Country: Vestlandet, Trøndelag & Nord-Norge (northern Norway), Norway
Type: couple dance
Sheet music:
(1) Semb, Klara/ Norske folkdansar: turdansar. Oslo: Noregs Boklag/Det Norske Samlaget, 1991. pp. 322, 424.
(2) Semb, Klara/ nrs 79-81 in: Norske folkdansar III: slåttar til turdansane. Oslo: Noregs Boklag, 1970.
(3) Bakka, Egil, Brit Seland & Dag Vårdal/ Dansetradisjonar frå Vest-Agder. s.l.: Vest-Agder Ungdomslag, Rådet for
folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1990. p.173.
(4) Bakka, Egil & Arne Wikan/ nr 11 'pariser, after Walter Mathiesen, Hammerfest' in: Dansetradisjonar frå Finnmark. s.l.: Finnmark Ungdomslag, Rådet for
folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1996. p.223.
(5) Volksmusik.cc Pariser Polka
Recordings:
Bente's Gamaldansorkester 'Pariserpolka frå Hardanger' I go' tynt lag med.. [YouTube];
Bjarne Liens Kvartett 'Pariser-Polka' Svingom på gamlemåten (1978 Talent.as AS) [YouTube];
Bröderna Jannez É skiiv ma bäre gammaldans (2012 Atenzia Records) [YouTube];
Drevja Spelmannslag 'Pariser-Polka' Tone-arv (1994 Studio-Nord) [YouTube];
Dyvik, Siri et al Norske turdansar 3 - dansar frå Vestlandet [YouTube];
Eid Spelemannslag 'Fjordingen, pariserpolka' Slåttar frå Nordfjord [YouTube];
Gunnar Hahn's Folkdance Ensemble 'parisarpolka' Skandia (1997) track 08;
Gunnar Hahn's Folkdance Ensemble Skandia (1989) track 08;
Gunnar Hahn's Folkdansorkester 'Norsk pariserpolka' Skandia (RCA Records (LPM 9910), 1962) track A6
[Internet Archive];
Indre Sunnfjord Spelemannslag Indre Sunnfjord Spelemannslag track A9, B7;
Lakselv Spelemannslag 'pariser' Danseslåtter fra Finnmark (HCD 7140) tracks 26, 27;
Marylands Marylands (2001 Grappa) [YouTube]; ;
Maurstad, Alfred Innspelingar frå 1927 til 1962 (Aksent, 2018) [YouTube]
Naustedalen Spelemannslag Slåttar frå Sunnfjord (Aksent, 1975) track 12 [YouTube]
Osa, Sigbjørn Bernhoft The best of Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa 2 [YouTube];
Osa, Sigbjørn Bernhoft Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa (1990 Buen Kulturverkstad) [YouTube];
Osa, Sigbjørn Bernhoft Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa spiller gamle danser track A4;
Pelimannikilta Seuratansseja track 11;
Skram, Britt Elise 'Pariser-Polka etter Elling Daugstad' Intakt (2014 Kvarts) [YouTube];
Vabø, Finn og Øivind Hei, so dansa jenta mi track 21;
Aage Grundstads Ensemble Gamle danser fra Norge track B3 [YouTube];
Aage Grundstads Ensemble Norske tur- og folkedanse 1 track A5 [YouTube]; ;
Aage Grundstads Ensemble Norske tur- og folkedanse 2 track 10 (2015 Warner Music Norway AS) [YouTube].
| Pariser - 'generic' form in Vestlandet, Trøndelag & Nord-Norge
Formation: Normally, couples advance onto the floor a little after the music has started. Couples take sturdy hold (palm-to-palm) at elbow height with inside (MR/WL) hands (fast gripetak), and with outside (ML/WR) hands, M hand on top of W hand, both hands facing down, M's fingers tucked into WR palm (lett gripetak). Steps: sluttsteg (step-point/step-croissé/step-touch), eintaktsnu fra pariserpolka (pivot), bytomfotsteg (change step) sviktgongesteg (walk with lift/pivot) |
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| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-4 | (a) | Promenade: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 2 sviktgongesteg (1) forward in LOD, followed by
a step-croissé or step-touch (2). On the final beat (2:2), turn toward partner to face RLOD.
