SLÄNGPOLSKA FRÅN SKÅNE

Swedish

 
PRONUNCIATION: SLENG-pohl-skah frawn SKAW-nuh
 
TRANSLATION: Slinging dance from Skåne
 
SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Per and Margareta Jennische of Sweden who presented it at the 1977 Texas Camp.
 
BACKGROUND: This dance is from the Skåne area in the southern-most tip of Sweden. It is one of the older dance types (circa 18th century), which are danced on the spot to the three-beat polska rhythm. The 3/4 polska rhythm differs from that of the waltz, as the polska has the emphasis on beats 1 and 2, whereas the waltz has the emphasis on beats 2 and 3.
 
MUSIC:Viking (LP) SMF 200, side A, band 5
 
FORMATION:Cpls scattered anywhere on the dance area, ptrs facing each other, with two hands joined straight across, W R hand in M L, W L hand in M R.
 
METER/RHYTHM: 2/4
 
STEPS/STYLE: SLÄNGPOLSKA STEP: To turn CW, step L, leading around ptr (ct 1); step fwd R (ct 2); close L to R heel (ct &) step fwd R (ct 3). To turn CCW, use opp ftwk. The steps resemble ordinary walking steps except for the close (ct &), which is on the ball of the ft. The movement is smooth and flowing but also lively.
 

MEASMOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

 
 INTRODUCTION
 
1-2No action.
 
I. FACING POS
 
1-7With hands joined straight across, dance 7 "Slängpolska Steps" CW;
8Releasing handhold, M and W make one CCW turn individually with three steps, one per beat (L,R,L), clapping hands on the last two beats;
9-16Assuming orig handhold, reverse action of meas 1-8 with opp ftwk.
 
II. CLOSED POLSKA TURNING POS
 
1-16Assuming a Closed Polska Turning Pos (R hand on ptrs back slightly above waist and L hand on back of ptrs shldr with elbows bent), repeat action of Fig I, meas 1-16, reversing the Closed Polska Turning Pos for meas 9-15.
 
 Repeat entire dance from beg.
 

Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes