRL Hop Lady - RLR Hop
Reverse
direction, moving towards the center of circle. Repeat schottische step.
Man
- RLR Hop Lady - LRL Hop
Repeat
beginning, with a schottische step moving away from center of the circle.
Man
- LRL Hop Lady - RLR Hop
Conclude
with a Hungarian Bokazni step:
Hop
with feet crossed - count l
Hop
with feet apart - count 2
Hop
with feet together - count 3
Face
partner. Make 3-step turn to right, clapping on count 3. Make 3-step turn back
to left, clapping on count 3. Partners face and join right hands, shoulder high.
Balance forward on right foot (towards partner). Balance back on left foot (away
from partner).
Retaining
right-hand hold, man turns woman under his right arm and they exchange places.
In opposite place, repeat section above, returning to original position.
Start
dance again from beginning.
Russians at Fort Ross
It is believed that the men at Fort Ross knew the songs Kalinka, and Beryozonka and longed for the melancholy melodies of their Motherland. Certainly these very popular tunes might have been sung at Fort Ross
Native Californians
The artistic skill of the Native Californians is recognized to be of high order. Music was an integral part of the lives of the native Californians. Voices were raised at ceremonial dances, at work and around campfires at night. The music was enhanced by flutes of an elder, whistles, panpipes and flageolets of bone. There were also rattles of turtle-shells, deer hoofs, split sticks, seashells, gourds and dried cocoons.
“Flute Tune” that follows is a simple song, sung with just one syllable, Da. The following story is associated with it: “This is the Coyote song. The Coyote was the best flute player. Coyote sang da, da, da, da, while the rest of the people said sh! Sh! Shoo oo, oo, oo, so the Coyote was the best singer because the others got tired”.