Repeat in RLOD with opposite footwork (3-4). Finish turned toward partner. Commonly, couples maintain 2-hand hold above throughout (a). In some versions (e.g. Drevja, Sortland) this is danced holding inside hands. |
| 5-8 | (b) | Couple turn:
Alternative 1: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 2 change steps (5-6) forward in LOD, Take 'Norwegian waltz hold', and dance 4 pivot steps (7-8) turning twice round (eintaktsnu) turning CW, moving in LOD. Alternative 2: Couples take 'Norwegian waltz hold' and dance 4 change steps turning twice round (totaktsnu) CCW, moving in LOD. Note: in Målselv, there is evidence of this turn being CW. [Repeat from (a) as desired.] Source: Bakka, Egil, Dag Vårdal & Tormod Lunde/ Dansetradisjonar frå Nordland og Troms. Trondheim: Rådet for
folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1984. pp. 55-57.
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| Pariserpolka frå Oppdal
Formation: Couples in open circle, holding inside hands, facing LOD. Steps: bytomfotsteg frå hamborgar (change step: 2 svikt on bar 1, 1 svikt on bar 2), gåsteg (walk with strong lift), sviktgongesteg (walk/pivot with 1 dip/lift per bar) |
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| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-4 | (a) | Promenade: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 1 change step (1) forward in LOD, followed by
2 walking steps (2)while turning toward partner to face RLOD.
Repeat in RLOD, holding 'new' inside (MR/WL) hands, with opposite footwork (3-4), 1 change & 2 walking steps. Finish turned toward partner. |
| 5-6 | (b) | Couple turn: Couples take Norwegian waltz hold and turn 1/4 turn CCW with 2 change steps. |
| 7-8 | Couples may alternate among the following alternatives as desired:
Alternative 1: Turn 1-1/4 turn CW, 2 change steps; Alternative 2: Turn 3/4 turn CCW, 2 change steps; Alternative 3: Turn 2-1/4 turn CW, 4 pivot steps; Alternative 4: Turn 1-3/4 turn CCW, 4 pivot steps. [Repeat from (a) as desired.] Provenance: According to Bakka, this blend of Wienerkryss and Pariserpolka has been documented based on a film recorded in 1968 with Hallvard Skorem, Oppdal. Source: Bakka, Egil/ Danse, danse lett ut på foten. Oslo: Noregs Boklag, 1979. pp. 74-75. |
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| Pariserpolka frå Vestlandet
Formation: Couples in open circle, two-hand hold, facing somewhat in LOD. Steps: sviktgongesteg (walk/pivot with 1 dip/lift per bar) |
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| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-4 | (a) | Promenade: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 3 walking steps (1-2) forward in LOD, with an additional
svikt on outside foot on beat (2:2). On the dip, touch inside (MR/WL) foot to floor, without transfering weight to it, somewhat forward of the
outside foot, and on the lift, turn somewhat towards partner.
Repeat in RLOD. Finish turned toward partner. |
| 5-6 | (b) | Couple turn: Couples dance forward in LOD, while moving arms as follows: (5:1) forward, somewhat away from partner,
(5:2) back to original position, (6:1) forward, somewhat away from partner, (6:2) back to original position. 4 walking steps.
The second step is short, so that inside foot is level with outside foot. On the fourth step, approach partner, ready for pivot steps. |
| 7-8 | In Norwegian waltz hold, turn twice round CW, 4 pivot steps [moving in LOD].
