Liilei-lailei

Country: Inkeri aka Inkerinmaa, Russia, formerly part of Sweden and Estonia
Type: circular progressive set dance
Formation: open circle of couples, facing into circle. W stands to L of partner. [Couples are numbered CW from couple 1 to couple 'n'.]
[Alternatively, for recreational dancing, form 2 concentric circles of couples, inner circle (odd numbered couples) facing out, outer circle (even numbered couples) facing in, and all couples start dancing simultaneously.]
Steps: matalaa kävely ('low' walk) or 'limping' steps
Sheet music: Sävelmistö Karjalaisia kansantansseja. [Helsinki]: Suomalaisen kansantanssin ystävät, 1978, 1982. p.20.
Recordings:

Bars
approx.
Part Dance progression:
1-2 (a) Läpikäynti (pass through): Couple 1 faces couple 2 [1st couple on couple 1's L side, couple 1 (=active couple) faces out of circle, all other couples continue to face into the circle].
Both couples pass through opposite couple with 2 steps (1) to opposite place, and immediately turn to R (2).
3-4   Repeat pass through (M pass inside) to return to place, and immediately turn to R.
1-4   Repeat (a).
5-6 (b) Paikanvaihto (M cross-over): Both M change places, passing on the L [ie passing R shoulders], turn around opposite W CCW, and
7-8   repeat (b) to return to place.
5-8   [Both W repeat (b).
Alternatively, dance reel of 3, first couple 1 with M2 (5-8), then couple 1 with W2 (5-8).]
|:1-4:| (c) Läpikäynti (pass through): Both couples repeat (a).
|:5-8:| (d) Piiri (circle): Both couples take closed waist-shoulder hold [or upper arm hold] and turn CW.
Meanwhile, active couple (couple 1) moves to face couple 3, M1 stamping his feet to signal that the dance is now starting with that couple. M3 stamps in reply.
    Repeat from (a) with new couple. Thus couple 1, [and each subsequent active couple] works their way CW around the set, dancing with each couple in turn. Couple 2 begins to dance immediately after the first couple. Thus each couple in turn begins the above sequence. [Ie, on third repeat, couple 1 dances with couple 4, and couple 2 (=another active couple) dances with couple 3, etc.]
[Continue until all couples have, in turn, danced with all other couples in the circle, and are back where they began.]

Lyrics:
|:Liilei ja lailei ja aallalee ja lailee:|
aloittaa jo leikki pitää, pojat tupakoivat,
vielä täällä leikkilöissä
taljankatkin soivat.

|:Liilei ja lailei ja aallalee ja lailee:|
nyt me täällä esitetään inkeriläinen tanssi,
kun ei kukaan meistä malta
suomalaista valssii.

See videos from Röntyskät 1983 (at 6:23); Viola Malmin syntymästä 80-vuotta konsertti 2012; [VK 2016].

Provenance: A Röntyskä dance from Ingria, the area along the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, west to the river Narva bordering Estonia.

Printed source: Malmi, Viola/ Karjalaisia kansantansseja. Ritva Sabellin suomennoksen pohjalta toimittaneet Pirkko-Liisa Rausmaa, Esko Rausmaa [Edited by Pirkko-Liisa Rausmaa, Esko Rausmaa based on the Finnish translation by Ritva Sabelli]. [Helsinki]: Suomalaisen kansantanssin ystävät, 1978, 1982. p.86.
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2019-03-10, rev. 2023-11-14.


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