Gustavs skål aka Termaleikki

Country: Korpo, Åboland, Finland
Type: mixer
Formation: any number of couples in an open circle, partners facing, hands on hips
Steps: hoppsteg (step-hop), markering (stamp/stomp)
Sheet music:
(1) Heikel, Yngvar./ Nr. 59 in: Folkdans: B. dansbeskrivningar sammanställda av Yngvar Heikel. Helsingfors: Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland, 1938. p. 325.;
(2) Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf/ Årsprogramhäfte 1999-2000 p. 19.;
(3) Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf/ Årsprogramhäfte 2005-2006 p. 32.;
[Note: may also be played as a medley with 'Maskurat' in: Heikel, Yngvar./ Nr. 58 in: Folkdans: B. dansbeskrivningar sammanställda av Yngvar Heikel. Helsingfors: Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland, 1938. p. 324.]
Recordings: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring Årsprogram 1999-2000 track 26; Finlands Svenska Folkdansring Årsprogram 2005-2006 track 10.

Bars Part Dance progression
1 (a) Stamps & claps: All face partner and stamp with L (1:1), R (1:2), L (1:3) foot.
2   All clap own hands 3 times.
3-4   All turn over L shoulder (CCW) to face corner, and repeat (a).
5-6 (b) All turn over L shoulder (CCW) to face partner, and repeat (a).
7-8   Turn & progress: All take two-hand hold with partner and dance 1-1/2 times round CW on the spot, 8 step-hops.
Finish facing a next oncoming dancer (=new partner).
[W move one position CW, M move one position CCW in the circle with each repeat.]
    Repeat from (a) as desired.

Lyrics:
Gustavs skål!
Den bäste kung som jorden äger,
etc.

Provenance: The tune was likely known well before 1772, and theories place it's origins as, possibly an Austrian military march commemorating the Austrian victory over the Prussians at Collin in 1757, and/or a Swedish drinking song [Swedish] Wikipedia. The Swedish lyrics were written by Carl Michael Bellman in 1772, flattering King Gustaf III of Sweden [see also English translation of lyrics}. While the dance had its roots in the dances of the upper classes, among the Swedish peasantry, it was very popular and wide spread, especially as a song-dance.
The same tune is used for 4-couple quadrille dances in Sweden (Gustafs skål) and on Bornholm in Denmark (Tjiva dajnsijn aka Tyvedansen). Taught by Turun Kansantanssin Ystävät, Vancouver, 1985-03-10

Source: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring/ Årsprogram 2005-2006. [Helsingfors]: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf, 2005. p. 32.
See also:
-- Heikel, Yngvar./ Nr. 59 in: Folkdans: B. dansbeskrivningar sammanställda av Yngvar Heikel. (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland, 268; Finlands Svenska folkdiktning, VI) Faksimilutgåva 1982.) Helsingfors: Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland, 1938. pp. 325-326, 442.
-- Finlands Svenska Folkdansring/ Årsprogram 2005-2006. [Helsingfors]: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf, 2005. p. 32.
-- Finlands Svenska Folkdansring/ Årsprogram 1999-2000. [Helsingfors]: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf, 1999. p. 86.
Description: Laine Ruus, Vancouver BC, 1984-04
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2013-05-31, rev. 2023-01-28.


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