[Repeat from (a) as desired.] Source: Bakka, Egil/ Danse, danse lett ut på foten. Oslo: Noregs Boklag, 1979. pp. 75-76. |
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| Pariisipolkka, Salmijärvi
Formation: Normally, couples advance onto the floor a little after the music has started. Couples take sturdy hold (palm-to-palm) at elbow height with inside (MR/WL) hands (fast gripetak), forming open circle, facing LOD. Steps: sluttsteg med 2 sviktar (step-touch with 2 lifts), bytomfotsteg frå galopp (change step) gåsteg I (walk with lift) Sheet music: Bakka, Egil & Arne Wikan/ nr 12 in: Dansetradisjonar frå Finnmark. s.l.: Finnmark Ungdomslag, Rådet for folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1996. p.223. Recordings: Vårdal, Vegar & Dag Vårdal Danseslåtter frå Finnmark (Grappa 1998) track 16 [YouTube]. |
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| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-4 | (a) | Promenade: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 2 walking steps (1) forward in LOD, followed by
a step-touch (2), turning toward partner to face RLOD.
Repeat in RLOD with opposite footwork (3-4). Finish turned toward partner. |
| 5-8 | Repeat (a). | |
| 9-10 | (b) | Couple turn: Couples, holding inside (MR/WL) hands, dance 2 change steps, moving in LOD, and moving joined arms forward and back, while turning somewhat away from and toward partner with the steps. |
| 11-16 | Couples take Norwegian waltz hold and turn CW, 12 pivot steps [moving in LOD].
[Repeat from (a) as desired.] Provenance: Until 1826, the Pasvik valley and Petsamo area were 'joint' Norwegian/Russian territory, without a defined boundary. The
Petsamo area became Russian territory from 1826 to 1921, and Finnish territory from 1921 to 1944. Settlers in the area included
Norwegians, Russians and Finns, as well as a few Sami. During the Russian period, there was theatre, parties, dances and other
festivities every Sunday. [Bakka & Wikan, pp. 67-68].
Source: Bakka, Egil & Arne Wikan/ nrs 9, 10 in: Dansetradisjonar frå Finnmark. s.l.: Finnmark Ungdomslag, Rådet for folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1996. pp.79-80. |
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| Ola Bakar, pariservariant frå Nordreisa
Formation: Couples in open circle, 2-hand hold with partner, facing LOD. Steps: sluttsteg med 2 sviktar (step-touch with 2 lifts), bytomfotsteg frå galopp (change step) gåsteg I (walk with lift) Sheet music: (1) Bakka, Egil, Dag Vårdal & Tormod Lunde/ Dansetradisjonar frå Nordland og Troms. Trondheim: Rådet for folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1984. p.61. (2) Bakka, Egil & Arne Wikan/ nrs 9 & 10 in: Dansetradisjonar frå Finnmark. s.l.: Finnmark Ungdomslag, Rådet for folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1996. p.222. Recordings: Lakselv Spelemannslag 'pariser' Danseslåtter fra Finnmark (HCD 7140) track 14; Maurstad, Alfred Innspelingar frå 1927 til 1962 (Aksent, 2018) [YouTube]; Naustedalen Spelemannslag Slåttar frå Sunnfjord (Aksent, 2075) track 04 [YouTube]; Sørnæs, Hilde Danseslåtter frå Finnmarken (Grappa, 1998) track 14 [YouTube]; Voss Spelemannslag Gamaldans med Voss Spelemannslag (Flower – ABM 425, 1971) track B2. |
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| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-4 | (a) | Promenade: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 2 gåsteg (1) forward in LOD, followed by
a step-touch (2) lifting onto ball of foot. Turn toward partner to face RLOD.
Repeat in RLOD with opposite footwork (3-4). Finish turned toward partner. |
| 5-8 | (b) | Couple turn: Couples take R-elbow hook with partner, and turn once round CW on the spot, 4 change steps.
[Repeat from (a) as desired.] Lyrics from Nordreisa
Source: Bakka, Egil, Dag Vårdal & Tormod Lunde/ Dansetradisjonar frå Nordland og Troms. Trondheim: Rådet for
folkemusik og folkedans (Rff), 1984. pp. 61-62.
