Sjampa dans, Himmerland - original, simplified

Country: Himmerland, northeast Jutland, Denmark
Type: longways progressive set dance
Steps: hopsa, polka
Sheet music:
(1) 358:140
(2) Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle Himmerlands-danse. 4th ed. 1978, p. 32.
(3) Folkemusikarkivet/ Onsdagsspillemændenes nodesamling Sjampa dans
Note: Bars 17-24 are played as often as is required, depending on how many couples are in the lines.
Recordings: Rebild Spillemændene Himmerlandsbal II track 16.

    Sjampa dans - original FFF description
Formation: any number of couples in a longways set, couples facing, on alternating sides. [best with more than 4 couples.] The front or top of the set is that closest to the music [Gamle Himmerlands-danse p.7]. 
                  Mz            Wz  
                 ...            ... 
                  M4            W4  
                  W3            M3  
                  M2            W2  
                  W1            M1  
                       music
Bars Part Dance progression:
upnotes   M1 takes W2s R hand in his L hand, and W1s L hand in his R facing away from the front. M2 stands in front of M1, facing the front. 

                  M4          W4
                  W3          M3
                        M2
                     W2-M1-W1
                      music
1-8 (a) Promenade: M2 begins with R foot, the other 3 dancers with L foot.
All 4 dancers (active couples, C1 and C2) dance down the set in this formations, M2 dancing backwards, the other 3 forwards. 8 hopsa steps.
1-8   W1 and W2 turn 1/2 turn, CCW and CW respectively, and join M2, facing M1. (Note, M1 and M2 need to change feet.) All 4 dancers (C1 and C2) dance up the set in this formations, M1 dancing backward, the other 3 forward. 8 hopsa steps.
|:9-12:| (b) Circle: C1 and C2 form closed circle and dance 4 hopsa steps circling CW, followed by 4 hopsa steps circling CCW.
|:13-16:|   Chain: C1 and C2 dance R-hand chain, beginning with L foot. 8 hopsa steps.
|:17-24:| (c) Polka: C1 and C2 take waltz hold with partner and dance polka [once around each other, if music and the length of the lines permit] down the set, with C1 leading, C2 following.
During the first 4 bars (17-20) all non-active couples side-step towards the front.
and the next 2 couples at top of set take position as at start of (a) ready to begin 'promenade'.
C1 and C2 rejoin the lines at bottom of the set, W2 beside Mz, M2 beside Wz, W1 beside M2, M1 beside W2 [ie on opposite sides from which they started]. 
                  M1            W1
                  W2            M2
                  Mz            Wz
                  Wy            My
                 ...            ...
                  M6            W6
                  W5            M5
                        M4
                     W4-M3-W3
                       music
    This is a progressive dance. When the music repeats, couples 3 and 4 dance as did couples 1 and 2 above.
Repeat from (a) until all couples have danced.

Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/ Gamle Himmerlands-danse. 4th ed. 1978, pp. 32-33.

   
    Sjampa dans - simplified
Formation: even number of couples in a longways set of couples facing couples. [Often danced with 6-8 couples.] The front or top of the set is that closest to the music [Gamle Himmerlands-danse p.7]. 
                  Mz            Wy
                  Wz            My
                 ...            ...
                  M4            W3
                  W4            M3
                  M2            W1
                  W2            M1
                       music
Bars Part Dance progression:
upnotes   M1 takes W2's R hand in his L hand, and W1's L hand in his R facing away from the front [or open waist-shoulder hold]. M2 stands in front of M1, facing the front. 

                  M4          W3
                  W4          M3
                        M2
                     W2-M1-W1
                      music
1-8 (a) Promenade: M2 begins with R foot, the other 3 dancers with L foot.
All 4 dancers (active couples, C1 and C2) dance down the set in this formations, M2 dancing backwards, the other 3 forwards. 8 hopsa steps.
1-8   W1 and W2 turn 1/2 turn, CW and CCW respectively, and join M2, facing M1. (Note, M1 and M2 need to change feet.) All 4 dancers (couples 1 and 2) dance up the set in this formations, M1 dancing backwards, the other 3 forwards. 8 hopsa steps.
|:9-12:| (b) Circle: C1 and C2 form closed circle and dance 8 hopsa steps circling CW
|:13-16:|   Chain: Couples 1 and 2 dance R-hand chain, beginning with L foot. 8 hopsa steps.
|:17-24:| (c) Polka: C1 and C2 take waltz hold with partner and dance polka [once around each other, if music and the length of the lines permit] down the set, with couple 1 leading.
During the first 4 bars (17-20) all non-active couples side-step towards the front.
and the next 2 couples at top of set take position as at start of (a) ready to begin 'promenade', and all couples step up towards top of the set.
C1 and C2 rejoin the lines at bottom of the set, C2 beside Cy, and C1 beside Cz [ie on opposite sides from which they began]. 
                  M1            W2
                  W1            M2
                  Mz            Wy
                  Wz            My
                 ...            ...
                  M4            W3
                  W4            M3
                       music
    This is a progressive dance. When the music begins again, couples 3 and 4 dance as did couples 1 and 2 above.
Repeat from (a) until all couples have danced.

See videos Rebild Spillemændene 2012; Rebild Folkemusiktræf 2022; Rebild Spillemændene Grp 4, 2023.

Source: see videos above.


See also:
-- Bidstrup, Georg & Marguerite / 'Sjampa dans' in: Dance syllabus 1959. Stockton, CA: College of the Pacific, Folk dance camp, 1959. p. 81.
-- Folk Dance Federation of California/ Sjampa dans Feb. 1960. [Note: contains incorrect formation description.]
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2020-06-23, rev. 2023-11-03.

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