Country: Kivennavalta, Finland
Type: set dance
Formation: 4-8 couple quadrille (this description for 4 couples), couples numbered CW from couple 1 (with back to music), holding inside hands. Each W has a 1-1/2 metre long ribbon/woven belt tied around her waist under the apron. Alternatively, each person has a 3/4 metre long ribbon/belt, W around waist, M tied around L upper arm.
W1 M1
M4 W2
W4 M2
M3 W3
Steps: polkka,
sivuaskelikot (side-steps),
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| upbeat | Couples switch to varsovienne hold, and face in LOD. | |
| |:1-4:| | 1 (a) | All couples dance 1-1/2 times around the set, 8 polkka steps. |
| |:5-8:| | (b) | All dance R-hand chain half-way round the set, ie to first meeting with partner (5-8) 4 polkka steps. Dos-à-dos with partner, ie passing R shoulders first, and back to place (5-8), 4 polkka steps. |
| 1-4 | 2 (a) | Couples 1 and 3 (head couples) take R in R hold with partner and turn CW twice on the spot, 4 polkka steps. |
| 1-2 | W1 and W3 change places, passing on the L, 2 polkka steps. | |
| 3-4 | W1 and W3 take L-thumb hold with opposite M, and both turn CCW on the spot, 2 polkka steps. | |
| 5-6 | W1 and W3 again change places, passing on the R, 2 polkka steps. | |
| 7-8,5-8 | W1 and W3 take R-thumb hold with partner, and both couples turn CW on the spot 3 times, 6 polkka steps.:w | |
| |:1-4:||:5-8:| | (b) | Couples 2 and 4 (side couples) repeat (2 (a)). |
| |:1-4:||:5-8:| | 3 (a) | M fold arms on chest, W hold skirts, all facing LOD around set. All W dance around set and back to original place, 16 polkka steps.
Meanwhile, all M weave in and out in front of partner (2 polkka steps per pass), first passing partner on the inside, and moving in front of her out of the set, then passing back in front of partner towards inside of set. Total 16 polkka steps. Finish with M in own place, kneeling on L knee, facing in LOD. |
| |:1-4:||:5-8:| | (b) | All W dance CCW around inside of set to return to partner (|:1-4:|), 8 polkka steps. All W perch on partners' R knee (|:5-8:|).
Finish standing, facing in LOD, in varsovienne hold. |
| |:1-4:| | 4 | In varsovienne hold with partner, couples dance 1 step in LOD (1), followed by 1 polkka step in which M dances diagonally forward R and W dances forward diagonally L, so that partners have switched relative sides (2). Then 1 polkka step forward in LOD (3), followed by 1 polkka step with M dancing diagonnally forward L and W diagonally forward R to resume original varsovienne hold (4). Repeat (1-4) to return to original place.
Finish in two 2-couple sets in opposite corners of the original quadrille set: the 2 sets facing each other, W in front holding inside hands, M behind holding inside hands, outside hands on waist of W in front...
M1
W1 M2
W2
W4
M4 W3
M3
|
| |:5-8:| | 5 | Both sets dance diagonally forward towards opposite set (5-8), 4 polkka steps. And retire (5-8), 4 polkka steps. |
| |:1-4:| | The 2 sets change places, couples 3 and 4 raising respective inside hands to form an arch under which couples 1 and 2 pass, 4 polkka steps (1-4). Couples turn on 4 polkka steps to reform the two sets, W placing both hands on her hips, M placing both hands on waist of his partner in front of him (1-4). | |
| |:5-8:| | Repeat changing places, this time couples 1 and 2 making the arch (5-8). Couples turn again and return to original places (5-8), 4 polkka steps. | |
| |:1-4:| | 6 (a) | Couples take varsovienne hold, facing LOD. All dance 1-1/2 times round the set CCW, 8 polkka steps.
Finish with couple 1 in couple 4's position, facing top of the original quadrille set. |
| |:5-8:| | Couples 2, 3, and 4 continue CCW around the set, 8 polkka steps. Couple 2 finishes directly in front of couple 1, facing top of set. | |
| |:1-4:| | Couples 3, and 4 continue CCW around the set, 8 polkka steps. Couple 3 finishes directly in front of couple 2, facing top of set. | |
| |:5-8:| | Couple 4 continues CCW around the set, 8 polkka steps. Couple 4 finishes directly in front of couple 1, facing top of set.