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| Pariserpolka med turar
Formation: couples in open circle, holding inside hands and turned somewhat towards partner. Alternatively, 2-hand hold. Facing in LOD. Steps: sluttsteg (step-point or step-croissé), eintaktsnu fra pariserpolka (pivot), sviktegongesteg (walk, with 'svikt'/lift on beat n:2) Sheet music: (1) Semb, Klara/ Norske folkdansar: turdansar. Oslo: Noregs Boklag/Det Norske Samlaget, 1991. pp. 322, 424. (2) Semb, Klara/ nrs 79-81 in: Norske folkdansar III: slåttar til turdansane. Oslo: Noregs Boklag, 1970. (3) Askolin, Erica/ Seura- ja juhlatansseja: nuotisto. Porvoo: Kansantanssinuorten Liitto ry, 2012. p.33. (4) Volksmusik.cc Pariser Polka Recordings: Dyvik, Siri et al Norske turdansar 3 - dansar frå Vestlandet [YouTube]; Eid Spelemannslag 'Fjordingen, pariserpolka' Slåttar frå Nordfjord [YouTube]; Gunnar Hahn's Folkdance Ensemble 'parisarpolka' Skandia (1997) track 08; Gunnar Hahn's Folkdance Ensemble Skandia (1989) track 08; Gunnar Hahn's Folkdansorkester 'Norsk pariserpolka' Skandia (RCA Records (LPM 9910), 1962) track A6 [Internet Archive]; Pelimannikilta Seuratansseja track 11; Aage Grundstads Ensemble Gamle danser fra Norge track B3 [YouTube]; Aage Grundstads Ensemble Norske tur- og folkedanse 1 track A5; Aage Grundstads Ensemble Norske tur- og folkedanse 2 track 10. |
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| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-4 | 1 (a) | Promenade: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 3 walking steps with lift (1-3) forward in LOD, followed by
a point (4), pointing toes of inside (MR/WL) foot across outside foot in LOD. On the final beat (2:2), turn toward partner to face RLOD.
Repeat in RLOD with opposite footwork (3-4). On the final beat (4:2), turn toward partner to face LOD. |
| 5-8 | (b) | Pivot: Beginning with outside (ML/WR) foot, couples dance 4 walking steps with lift (5-6) forward in LOD, take polska hold, and
dance 4 pivot steps (7-8) turning twice round CW, moving in LOD.
[Sequence ay be danced twice.] |
| 1-4 | 2 (a) | Individual turn: Couples drop hold, turn away from partner, M turning CCW and W turning CW (1-2) while moving somewhat in LOD,
3 walking steps & point as above.
Repeat, beginning with inside (MR/WL) foot, M turning CW and W turning CCW (3-4) finishing with a point as above, 3 walking steps & point. Free hands hang at sides during this sequence. During the step-pont, dancers may snap their fingers, clap hands, or raise arms in the air. |
| 5-8 | (b) | Pivot: Repeat (1 (b)).
[Sequence ay be danced twice.] |
| 9-12 | 3 (a) | Pancake turn: Couples take 2-hand hold, and swing joined hands forward, up-over and down, M turning CCW and W turning CW (9-10) while
moving somewhat in LOD, 3 walking steps & point as above.
Repeat, beginning with inside (MR/WL) foot, M turning CW and W turning CCW (11-12), 3 walking steps & point as above. |
| 13-16 | (b) | Pivot: Repeat (1 (b)).
Finish in 2-hand hold with partner, M facing LOD, W facing RLOD, side by side with R-sides together. [Sequence ay be danced twice.] |
| 17-18 | 4 (a) | W turn: Couples dance forward in LOD, M forward and W backward (17), 2 walking steps.
