Couple Dance Positions for Folk Dance Descriptions

Couple Dance Positions

By Dick Oakes


Átvetős pos	Ptrs face each other with M to W R, M R hand on her L shldr blade, W R hand on M L shldr blade with her arm crossed under his L arm, free arms held loosely at sides. (Danced with either M to L or M to R.)

Back Cross or Back Promenade pos	Ptrs stand with R hips adjacent facing opp dir, M R arm around W rib cage, W L hand on M near shldr, free arms held loosely at sides.

Baltic or Mazurka pos	Ptrs face each other, M R arm around W rib cage, W L hand on M R shoulder, M L hand holding the top (back) and fingers of W R hand and placed on M L hip (with hands still joined) in a fist (rather than extended at side).

Banjo or Side Car pos	Ptrs stand with M R hip next to W L hip, facing the same dir, M R hand holding W R hand at her back, W L hand holding M L hand near the back of his L hip, M R arm over W L arm.

Butterfly pos	Ptrs face each other with M slightly to L of W, M L hand holds W R hand out at shldr level, M R hand holds W L hand out at shldr level.

Closed or Waltz pos	Ptrs face each other, M R arm around W rib cage, W L hand on M R shoulder, W R hand in M L with those hands held with elbows flexed with only a slight bend in the elbows.

Conversation pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side facing fwd, W to M R, M R arm extended and holding W R hip (or waist), W L hand on M R shldr with arm in back, free arms held loosely at sides. (Depending on the requrements of the dance, W R hand may be on her hip, fingers fwd, thumb back, or may hold M R hand at her R hip.)

Couple or Inside Hands Joined pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side facing fwd, W on M R, with inside hands joined and held up at shldr level, free arms held loosely at sides.

Csárdás pos	Ptrs face each other, both M arms around W rib cage and holding her shldr blades (with palms holding her or with hands held dn with the fingers and thumb holding her shldr blades), both W hands on M shldrs with her arms resting lightly on his. (Ptrs should not lean back, but pull out from the waist enough to establish solidity.)

Escort pos	Ptrs face each other, M R hip adjacent to W L hip, M R arm flexed, W L arm tucked behind M R with her hand held loosely on his forearm, free arms held loosely at sides.

Firm Handhold pos	Ptrs face each with R sides adjacent, M R arm over the W L arm, hands joined palm-to-palm and held snugly, free arms held loosely at sides.

Gyimesi pos	Ptrs face each other, shifted slightly so M is is to R of W, M R hand on W L shldr blade, M L hand holding the top of her upper arm or resting on it, W hands softly gripping both of M upper arms.

Hambo pos	Ptrs face each other, M R arm around the W waist, M L arm sharply bent and forearm parallel to the floor with palm upward and holding ptrs arm just above the elbow (not just below the shoulder), W L arm holding M upper arm just above the elbow (not just below the shoulder), W R arm nearly straight out from her shldr with her hand holding M upper arm near his elbow. Ptrs should not lean back, but pull out from the waist enough to establish solidity. Also called the Swedish Folkdance Hold.

Kedves pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side facing fwd, W to R of M and slighly behind him, M fists on his own hips, W L hand on M R shoulder, her R hand on her hip with fingers fwd and thumb back.

Latin Social pos	Ptrs face each other, M R arm around W rib cage, W L arm around M R elbow with her hand holding his bicep, W R hand in M L with those hands held high with elbow bent in right angle.

Lithuanian pos	Ptrs facing opp dir with R sides adjacent, M R arm in front of W and R handholding her waist and L handholding W L upper arm, W R hand on M L shldr and L hand holding her skirt.

Mesőség pos	Ptrs face each other with R hands on ptrs L arm and L hands around ptrs waist.

Modified Shoulder-Waist pos	Ptrs stand with R hips adjacent, W L and M R hands joined, palm to palm, and held on W L hip, W R hand on M L shldr, M L hand on W R forearm.

Open pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side facing the same dir, M inside hand on W back, W inside hand on M near shoulder, free arms held loosely at sides. (Depending on the requirements of the dance, W R hand may be on her R hip with fingers fwd and thumb back.)

Peasant pos	Ptrs face each other, W to the M R side, inside arm around ptrs waist with the W L arm under the M R arm, free arms held loosely at sides.

Polska pos	Ptrs face each other, both M arms around W rib cage and holding her lower back, both W hands on or near M shldrs with her arms resting lightly on his. (Ptrs should not lean back, but pull out from the waist enough to establish solidity.)

Reverse Polska pos	Ptrs face each other, but ptrs slightly to the L of each other, both M arms around W rib cage and holding her lower back, both W hands on or near M shldrs with her arms resting lightly on his. (Ptrs should not lean back, but pull out from the waist enough to establish solidity.)

R Hands Joined pos	Ptrs face each other with R hands joined across in front of themselves in a handshake hold, free arms held loosely at sides.

Segla pos	Ptrs face each other with bodies touching, M arms around partner and touching or overlapped at center of her back, W R arm under M L arm and on his rib cage, W L arm over M R arm and on the back of his L shoulder.

Semi-open pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side facing the same dir, M inside arm supporting W back, W inside hand on M near shoulder, outside hands are joined fwd.

Shottis pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side with M R hand holding W L hand fwd at waist level with M grasping her hand from above so that both palms face dnward, free hands held loosely at sides.

Skater's or Promenade pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side facing fwd with hands joined in front, R-to-R and L-to-L with hand-shake hold. (Depending on requirements of the dance, upper arm may vary.)

Szenyér pos	Ptrs face each other, shifted slightly so M is is to R of W, M hand on W L shldr blade with his L hand holding her her upper arm or resting on it, W hands on M shoulders.

Tubarosza pos	Ptrs face each other with M toward W L, M L hand holding W R hand low, W L hand on her hip with fingers fwd and thumb back, M R hand at his pocket line with fingers fwd and thumb back.

Two Hands Joined pos	Ptrs face each other, M L hand holding W R hand (underneath) and R hand holding her L hand (underneath), elbows bent.

Varsouvienne pos	Ptrs stand side-by-side facing fwd with R hands joined over W R shoulder, M R arm behind W head. (Depending on the requirements of the dance, the W may be temporarily on the M L side with the L hands joined over the W L shoulder, R arms extended fwd or to R side.)

Swedish Waltz pos	Ptrs stand facing each other, M R hand at ctr of W back just above waist, M holding W r hand in his L (palm to palm) at about shldr level and elbows slightly bent, W L hand on M R shldr. (Variation: With L hand, M grasp outer edge of W R hand, both hands are palm down.)