Couples are now in the order 4, 3, 2, and 1 countinf from the top of the set. |
|
| |:1-4:||:5-8:| | (b) | Couple 1, folowed by couples 2, 3, and 4 in order, dance to the top of the set (1-4). M turn L and W turn R, and dance to the bottom of the set (1-4), and back up the set to finish in reverse order, ie couple 1, followed by couples 2, 3, and 4.
Finish with couple 1 in couple 4's position, facing top of the original quadrille set. |
| |:1-4:| | Couples take 2-hand hold with partner and dance 4 polkka steps turning CW, and 4 polkka steps turning CCW (|:1-4:|), while moving into two 2-couple sets, W in front, M behind, set facing each other as before:
M4 W4 W1 M1
M3 W3 W2 M2
Finish with couple 1 in couple 4's position, facing top of the original quadrille set. |
|
| |:5-8:| | W untie belts, loop belt around her waist, giving ends to partner behind her, who holds the ends like reins. | |
| |:1-4:| | 7 (a) | The two sets advance towards each other (1-4), 4 polkka steps. Retire ditto (1-4). |
| |:5-8:| | The two sets change places such that each couple passes the opposing couple on the R (5-8) with 4 polkka steps. Turn, maintaining 'hold' to face back into set (5-8). | |
| |:1-4:||:5-8:| | Repeat (7 (a)) to return to positions at the end of (6 (b)). | |
| |:1-4:| | (b) | Both sets advance and retire as in (7 (a)). 8 polkka steps. |
| 5-8 | Both sets advance again (5-8), passing to R of opposing couple. On the last polkka step, W1 ducks under the ribbons held by couple 4; similarly W2 ducks under the ribbons held by couple 3, each set of 2 couples linked by crossed ribbons. | |
| 5-8 | Both sets turn CW, 4 polkka steps. | |
| 1-4 | Both sets turn CCW, 4 polkka steps. On the last step, W1 and W2 duck out under the ribbons. | |
| 1-4 | On first step, W3 and W$ duck under the ribbons to form crossed ribbons as aobe. Both sets turn CW, 4 polkka steps. | |
| 5-8 | Both sets turn CCW, 4 polkka steps. On the last step, W3 and W4 duck out under the ribbons. | |
| 5-8 | All couples turn CW, 4 polkka steps, while returning to original place in quadrille set.
Finish with all M kneeling on L knee, facing LOD (ie CCW around the set), holding ends of ribbons in R hand. |
|
| 1-4 | 8 | All W, holding ribbon in L hand, dance CCW around partner (1-4) 4 polkka steps.
Finish with M standing up, W refastening ribbons at waist. |
| 1-4 | All take open waist shoulder hold with partner. M form L-hand star. All move CCW (5-8), 4 polkka steps. | |
| 5-8 | M continue 4 polkka steps in LOD, while W 'fall back' to M behind. | |
| 5-8,|:1-4:| | M continue polkka steps in LOD, while W 'fall back' to M behind (1-4). Repeat until own partner is reached.
M drop L-hand star hold. All face partner. |
|
| |:5-8:| | 9 | All dance R-hand chain once round the set, 8 polkka steps.
Finish with W turning CW in front of partner. All take varsovienne hold with partner. |
| |:1-4:||:5-8:| | 10 | All dance two full turns CCW around the set. 16 polkka steps.
Finish in varsovienne hold with partner. |
See videos showing versions from/with (4 couples) Seurasaaren Kansantanssijat 2015, (6 couples) Suomen Nuorisoseura 2017, (8 couples) Kansantanssin Riemuvuosi 2015.
Provenance: Likely a choreography devised in the 1940s or 1950s. Taught by ?, in Vanouver in the early 1970s.
Source: Rausmaa, Pirkko-Liisa & Esko Tanhuvakka. Porvoo: W Söderström, 1977. pp. 200-204.
See also:
-- Väisänen, Yrjö/ nr 100 in: Kisapirtti: 125 suomalaista kansantanssia. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Oy, [1962].
-- Karjalainen Nuorisoliitto/ Tanhuohjelma 1982 p.16
-- Suomen Nuorison Liitto/ Tanhuohjelma 1973 p.7-11
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 1970s, rev. 2019-03-07.
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