Totur fra Himmerland

Country: Himmerland, Denmark
Type: set dance
Formation: 2 couple set, couples facing couples
Steps: buzz, chassé, step-hop, polka
Music: 358:132; (CDs) Blandede bolcher track 8, Ramsø Spillemandslaug Tæt og med lav fattning track 15, Rebild Spillemændene Det levende håndværk track 3, Spillemandslauget Fandango Bal med Spillemandslauget Fandango track 8, ZAR Strengeleg track 2.

Dance progression

|:1-8:| 1 (a) All sets form closed circles. Dance 8 step-hops moving CW (1-8), and 8 step-hops moving CCW (1-8).

|:9-16:| (b) Cross-overs can be danced in either of two ways:

Couples change places passing through opposite couple, W passing on the R, M passing on the L, with 1 chassé (9-10) and 4 step-hops (11-14), beginning with ML/WR foot. During the 4 step-hops, each dancer turns CW 1-1/2 turns. Finish with 3 stamps (15-16). Repeat to return to place (9-16).
Couples change places passing through opposite couple, W passing on the R, M passing on the L, with 3 polka steps (9-14), beginning with ML/WR foot. W begin with a long polka step, M with a short polka step to allow the women to cross first. During the 3 polka steps, each dancer turns CW 1-1/2 turns. Finish with 3 stamps (15-16). Repeat to return to place (9-16).

Part (b) is the same in all sequences.

|:1-8:| 2 (a) All take waltz hold and swing partner, 16 buzz steps on the spot.

|:1-8:| 3 (a) All take waltz hold and swing partner, 16 buzz steps on the spot.

|:1-8:| 4 (a) All take waltz hold and swing partner, 16 buzz steps on the spot.

|:1-8:| 5 (a) All take R-hand star (thumb hold), 8 step-hops moving CW. Change to L-hand star, and dance 8 step-hops moving CCW.

|:1-8:| 6 (a) All take 2-hand star, and dance 8 step-hops moving CW, 8 step-hops moving CCW.

|:1-8:| 7 (a) All form closed circles with shoulder hold, and dance 8 step-hops moving CW, 8 step-hops moving CCW.
Alternatively, take closed waist-shoulder hold (M hands around W waists, W hands on M shoulders) and swing the W so their feet leave the floor. In this case, do not turn to move CCW.

|:1-8:| 8 (a) All form closed circles, and dance 8 step-hops moving CW, 8 step-hops moving CCW.

|:1-8:| 9 (a) The dance finishes with all couples taking waltz hold with partner, and dancing 16 buzz steps on the spot.

		Dance progression
\|:1-8:\|	1 (a)	All sets form closed circles. Dance 8 step-hops moving CW (1-8), and 8 step-hops moving CCW (1-8).
\|:9-16:\|	(b)	Cross-overs can be danced in either of two ways: Couples change places passing through opposite couple, W passing on the R, M passing on the L, with 1 chassé (9-10) and 4 step-hops (11-14), beginning with ML/WR foot. During the 4 step-hops, each dancer turns CW 1-1/2 turns. Finish with 3 stamps (15-16). Repeat to return to place (9-16). Couples change places passing through opposite couple, W passing on the R, M passing on the L, with 3 polka steps (9-14), beginning with ML/WR foot. W begin with a long polka step, M with a short polka step to allow the women to cross first. During the 3 polka steps, each dancer turns CW 1-1/2 turns. Finish with 3 stamps (15-16). Repeat to return to place (9-16).
		Part (b) is the same in all sequences.
\|:1-8:\|	2 (a)	All take waltz hold and swing partner, 16 buzz steps on the spot.
\|:1-8:\|	3 (a)	All take waltz hold and swing partner, 16 buzz steps on the spot.
\|:1-8:\|	4 (a)	All take waltz hold and swing partner, 16 buzz steps on the spot.
\|:1-8:\|	5 (a)	All take R-hand star (thumb hold), 8 step-hops moving CW. Change to L-hand star, and dance 8 step-hops moving CCW.
\|:1-8:\|	6 (a)	All take 2-hand star, and dance 8 step-hops moving CW, 8 step-hops moving CCW.
\|:1-8:\|	7 (a)	All form closed circles with shoulder hold, and dance 8 step-hops moving CW, 8 step-hops moving CCW. Alternatively, take closed waist-shoulder hold (M hands around W waists, W hands on M shoulders) and swing the W so their feet leave the floor. In this case, do not turn to move CCW.
\|:1-8:\|	8 (a)	All form closed circles, and dance 8 step-hops moving CW, 8 step-hops moving CCW.
\|:1-8:\|	9 (a)	The dance finishes with all couples taking waltz hold with partner, and dancing 16 buzz steps on the spot.

Note: totur fra Himmerland and tretur fra Himmerland are normally danced one after the other, and are then called 'to-tretur fra Himmerland'.

See YouTube videos 1, 2 (at 2:45).

Source: Foreningen til Folkedansens Fremme (FFF)/Gamle Himmerlands-danse. 4:e opl. København: Foreningen til Folkdansens Fremme, 1978, pp. 19-20.
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2019-04-24

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