Country: Kökar, Åland, Finland
Type: longways non-progressive set
Formation: longways set, M standing to R as seen from the music, W standing to L. 3-4 steps between the lines. Preferably 8 couples. Free arms hanging.
Steps:
polkaklacksteg (polka-heel step)
Sheet music:
(1) Ålands Ungdomsförbund r.f./ nr 41a, 41b in: Musik till Åländska folkdanser.
[Finström]: Ålands Ungdomsförbund r.f., [1981]. pp.22-23.
(2) Brages Folkdanslag/ Dansmelodier till 45 folkdanser (vol. II). Helsingfors: Brages Förlag, 1949. p. 13.;
(3) Heikel, Yngvar/ Nr. 33 in: Folkdans: B. dansbeskrivningar sammanställda av Yngvar Heikel.
Helsingfors: Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland, 1938. p.283.
(4) Finlands Svenska Folkdansring/ Årsprogram 2001-2002. [Helsingfors]: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf, [2001]. p.8.
(5) Collan, Anni & Yngvar Heikel/ Dances of Finland.
(Handbooks of European National Dances) 2nd ed. New York: Chanticleer Press, [1948] 1950. p.35.
(6) John Chambers abc collection .
[Note: 'Soldier's joy', with minor variations, played as a contradanse anglais]
Recordings:
Finlands svenska folkdansring Årsprogram 2001-2002 track 04;
Kansantanhuyhtye Suomalaisia tanhuja track B6;
Leigarid Simman koduouel track 25.
| Bars | Part | Dance progression |
| |:1-4:| | 1 | Stor ring (circle): all form closed circle, hands at shoulder height, and beginning with an L-foot polkaklacksteg step, dance 8 polkaklacksteg steps moving CW (1-4). Ditto CCW (1-4) 8 polkaklacksteg steps.
Finish in original lines. |
| 5-8 | 2 (a) | Figuré (frolic): Couples dance, beginning with L side to opposite line, 6 polkaklacksteg steps on the spot. M beckoning to partner alternating with L and R hand (5-7). W waving away the importunate M. Note: 'front' foot is pointed towards partner.
Couples change places with partner, passing on the R (L shoulders) with an L polkaklacksteg step, and turn CCW into partners place with an R polkaklacksteg step (8). M have thumbs hooked in sleeve holes, W with hands on hips. |
| 5-8 | Repeat (b) to return to original place. | |
| |:1-4:| | (b) | Slingring (R-shoulder reel of 8): W, with free hands on hips, begin with L-polkaklacksteg, pass back to back,
turning 1/2 turn alternately R and L with L and R polkaklacksteg. At end of line turn once rouns with an R and L step to again pass next oncoming W on the R,
with an L-step.
Meanwhile, M dance similarly, with thumbs hooked in sleeve holes. If there are 8 couples in the set, all should be in original place at the end of 8 bars. If there are more, or fewer, couples, all remain where they are when the phrase finishes. |
| |:5-8:| | 3 (a) | Figuré (frolic): Repeat (2 (a)). |
| |:1-4:| | (b) | Slingring (R-shoulder reel of 4): Repeat (2 (b)). |
| |:5-8:| | 4 (a) | Figuré (frolic): Repeat (2 (a)). |
| |:1-4:| | (b) | Stor ring (circle): Repeat (1). |
See video from/with Oriveden Kansantanssikurssilla 2014.
Provenance: Original description by Rut Lindfors, Kökar, in 1923. A dance usually danced at wedding feasts. After it had been described it was gradually forgotten on Kökar, and is now danced based on the description. However, eye witness accounts from 1911,, 1919, and about 1922 exist, as well as a letter from Gertie Orre to Rut Lindfors in 1978 describing the dance in general terms.
Source: Ålands Ungdomsförbund r.f./ nr 42 in: Beskrivning av Åländska folkdanser.
[Finström]: Ålands Ungdomsförbund r.f., [1982]. pp. 50-52.
See also:
-- Brages Folkdanslag/ 45 folkdanser. Helsingfors: Brages Förlag, 1949. pp. 30-31.
-- Heikel, Yngvar/ Nr. 454 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. XII, 283-285, 435, 465
-- Finlands Svenska Folkdansring/ Årsprogram 2001-2002. [Helsingfors]: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf, [2001]. p.51.
-- Collan, Anni & Yngvar Heikel/ Dances of Finland.
(Handbooks of European National Dances) 2nd ed. New York: Chanticleer Press, [1948] 1950. pp.33-35.
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2020-09-29, rev. 2023-02-24.
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