Country: Yleissuomalaisia, Finland
Also known as: fingerpolka, Kymmentä kynttä, flatikkapolkka, reisipolkka
Type: couple dance
Formation: any number of couples in an open circle, M facing out of circle, W facing into circle. Polkka hold.
Steps: polkka,
sivuaskelikkoja (side-steps)
Sheet music:
(1) Hukkanen, Timo/ Tanhuvakan sävelmistö. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kansantanssin Ystävät ry, 2012. p.71.;
(2) Rausmaa, Pirkko-Liisa & Esko/ Tanhuvakan sävelmistö. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kansantanssin Ystävät ry, 1998. p.62.
Recordings:
Katrillaten 2 (SKY-02) track 17;
Tanhupelimannit Tanhupelimannit (SNL) track A4.
See also midi file.
| Kauhajoki | ||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 9-16 | (a) | Polkkaa: Couples dance 4 polkka steps turning CW i>[and moving in LOD]. Ditto turning CCW, 4 polkka steps. Drop hold. |
| 1-8 | (b) | Uhittely & sivuaskelikot (figuré): M and W clap hands behind back and in front (1)
shake R-fist at each other, then L-fist (2). Take closed waist-shoulder hold and, beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, dance 2 sidesteps in LOD (3-4).
Repeat, dancing side-steps in RLOD, finishing with M facing in LOD, W facing in RLOD.
[Repeat from (a) as desired]. Provenance: Recalled by Otto Harjun, 1934. It was taught by Anna-Liisa Harju, from Kauhajoki, where it had been danced in the 1890s. |
| Pomarkku | ||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-8 | (a) | Uhittelut (figuré): M and W clap hands behind back and in front (1), Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, [moving in LOD], dance 3 polkka steps (2-4), W moving backwards and M chasing. Meanwhile, shake R fist (2), then L fist (3), then R fist (4) at partner. [Ie M dances L-polkka, R-polkka, L-polkka while shaking R-fist, L-fist, and R-fist. W dances opposite footwork, while shaking same fists.] Repeat (a) (5-8). |
| 9-16 | (b) | Polkkaa: Couples take polkka hold and dance 4 polkka steps turning CW [moving in LOD].
Ditto CCW, 4 polkka steps.
[Repeat from (a) as desired]. Provenance: Documented/recorded by Pirkko-Liisa & Esko Rausmaa in 1976. The dance had been taught and played by siblings Edith Tuomi (née Lindfors, born 1907) and Arvo Lindfors (born 1904) from Pomarkku. |
| Viitasaari | ||
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-8 | (a) | Uhittelut (figuré): Beginning with ML/WL foot (yes, both with L foot), dance 8 polkka steps in place, while shaking R-forefinger (1), L-forefinger (2), R-forefinger (3) etc at partner. |
| 9-16 | (b) | Polkkaa: Couples dance 4 polkka steps turning CW and moving in LOD, followed by 4 polkka steps turning CCW, but still moving in LOD.
[Repeat from (a) as desired]. Provenance: Recalled by Otto Harjun, 1934, under the name 'Juomarin polkka'. It was taught by Ville Kaupilla (born 1864) from Viitasaaren Niinilahti, who had learned the dance in his youth. |
Provenance: In Pohhanmaa and western Finland the dance was called 'Nyrkkipolkka' and was the same as fingerpolka in the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland. In Satakunta, Savo, and south Karelia it was similar and called 'Kymmentä kynttä'. The same dance has also been known as 'Flatikkapolkka' and 'Reisipolkka'. Taught by Martti Vanhapelto, in Vancouver, November, 1985 and in February 1987.
Source: Rausmaa, Esko/ Tanhuvakka: Suomen perinnetanssit. [Helsinki]: Suomalaisen Kansantanssin Ystävät ry, 2012. pp. 52-53..
See also:
-- Rausmaa, Pirkko-Liisa & Esko/ Tanhuvakka. Porvoo: W Söderström, 1977. pp. 103-104.
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2012-10-28, rev. 2023-03-10.
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