M lifts his R arm, W turns 1/2 turn CCW under the joined arms; meanwhile M turns 1/2 turn CW, bringing his L arm down such that W finishes with her R arm on her back [at about waist height] (18) 1 walking step & point. During this figure couples moves somewhat in RLOD. |
| 19-20 | M drops hold with L hand and turns his partner twice CW under his R arm. W begins with R foot and dances, turning with 4 walking steps, moving somewhat in LOD. Meanwhile M turns toward his partner to face in LOD, and beginning with L foot, dances 4 walking steps forward in LOD. On the 4th step, M advances to W and takes polska hold with partner in preparation for the pivot steps. | |
| 21-24 | (b) | Pivot: Repeat (1 (b)).
[Sequence ay be danced twice.] |
| 9-10 | 5 (a) | W turn: Holding inside hands, M turns partner once round CW, 3 walking steps & point. W begins with R foot and turns with 2 walking steps (9), followed by a step-point (10) while moving in LOD. Meanwhile M moves forward in LOD, turned toward partner, 3 walking steps followed by a point. |
| 11-12 | Still holding inside hands, M turns partner once round CCW, 3 walking steps & point. W begins with L foot and turns with 2 walking steps (11), followed by a step-point (12) while moving in RLOD. Meanwhile M moves forward in RLOD, turned toward partner, 3 walking steps followed by a point. | |
| 13-14 | Still holding inside hands, M turns partner twice round CW, 3 walking steps & point. W begins with R foot and turns with 2 walking steps (9), followed by a step-point (10) while moving in LOD. Meanwhile M moves forward in LOD, turned toward partner, 3 walking steps followed by a point. | |
| 15-16 | (b) | Pivot: Couples dance 4 pivot steps (7-8) turning twice round CW, moving in LOD.
Finish in 2-hand hold with partner, M facing out of circle, W facing in. [Sequence ay be danced twice.] |
| 17-24 | [Repeat (1 (a)) and (1 (b)).]
[This sequence is not in the source description, but it is often danced to continue the dance to the end of the musical phrase, especially when each sequences is danced only once.] See video from/with Folkedanslaget Springar'n 2013, Provenance: This description was first published in Norsk Ungdom 1958(8), included only sequences 1 through 3, and the finger snapping, clapping, etc in sequence 2 were not mentioned. Klara Semb concluded the description with the note "There are numerous variants of Pariserpolka. The hold in part (b) is not the same everywhere..." When the description was published in the 1956 edition of Norske folkdansar II: rettleiing om dansen, all 5 sequences were included. In the introduction, Semb notes that "Pariserpolka has been danced all over the country and there are many variations." She also notes that parts 4 and 5 have been documented by Einar Nordaker, Stavanger (1897-1969), who had been the leader of Bondeungdomslaget in Stavanger for many years. In conclusion, Semb likely documented the first 3 sequences as she had seen them danced around the country. The first accords with the most common form of Pariser. The second is a variation for which there are some film recordings from the folk tradition (Rff-film), but it is not a common variation. There is no evidence for sequence 3 in the folk tradition, although it could easily have been invented, also within the folk tradition. Source: Semb, Klara/ Norske folkdansar: turdansar. Oslo: Noregs Boklag/Det Norske Samlaget, 1991. pp. 322-326
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Provenance:
Pariser(polka) is a common couple dance in Vestlandet, Trøndelag and Nord-Norge (northern Norway), as common as polka and mazurka. It is not
common in the folk tradition on Agder or Austlandet. According to Bakka, Vårdal and Lunde, is the north Norwegian turning couple dance
with the greatest amount of variation. Likely this is due to a blending of the original fashionable dances
Wienerkryss and Pariserpolka in a variety of ways
[Bakka, Vårdal & Lunde, p. 55].
Versions also occur in Denmark and
Sweden, although most of the
Swedish versions appear to be choreographies from the 1980s and 1990s. The only version of Pariserpolka thus far found in the
Finnish dance literature is the above translation of Pariserpolka med turar.
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2023-07-31.
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