Malagueña a los Canarios - Tucson Version (Canary Islands)

Malagueña a los Canarios (Tucson Version)

Canary Islands

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie.  Taught in the US by Vyts Beliajus, who learned it from Antony Ivancich in 1964. Ivancich in turn learned it from Marta Padilla, who was the director of the Canary Island Dance group in Madrid. The name of the dance suggests that it was introduced to the Canary Island by immigrants from the Malaga region of mainland Spain. The notes here are for the version we do in Tucson, which is not exactly identical to Vyt's description -- his notes are linked below. 

Music:

• Record: Malaguena A Lo Canarias 345B
• https://youtu.be/x8LxfthMYi8 (not the recording used by Beliajus)

Meter: 3/4
Formation: Couples, in a circle, or forming two lines. M on L, W on R, holding nearer hands in a high W position.
Introduction: None, start right away

Footwork: Throughout use a flat-footed waltz step (glide rather than bob). Everyone starts on the Right foot (not outside feet!)

Bars 1-10: Entrance: Using 10 waltz steps circle around the room until you form a circle or two parallel lines.
Bar 11: Take one waltz step backing up in place (singing starts 1/2 way through this bar)
Bar 12: Woman makes one complete CW turn under joined hands (turning away from partner)
Bar 13: M grab's woman's other hand, keeping it low (retaining nearer hands, which are high) keeping it low, with  them above her head. She does a further 1/2 turn CW, while man makes a 1/4 turn CW to end in "sweet heart position" with W on the left. (M's R hand, W's L are in front of couple on top, with W's R hand across her body and M's L behind her back"
Bars 14-15: As a couple pivot in place CW, with M backing up and W dancing forward.
Bars 16-17: Retaining both hands, woman makes one complete CCW turn to end in a sweetheart position on the R side of the M. To get there,  the M alternately raises R then L hands, dropping his L (joined with her R) in front of W's body.
Bars 18-19: As a couple pivot in place CCW, with M backing up and W dancing forward.
Bars 20-21: M raises L hand and keeps R hand low, he turns a 1/4 turn CCW. W turns a full CW turn. Couple ends with both facing CW. M's L arm bent at elbow across his chest, R arm under behind W's back. W's R arm stretched out to hold M's L, and L arm behind her back.
Bars 22-23: Couple pivots in place CW, both dancing forward.
Bars 24-25:  Man raises L, then raises R, and makes a 1/2 turn CW, while W makes a complete CCW turn to end in the reverse of the position in bars 20-23
Bars 26-28: Couple pivots in place CCW, both dancing forward (three bars instead of 2)
Bars 29-32: Drop both hands and switch to holding L in L. W starts to dance around M CCW. M puts joined hands on the small of his back, and bends over, essentially backing out under W's L arm. Woman continues the circle all the way until she is behind the M again, and to his R.  Retain L hand on M's back, and take R and R, with W behind man.
Bar 33: Drop L hands and M pulls R hand down and up, turning W CCW all the way around to end in a Varsouvienne hold W woman in front.
Bar 34-35: W hands high, in Varsouvienne waltz Woman to the L diagonal, the R diagonal and the "Waving the cape in front of you"
Bar 36-38: Keeping both hand held above M's head. Woman dances around M CCW all the way around (3 bars)
Bar 39: Retaining hands, W makes a complete CCW turn in front of man.
Bars 40-43: Holding L in L, W dances in a circle around M CCW all the way around. M's hand is above his head.
Bars 44-47, Using the same hands as Bars 29-33 (M puts L hand on back and Bends over while W circle him once and a half. But end with hands crossed behind the back in a back basket (M's right slips up to end on W's waist, under L arm. W's R hand takes M's R in the small of her back)
Bars 48-51: Pivot CCW as a couple, W dancing forward M dancing backwards, turn once and a 1/2 around
Bars 52-53: Still in back basket, Balance backwards, then forwards.
Bars 54-55: M balance backwards and forwards, dropping L hands with partner. Woman turns out CW, then makes a complete CW turn under joined hands. Woman switches hands at the last minute at the end of the turn so that you're holding M's R and W's L.
Bars 56-67: Holding nearer hands circle around room in LOD (or exit from stage), M on the inside.

Tucson Video

Other notes on the web

• http://archives.mvfolkdancers.com/0_Other%20Items%20of%20Interest/0_Dance%20Instructions/malaguena%20a%20lo%20canario.pdf (Vyts Beliajus)

Other videos on the web

Not exactly the same choreography, but very close

Other sources

• Beliajus, Vyts (1987) Main Folk Dance Camp Syllabus.

Also called: Malaguenas de los Canarios, Malaguena, Malaguenas de Tenerife