Country: Luggude härad, Skåne, Sweden
Type: couple dance
Formation: longways set, M to the R and W to the left (as seen from the front). Or open circle of couples, M with back to centre of circle.
Steps:
(1) slängpolskasteg;
(2) pas de menuet à deux mouvements,
Sheet music: [see selected menuet and slängpolska tunes from Skåne on FolkWiki]
Recordings:
Gorset, Hans Olav & Ånon Egeland 'contiliong menue', from Peter Bangs nodebog For borgere og bønder track 16;
Spillemandslauget Tramp 3 (Sonet (SKA 1732) 1977) track B3.
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| Slängpolska: | ||
| optional number of phrases of menuet music | 1 (a1) | Couples take 2-hand hold and turn CW on the spot with slängpolska steps (L RLR).
On the last bar, W pauses, stepping the rhythm on the spot. Meanwhile, M more vigorously marks the rhythm with feet and hands on beats 2 and 3, while turning once round CCW on the spot. |
| (a2) | Couples take 2-hand hold and turn CCW on the spot with slängpolska steps (R LRL). | |
| (b1) | Couples take a tight hold (eg R arm around partner's waist, L hand on partner's R upper arm) and turn CW on the spot with slängpolska steps (L RLR). | |
| (b2) | Couples take a tight hold (eg 'mirror-image' of above hold: L arm around partner's waist, R hand on partner's L upper arm)
and turn CCW on the spot with slängpolska steps (R LRL).
M finishes without turning on the spot. Instead, couples arrange themselves for the menuet portion, and, during the last bar of the slängpolska music, briefly take 2-hand hold. |
|
| optional number of phrases of menuet music | Möllevitt (menuett): | |
| 1-2 | 2 (a) | Svängningsdel (individual turn): Couples singly turn once round CCW on a tolvskilling
[trans: '25-cent piece', ie on the spot], 4 menuet steps. Ie, turning 1/4 turn with each menuet step.
Finish facing partner, briefly taking 2-hand hold. (This individual turn may be repeated.) |
| 1-8 | (b1) | Figuré (basic menuet step): Follows directly after (2 (a)), and consists of 4 menuet steps [each danced over 2 bars of music].
The first 3 beats [of the 1st menuet step]are danced backwards from partner, and the following 3 beats turn and move to R.
The 2nd menuet step is danced parallel to partner and moving to own L, the 3rd ditto to own R, the 4th is danced to own L, and finishes facing partner.
Couples very briefly take 2-hand hold.
During the figuré, M and W maintain contact with partner, never turning more than 1/2 turn away from partner. [Each menuet step is danced over 2 bars of music, counting 1-6 over the 2 bars]: (1:1) [count 1] step R backwards (away from partner), (1:2) [count 2] pause on R, while lifting and swinging L foot backwards, (1:3) [count 3] step L behind R foot, (2:1) [count 4] step R foot to R, while turning CW (2:2) [count 5] step L forward to own R, (2:3) [count 6] pause, (3:1) [count 1] step R backwards, (3:2) [count 2] pause on R, while lifting and swinging L foot backwards, (3:3) [count 3] step L behind R foot, while beginning turn CCW [ie to L] (4:1) [count 4] step R foot to own L, while turning CW (4:2) [count 5] step L forward to own L, (4:3) [count 6] pause. Bars 5-6 are danced the same as bars 3-4, but moving to own R and turning CW. Bars 7-8 are danced the same as bars 1-2, but in the opposite direction and finish in original place, where couples very briefly take 2-hand hold. Note that on count 3 in each menuet step, step with L foot is behind R foot. The figuré may be repeated. |
| 1-4 | (b2) | Platsbyte (cross-over step): The figuré is followed by cross-over step, danced with either 2 or 4 menuet steps (depending on
whether one dances cross-over followed by figuré [in the opposite line], or alternatively dance cross-over twice and return to original line),
and passing partner on the L:
(1:1) [count 1] step R backwards, (1:2) [count 2] pause on R, while lifting and swinging L foot somewhat backwards, (1:3) [count 3] step L in place, (2:1) [count 4] step R foot forward to L, passing L foot, (2:2) [count 5] step L forward (away from partner) (2:3) [count 6] pause, (3:1) [count 1] step R forward (away from partner) (3:2) [count 2] pause on R, while turning circa 1/2 turn CCW, (3:3) [count 3] step L in place (4:1) [count 4] step R forward (towards partner) (4:2) [count 5] step L forward, (4:3) [count 6] pause, very briefly taking 2-hand hold with partner. Following the svängningsdel (2 (a)), the möllevitt begins with figuré (2 (b1)) for as long as M decides, in turn followed by one, two, or
more platsbyte (2 (b2)). M determines how/when to alternate figuré and platsbyte and shows his partner clearly, by leading her with one hand or
with 2 hands, what will follow. Even the svängningsdel can be repeated, in which case M clearly signals this to his partner.
When the musician has finished playing the menuet, after a brief pause, the dance continues to a new slängpolska tune. |
| Slängpolska: | ||
| optional number of phrases of slängpolska music | 3 | The menuet finishes with a slängpolska as "dessert". This polska is danced to polska music, and is danced in the same way as the first slängpolska (1 (a1) thru (1 (b2)). |
See videos from/with slängpolska, Stina & Lennart Jeppsson, 2016 möllevitt, Stina & Lennart Jeppsson, 2016
Provenance: A reconstruction of polsk möllevitt, based on Nils Månsson Mandelgren's (1813-1899) description from Kullabygden, with Nils Persson's description of the steps from Vallkärra, together with some stylistic characteristics from Vium, Denmark. Polsk menuet has also occured in Norway and Denmark.
Source: [Wallin, Börje]/ Polsk möllevitt,
Luggude härad, Skåne [Jan. 20, 1988]
See also:
-- Runnquist-Jakobson, Gerda Slängpolska. [1927?]
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2023-04-12, rev. 2023-08-01.
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