Ivushki - Ивушки (Russia)

Ivushki

Ивушки

Russia

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie, based on the teaching of Tineke and Maurits van Geel at a workshop in Tucson Arizona, January 30 and 31, 2018. The dance was choreographed by Maurits van Geel based on traditional steps and styling he researched in preparing a suite of dances for the International Dance Theatre in the Netherlands. The title translates as "The Little Willow Tree". The van Geels spell this dance the Dutch way: Iwushki.

Music: Bratsch "Ivouchki": https://youtu.be/2GRldb7JDc8
Meter: 4/4
Formation: The original choreography is done as couples, but it can also be done as a simple circle. The dance starts as a circle, with the W on the R. No hand hold. Hands are out to sides.
Introduction: Start with singing

Bar 1: Step on R into the center turning to face RLOD (1) Touch L next to R (2), Step back on L, turning to face LOD (3), Touch R next to L (4)
Bar 2: Step R (1), L (2) in LOD. Then facing center step on R to R, with a bent knee (3), step back on L behind R (4), Cross R over L (&).  [Counts 3, 4, &) are like a yemenite but with SQQ rhythm]
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction.
Bar 5: Facing center, step on R to R, extending L to L (1,2) Step on L behind R (&), Step on ball of R to R (3). Cross L over R (&). Step on Ball of R to R (4). Cross L over R (&)
Bar 6: Step on R to R, turning body to slightly face RLOD (1), touch L next to R (2), Step on L to face slightly LOD (3), Touch R next to L (4)
Bars 7-8: repeat bars 5-6
Bars 9-12: Turn to face partner, repeat bars 5-8, but Circling around partner CCW, face to face. If not doing as couples, then just repeat bars 5-8.

First time through the dance:
Bar 13: Getting close to partner, take 4 walking steps around partner back to original places. If not doing as couples. then repeat bars 6

Second time through the dance:
Bars 13-14: Take 8 walking steps tracing a slow circle around partner back to original places. If not doing couples, then repeat bar 6 twice.

Third time through the dance, there are no extra bars, so just go straight back to the beginning of the dance after bar 12.

Fourth time through, the music slows down during bars 11 and 12, just slow down with it. and end looking at your partner.

Tucson Video

Lyrics

Taken from the van Geel's typewritten notes

Ivushki vi ivushki,
derevtsa zeljonie,
Shto zhe wi nadelali-i-i devlale vsju semju razvejali
Shto zhe wi nadelali-i-i devlale vsju semju razvejali
Oe vysokova kriltsa Powstrachala sokola
Vstratila powerila devlale
Na ljubov otvetila-a-a 

Little willow, you little willow green trees
what have you done
my whole family expelled what have you done
my whole family expelled near a high stoop
you met your young fellow met and believed
and answered love

Other Sources.

• van Geel, Tineke and Maurits (2018) Data DVD including dance notes, video and music. 

Also spelled: Iwuski, Ivouchki, Ivuški