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Happy Folk Dances
MICHAEL HERMAN'S FOLK DANCE ORCHESTRA
Dance Directions by Michael Herman, Folk Dance House, New 'fork City
Arrangements by Walter Eriksson
SIDE 1
MISIRLOU (GreeceAmerica)
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This dance is often erroneously referred
to as the Kritikos: Actually the Mrsirlou,
a watereddown version of the Kritikos,
originated at a Greek festival in Pitts-
burgh. The traditional music was un-
available and the Misirlou tune was
substituted. In its modified form, the
dance became popular with American
folk dancers and is now a world-wide
favorite .
OPENING FORMATION: No partners are
needed. Dancers stand in a circle with
elbows bent, little fingers linked. Some-
times dancers are linked by holding the
ends of handkerchiefs. The circle is
broken, with a leader at one end.
PART 1: All face center and step on
right foot. Pause slightly.
Point left toe forward. Pause slightly.
Take 3 quick steps, moving sideward to
the right, as follows:
Step on left behind right; step on right
to side; place left foot down beside right
foot and pause.
PART 2: Without dropping hands, all
face to the left, and sweeping right foot
forward in an arc, walk to the left straight
forward-right, left, right.
Now walk backward 3 steps-left, right,
left-and pause slightly.
Face center and repeat dance from
beginning.
Greek dancers usually sound oR' with a
hissing "SS55SSS" to express joy. Dancers
may want to do this to add flavor, but it
should not bit overdone.
TEACHING HINT: In teaching the dance,
the leader may simplify PART I in this
manner:
Step on right foot. Point left toe forward.
Now take 3 steps in place-left, right,
left. After dancers have done this a few
times, they may then take those last 3
ste'ps, not in place, but moving sideward
as described in th,e directions above. It is
intere$ting to know that this simplifies
the dance, whereas teaching the side-
ward step without preparation sometimes
confuses the dancers and complicates the
dance.
MILANOVO KOLO (Serbia)
The word "Kolo" means circle. Kolos
are the predominant dance! in Yugo-
slavia, and especially in Serbia. So popu-
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lar are they with American folk dancers
that periodic KoloJamborees are held in
many places from coast to coast, and the
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average American folk dancer knows
dozens of different Kolos. This particular
one is a circle dance named after Milan,
a man's name-thus Milonovo Kola, or
"}'lilan's circle." It is extremely easy,
even for those wh!? are just beginning to
learn folk dancing.
OPENING FORMATION: There are no
partners. All hands are joined in a circle,
,,hich is usually broken, with a leader at
one end.
PART 1: Face slightly to the right and,
moving around the rim of the circle,
on right foot, then step-hop on
left foot.
Face center of circle and step right, on
right foot. Step on left foot, placing it
down behind right. Take 3 quick. light
steps in place-right, left, right.
Tht' pattern is now repeated to the left,
follows:
Fan: left , step-hop on left foot, then step-
hop on right. Step to left on left foot.
Place right foot behind left. Take 3 quirk,
slight steps in place-left, right, leCt.
PART 2: Bring joined hands straight for-
ward to shoulder level. Move to center
of ring, starting on right foot-step-
together-step, pause; then with left foot-
step-together-step, pause. Now move
back yard with the same step, right foot
first-step-together-step, pause; then left
-step-together-step, pause.
Repeat dance from the beginning.
NOTE that the joined hands in PART
must be held straight down-no bent
elbows. The body is held erect, almost
arrogantly. Shouts of "hey," "hup," or
"hi" should accompany the dance. As
dancers go to the center of the circle in
PART 2" the Serbians sing ditties that are
improvised on the spot, and American
dancers may do the same. The following
St'rbian words and phrases may be added
to the repertoire of shouts for Kolos:
"\'('selo" . , . "Hupatsup" . , . "Haj, Haj, _
Bozhe Daj" (pronounced "Hi, Hi,
Bozhe Di") ... "Ingra Kolo." Some of
these calls art" used on this record.
