*' . Pi toe ' tit

Happy Folk Dances MICHAEL HERMAN'S FOLK DANCE ORCHESTRA

Dance Directions by Michael Herman, Folk Dance House, New 'fork City Arrangements by Walter Eriksson

SIDE 1 MISIRLOU (Greece·America)

. r-· • , .' •.• ~-*'. • :..:.

.}~$~)!"~' .~. ", . ' ., . ..... . ~!"

..; .. "

.-' ;.t.~'. 'K' " ,

'" .I:.'

.s:'~ .

',;'., .'

\.

\.

..

. ~ ~ \ .

100.-.-

.. ..... '-(

·:~'·/f\.> :: \,

l' ..

:.,:" :'(';"<.:. "/.

t", ..

\ •. '\

\

':"

r··

This dance is often erroneously referred to as the Kritikos: Actually the Mrsirlou, a watered·down version of the Kritikos, originated at a Greek festival in Pitts­burgh. The traditional music was un­available and the Misirlou tune was substituted. In its modified form, the dance became popular with American folk dancers and is now a world-wide favorite .

OPENING FORMATION: No partners are needed. Dancers stand in a circle with elbows bent, little fingers linked. Some­times dancers are linked by holding the ends of handkerchiefs. The circle is broken, with a leader at one end.

PART 1: All face center and step on right foot. Pause slightly.

Point left toe forward. Pause slightly.

Take 3 quick steps, moving sideward to the right, as follows:

Step on left behind right; step on right to side; place left foot down beside right foot and pause.

PART 2: Without dropping hands, all

face to the left, and sweeping right foot forward in an arc, walk to the left straight forward-right, left, right.

Now walk backward 3 steps-left, right, left-and pause slightly.

Face center and repeat dance from beginning.

Greek dancers usually sound oR' with a hissing "SS55SSS" to express joy. Dancers may want to do this to add flavor, but it should not bit overdone.

TEACHING HINT: In teaching the dance, the leader may simplify PART I in this manner:

Step on right foot. Point left toe forward. Now take 3 steps in place-left, right, left. After dancers have done this a few times, they may then take those last 3 ste'ps, not in place, but moving sideward as described in th,e directions above. It is intere$ting to know that this simplifies the dance, whereas teaching the side­ward step without preparation sometimes confuses the dancers and complicates the dance.

MILANOVO KOLO (Serbia)

The word "Kolo" means circle . Kolos are the predominant dance! in Yugo­slavia, and especially in Serbia. So popu-

EPA-4129-1

, :: .

. ......

,' ...

. ~..' ~', , . . ', ,-;

,: I

I.';.

lar are they with American folk dancers that periodic KoloJamborees are held in many places from coast to coast, and the

o 6" /tiM •• c.,,.,., .• ,, ., A""",., I'lj/J

" I

Happy Folk Dances, Michael Herman

average American folk dancer knows dozens of different Kolos. This particular one is a circle dance named after Milan, a man's name-thus Milonovo Kola, or "}'lilan's circle." It is extremely easy, even for those wh!? are just beginning to learn folk dancing.

OPENING FORMATION: There are no partners. All hands are joined in a circle, ,,·hich is usually broken, with a leader at one end.

PART 1: Face slightly to the right and, moving around the rim of the circle, s~"p-hop on right foot, then step-hop on left foot.

Face center of circle and step right, on right foot. Step on left foot, placing it down behind right. Take 3 quick. light steps in place-right, left, right.

Tht' pattern is now repeated to the left, a~ follows: Fan: left , step-hop on left foot, then step­hop on right. Step to left on left foot. Place right foot behind left. Take 3 quirk,

slight steps in place-left, right, leCt.

PART 2: Bring joined hands straight for­ward to shoulder level. Move to center of ring, starting on right foot-step­together-step, pause; then with left foot­step-together-step, pause. Now move back yard with the same step, right foot first-step-together-step, pause; then left -step-together-step, pause.

Repeat dance from the beginning.

NOTE that the joined hands in PART must be held straight down-no bent elbows. The body is held erect, almost arrogantly. Shouts of "hey," "hup," or "hi" should accompany the dance. As dancers go to the center of the circle in PART 2" the Serbians sing ditties that are improvised on the spot, and American dancers may do the same. The following St'rbian words and phrases may be added to the repertoire of shouts for Kolos: "\'('selo" . , . "Hupatsup" . , . "Haj, Haj, _ Bozhe Daj" (pronounced "Hi, Hi, Bozhe Di") ... "Ingra Kolo." Some of these calls art" used on this record.

SIDE 2 F ADO BLANQUIT A (Spain)

~Iam' dances arc done to this music thro~~hout the United States, some of th('m composed by individuals, others by groups for performing purposes. The v('fsion given here is the simplest and is esplTiall\' "Tll known in both community and school dancing, particularly in the ('ast('rn part of the LTnited States.

OPENING FORMATION: Couples ar­ranged in a single cirdt", with lady to right of man.

PART 1: All join hands and run, with slIldll light stt"ps, 16 to the kft and I fi to th .. right. (It may also be done with 8 sic",· walking steps in either directioll or " i th Il step-hops.)

I I' \.41 ~'} - 2

PART 2: All face center and sway in place-right, left, right, left. The music here is an interlude called a "vamp."

Now face partner and, with a right-hand hold, turn in place clockwise with 3 schottische steps-right, left, right, hop on right; Il'ft, right, left, hop on left.

Fact" corner and do 3 schottische steps with corner, holding left hands.

:\0"· face partner and do 3 schottische steps with partner, holding right hands.

Face corner and do 3 schottische steps, holding kft hands. Face center. joining hands tn a sing'" circk, and balance­right, kft, right, Itoft-quickly (in place).

J. T

Happy Folk Dances, Michael Herman