Country: Pedersöre/Pietarsaari, Österbotten/Pohjanmaa, Finland
Type: set dance
Formation: any number of couples, one behind the other, waltz/polkka hold, facing points A and B:
etc etc
W4 M4
W3 M3
W2 M2
W1 M1
D ---------- A
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
C ---------- B
Steps:
polkka,
laukka/galopp (slip-steps)
| Bars | Part | Dance progression |
| 1-4 | (a) | Galopp/laukka A-B (slip-steps): Couple 1 stands at point A, waltz or polkka hold, M facing into square. Couple 1, beginning with ML/WR, dances with 8 slip-steps from point A to point B. |
| 5-8 | Galopp/laukka B-C (slip-steps): Couple 1 turns 1/4 turn CCW so that M faces out of square, and dances 8 slip-steps, starting MR/WL, from point B to point C. | |
| 9-16 | (b) | Polkka C-B: Couple 1 now dances polkka, turning CW, and moving from point C to point B. Finish with M facing into square. |
| 1-8 | Galopp/laukka B-C, C-D (slip-steps): Couple 1 dances slip-steps from point B to point C, turn 1/4 turn CCW,
and dance slip-steps from C to D.
Meanwhile, couple 2 dances slip-steps from A to B, turn 1/4 turn CCW, and dance slip-steps from B to C. |
|
| 9-16 | Polkka D-C: Couple 1 dances polkka from D to C.
Meanwhile, couple 2 dances polkka from C to B. |
|
| 1-8 | Galopp/laukka C-D, D-A (slip-steps): Couple 1 dances slip-steps from point C to point D, and then D to A.
Meanwhile, couple 2 dances slip-steps from B to C, and C to D, and couple 3 dances slip-steps from A to B, and B to C. |
|
| 9-16 | Polkka A-D: Couple 1 dances polkka from A to D. Couple 2 dances polkka from D to C,
Meanwhile, couple 3 dances polkka from C to B. |
|
| 1-8 | Galopp/laukka D-A, A-B (slip-steps): Couple 1 dances slip-steps from point D to point A, then A to B.
Meanwhile, couple 2 dances slip-steps from C to D, and D to A, and couple 3 dances slip-steps from B to C, and C to D. | |
| 9-16 | Polkka B-A: Couple 1 dances polkka from B to A and leaves the set. Couple 2 dances polkka from D to C,
Meanwhile, couple 3 dances polkka from C to B. Couple At each repeat of bars 1-8, a new couple begins dancing slip-steps from A to B, etc. As each couple reaches point D on the first set of slip-steps, they retire from the set. Note: in Österbottnisk fyrkant, couples do not retire from the dance until they have danced a second time from point A to B with slip-steps, and with polkka steps back to point A. Can be danced with 2 couples on each side of the square simultaneously, if many couples are dancing. When 2 couples dance simultaneously, they can proceed one after the other on the vertical tracks, and side by side on the horizontal tracks. |
See videos with Jackarby Folkdanslag 1994 (at 9:30); Finnfest 2013 Hancock US (at 21:05); Karjalan Nuorten kansantanssiryhmä Lykky 2021; Karjalan Nuorten Roihu-ryhmä 2023.
Provenance: Documented in 1904 by Otto Anderson in Pedersöre, and first published by Brage in 1907. Publication in Finnish is the 1959 edition of Kisapirtti. Taught by Martti Vanhapelto, in Portland OR, October 10-11, 1987.
Source: Brages Folkdanslag/ nr 14 'Österbottnisk fyrkant' in: 45 folkdanser Helsingfors: Brages Förlag, 1949. p.24.
See also:
-- Heikel, Yngvar/ Nr. 675 (nr 670-675) 'Österbottnisk fyrkant' 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. XIII, 363-365, 452, 465.
-- Finlands svenska folkdansring/ 'Österbottnisk fyrkant' in: Årsprogram 1999-2000. [Helsingfors]: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf, [1999]. pp. 20, 85.
-- Finlands Svenska Folkdansring/ 'Österbottnisk fyrkant' in: Årsprogram 2004-2005. [Helsingfors]: Finlands Svenska Folkdansring rf, [2004]. pp. 2, 48.
-- Rausmaa, Esko/ 'pohjalainen neliö' in: Tanhuvakka: suomen perinnetanssit. 3rd ed. [Helsinki]: Suomalaisen Kansantanssin Ystävät ry, 2012. pp. 179.
-- Rausmaa, Pirkko-Liisa & Esko/ 'pohjalainen neliö' in: Tanhuvakka: suuri suomalainen kansantanssikirja. Porvoo: Werner Söderström, 1977. p. 219.
-- Väisänen, Yrjö/ Nr 17 'pohjalainen neliö' in: Kisapirtti: 125 suomalaista kansantanssia. Porvoo: Werner Söderström
Oy, [1962]. p.42.
-- Svenska Ungdomsringen för Bygdekultur/ 'Österbottnisk fyrkant' in: Beskrivning av gillesdanser i Norden. Stockholm: Svenska Ungdomsringen för Bygdekultur, 1970. pp. 92-93.
-- Pihlman, Leena 'Österbottnisk kvadrat' Acla
-- Burchenal, Elizabeth (trans.)/ 'Osterbottnisk four courners' in:
Folk-dances of Finland, containing sixty-five dances.... New York, NY: G. Schirmer, 1915. pp. 86-87.
Description: Laine Ruus, Vancouver, 1987-10.
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2012-11-21, rev. 2023-10-03.
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