Welcome/Introduction
This is beginner/intermediate level - so sharing knowledge is welcome!
Stretch! (Key words here are "gently" and "slowly")
- Neck rolls – forward, back, left, right, circle around, then look over right/left shoulders
- Lift and extend arms over head toward ceiling (alternating sides)
- Extend arms out to sides and reach OUT
- Bend to L and twist upper body/touch floor, repeat on R
- Wrap arms around your chest and hug your shoulder blades
- Arms straight out front, then swing slowly to back and clasp behind (bend over, if you can)
- Stand up, arms overhead, then slowly bend over and roll down to floor
- Stand up, huge/slow hip circles
- Lift up one foot, reach behind and grab it; repeat on other side
- Wrist circles/figure 8s, drumroll fingers
Proper Stance
Stand up straight!!! (shoulders back, chest up, pelvis tucked slightly under, knees slightly bent)
Circle Dance (from Folk Dance for Groups, Gulf War 10) {music: Dead Can Dance, Saldek}
- Stand in a circle, holding hands out to sides
- Singles - step L, R, L, R (bouncy steps)
- Point L foot into the circle while bending forward and swooping arms out front
- Step back on L foot while raising arms up (put weight on L foot)
- Rock R/rock L/rock R
Shifting Sands (Peach Curry, Dancing with the Infidels) {Shifting Sands}
- All form a single file line, like a bunny hop line.
- Place L hand at L shoulder, put R hand in L hand of person in front of you.
- R step
- L step on toe, then heel (accent: hip pop and drop?)
- R step
- L sway out to L and return/step (accent: half of an Anatolian hip figure 8)
- R step
- L step
- Pause
- Repeat whole sequence as you will, winding line like a Tangle Bransle
"Stonie" Wedding Dance (Peach Curry, variation of Turkish Wedding Dance) {Uskudar}
- All form a circle, arms up in a V, palms held against the palms of dancer next to you.
- The dance has 4 sections, 8 counts each. Each section starts with a grapevine step.
- Grapevine: step R, cross L behind R, step R, close together.
- Section 1/Heels: R, cross, R, close, touch R heel forward into circle then back. Repeat 4x.
- Section 2/Hips: R, cross, R, close, 2 horizontal clockwise hip circles. Repeat 4x.
- Section 3/Hops: R, cross, R, close, hop into circle once, hop back to place. Repeat 4x.
- Section 4/Hooters: R, cross, R, close, chest slide L, chest slide R. Repeat 4x.
(NOTE: can alternate circle facing in for first section, then out for second, etc.)
Box Step I (Moving with the Basics, Pennsic 30) {Lisa Gerrard, Shadow Magnet}
- Four people stand in a box formation, all four facing inward
- Step twice to the left, right arm overhead/left out to side
- Pivot on left foot to second side of the box, switch arms, and step twice to the right
- Pivot again, and repeat along third side of the box, etc.
- Additions
: hip bumps, shimmies, horizontal circles, fig 8s, undulations, etc.
- Variations
: alternate two people facing in/two facing out
- Combo steps: step together, step, bump opposite hip; circles with bumps, etc.
- Vary looking in the direction you’re going/looking straight out into audience/to partners
- Go back and forth on same side of the box
- Do dance with two (back to back), three (triangle), or more people (circle)
Box Step II (Beginning Tribal Dance, Pennsic 30) {Loreena McKennitt, Mystic's Dream}
- Stand in place, shimmying, hands crossed at chest level or chin level, left foot on toe
- Step forward on left foot, step back, turn 1/4 to your left
- Flick the wrists and palms outward as you step forward, then return to chest as you step back
- Step "forward" 3 more times (turning left 1/4, left 1/4, left 1/4) in a box around yourself
- Turn left 1/2 to the back, turn left 1/2 to the front
- Stand with right foot on toe, shift left arm overhead/right bent across tummy
- Pop R hip out/up, turn to your left in a circle around yourself 8x
- Stand, still on right toe, switch arms
- Pop and "inch-walk" 8x forward into center of firepit/box/circle of other dancers
- Place backs of hands against each other, hip bump/walk around the circle to the R for 8
- Switch arms, pivot and hip bump/walk to the L for 8
Hip Shimmy Combo (Layering Your Basic Moves, Pennsic 31) {Loreena McKennitt, Marco Polo}
- Stand side by side in a long line
- (Stand on toes and rock from side to side to get feel for the movement)
- Hip-drop L hip
- Shimmy 3x across back L>center>R (raising and lowering from toes to heels)
- Hip drop R hip
- Repeat, switching from side to side
- Now add walking forward!
- Variations:
add arm movements - snaking, posing with sun/moon, temple, etc.
- Try forward and backward hip pops/shimmies!