How to Perform Finnish Dances
By Malcolm Blake
Finnish dances are relatively easy to follow and can be a lot of fun for children and adults alike. Below are some Finnish dances along with steps for you to enjoy!
Skvaller-Ulla (Gossipping Ella) ia a Finnish dance which is full of life and vitality. The movements are executed with great abandon. It represents the little child's boisterous spirit, combined with the weight of the adult. Such a dance as this one might follow any exciting event which has hai)pened to come into the lives of a group of people who normally express themselves through such elemental movements. The dancers form in two lines facing toward each other, with arms akimbo.
PART I: All begin at once. Hop on the right foot and at the same time strike the toe of the left to the floor, turning the toe inward by a very free rotation from the hip-joint (first beat); hop again on the right foot and strike the heel of the left foot to the floor. The toe raised and turned outward (second beat, measure one.)
Spring from the right to the left foot, and strike the toe of the right foot to the floor, turning the toe inward, as above (first beat); hop again on the left foot and strike the heel of the right to the floor with the toe lifted, and turned outward (second beat, measure two). Spring to the right foot and continue as in the lirst measure (measure three). Spring to the left foot and continue as in the second measure (measure four). Repeat as above (measures live to eight).
PART II: All step forward with the left foot (first beat), stamp Avitli the right foot (second beat, measure one). Step backward with the right foot (first beat), stamp with the left foot (second beat, measure two).
Start with the left foot and cross over to the opposite side with four Avalking steps. In changing places the dancers pass back to back with the one standing opposite. The first two steps are forward (measure three), the second two turning half way around (measure four). Repeat the above (measures five to eight). This brings the dancers back to the starting point in the line. The dance repeated at pleasure.
Sjalaskuttan is a dance which means Bounding Hear. The dance is very youthful in its mode of expression. Except in some men's dances, we rarely tind such excited movement without any attempt at expression through tiner muscles in some part of the dance. The players form in a double circle facing toward each other. All place arms akimbo.
Both slide forward, Number One with the left. Number Two with the right foot, (first beat) bring the other foot up to the rear of the forward foot, change weight, flinging the forward foot in air (second beat). Hop on the rear foot, swinging the forward foot behind the rear (third beat, measure one). Repeat the step (measures two and three).
Step forward with the forward foot, (first beat) jump and turn back to back, both facing outward (second and third beats, measure four).
Repeat the above, starting with the forward foot, number one with the right, number two with the left foot, and turning face to face at the jump on the eighth measure (measures four to eight).
One movement like the first measure (measure nine), step forward and jump, turning back to back (measure ten). One movement forward (measure eleven), step forward and jump, turning face to face (measure twelve). Repeat the movement of the first four measures, but at the fourth measure, instead of turning half way around make a complete revolution, finishing in the starting position. Repeat the dance.
About the author
Malcolm Blake has researched and written about dance and different forms of entertainment. To see more of his writing, visit his article about psp free downloads. from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com
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