SIDE 2
F ADO BLANQUIT A (Spain)
dances arc done to this music
the United States, some of
th('m composed by individuals, others by
groups for performing purposes. The
v('fsion given here is the simplest and is
esplTiall\' "Tll known in both community
and school dancing, particularly in the
('ast('rn part of the LTnited States.
OPENING FORMATION: Couples ar-
ranged in a single cirdt", with lady to
right of man.
PART 1: All join hands and run, with
slIldll light stt"ps, 16 to the kft and I fi to
th .. right. (It may also be done with 8
sic", walking steps in either directioll or
" i th Il step-hops.)
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PART 2: All face center and sway in
place-right, left, right, left. The music
here is an interlude called a "vamp."
Now face partner and, with a right-hand
hold, turn in place clockwise with 3
schottische steps-right, left, right, hop
on right; Il'ft, right, left, hop on left.
Fact" corner and do 3 schottische steps
with corner, holding left hands.
:\0" face partner and do 3 schottische
steps with partner, holding right hands.
Face corner and do 3 schottische steps,
holding kft hands. Face center. joining
hands tn a sing'" circk, and balance-
right, kft, right, Itoft-quickly (in place).
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PART 3: jump with both feet slightly
astride. Hop on right foot, bringing left
foot across right.
jump on both feet again and bring right
foot across left. Do two quick jumps on
both feet, facing center on the fint, turn-
ing half to the right to face the wall for
the second.
Now, facing the wall, jump as above,
kicking fint the left, then the right foot.
Then jump twice quickly, turning once
more half-right to face center Oil the last
jump.
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CUE: jump, kick-jump, kick-jump,
jump; jump, kick-jump, kick-jump,
jump.
PART 4: All move slowly to center with 3
walking steps, starting on right foot, and
bringing joined hands up; then swing
left foot forward. Starting on left foot,
move backward the same way with 4
slow walking steps, lowering hands.
Repeat PARon 3 and 4.
Repeat entire dance from beginning.
This record will fit most venions of thil
danee.
GIE GORDONS (Scotland)
The Git (or Gay) Gordons is one of those
perfect couple folk dances that everybody
likes and anybody can do. It is an old-
time dance of Scottish origin and is a
standard favorite on folk dance programs.
OPENING FORMATION: Couples in circle
formation, all facing counterclockwise.
Lady to right of man, in Varsovienne
position, as in Diagram 1.
PART 1: Both start on left foot and take
4 walking steps forward; in the line of
direction (Diagram I).
Without dropping hands, half-tum to the
right to face the other way. Man now has
left arm around the lady's shoulder, lady
standing to man's left (see Diagram 2).
Starting with the left foot, take 4 walking
steps backward, still in the line of
direction.
Without turning around, both start on
left foot and take 4 walking steps forward
in clockwise' direction (Diagram 3).
Without dropping hands, turn half
around to the left to face original direc-
tion (counterclockwise). Man's right arm
is now around lady's shoulder. Starting
on the left foot, all take 4 walking steps
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backward, against the line of direction
(Diagram 4).
NOTE: On the last of the" walking steps,
the lady does not put her full weight
down on right foot, but barely touches it
to the ground so that it will be free to
start the next figure. Or she may take 2
walking steps followed by a step-together-
step which will leave her right foot free.
PART 2: Partnen hold right hands only,
with free hands on hips. Lady turns to
own right (clockwise), under joined
hands, with 4 two-steps or polka steps, as
man moves forward behind her with 4
of the same steps (lJiagram 5).
Take ballroom position and do four
polka or two-steps around the circle
(Diagram 6).
NOTE: If the man gives only one finger to
the lady during the right-hand hold in
PART 2, and the lady holds that finger
with her fist, it will be easier for her to
turn.
Scots love to shout "khookh" as they
dance, and dancers should be encouraged
to give forth this low, guttural sound
spontaneously to add to the fun.
Prinled in U. S. A.