General introduction:
In Medieval England, everybody could do folk dancing performed by all levels of society. English folk dance is a type of social dance that the British people would do at social dances when they would get together. The point of it is so that you have a chance to dance with everybody on the flour. That was the way you meet people back in those days. The most popular dance was "Sir Roger de Coverley" and "Jenny pluck pears". Unfortunately, in the 18th century these dances disappeared. Nowadays people try to give them a new life. Today we are going to teach you to dance in the folk style.
"Sir Roger de Coverley"
One of the most popular dances in the history of English folk dance is "Sir Roger de Coverley". It is a funny, easy group dance. In this dance, everybody had an opportunity to interact with others. "Sir Roger de Coverley" is a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens when Scrooge sees them all dancing "Sir Roger de Coverley". Therefore, there were parties like that where they would do country-dances like this one we are going to show you.
There are 5 basic figures in this dance.
- Form 2 lines facing each other
- Everyone does curtsy.
- Scheme 1. The first and the last member of the lines do 4 steps towards each other to the center and 4 steps back. The next pairs do the same.
- Scheme 2. The first couple meet in the center, spin and then go to home places.
- Scheme 3. Snake. The members of the head couple pass each other in the center and weave through the set as passing each other again. Then everybody makes one-step back. Next couple repeats the same actions.
- The five movement: Streamlet. Every pair join hands making arch. The last pair passing through this arch takes the first place.
- Form 2 lines facing each other and make a curtsy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iye3JoD5LUo&feature=emb_logo
"Jenny pluck pears"
Another famous English folk dance is "Jenny pluck pears".
- Boys invite their partners to make a circle.
- Curtcy to the center of the circle.
- Take by hands and jump 8steps clockwise. Step right, step left and spin around.
- Do the same movements as in point 3 but in the opposite direction.
- Boys take turns to invite their girl partners to the center of the circle, make a curtsy.
- Boys make 16 steps clockwise, 16 steps counterclockwise. (girls are watching them).
- Boys invite their girl-partner back, make a curtsy.
- Standing in pair face to each other 4 steps left, 4 steps right, spin around
- Girls invite their boys-partners to the center of the circle, make a curtsy.
- Then the scheme repeats from point 5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=218&v=9jE2asniQKE&feature=emb_logo
English Waltz
School year is coming to an end and very soon we are joining the school graduation ball. The romantic English Waltz or Slow Waltz originated as a folk dance from Austria. Our group of professional dancers will show us in details this lovely dance and help us to prepare for the coming graduation performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=36&v=p5z5MILQ4-0&feature=emb_logo