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

Other Sources.

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

Also spelled: Iwuski, Ivouchki, Ivuški

Zimushka

Зимушка

Russia

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Originally choreographed by Hennie Konings in 1998 and also taught in the US by Lee Otterholt.  The title translates as "little winter".

Music: Ush Ty, Zimushka Zima. Russian Dances by Hennie Konings vol 6
Meter: 4/4
Formation: Close circle, hands down in V position

Introduction: 

No action during slow music, then wait two more bars.
Bar 1: Moving into the center walk R (1), L (2), R (3), stamp L next R (4)
Bar 2: Backing out of the center, Step L (1), R (2), L (3), Stamp R next to L (4)

The Dance:

begin with the oboe playing the main melody
Bar 1: Walk R (1), L (2), R (3), L (4) in LOD
Bar 2: repeat bar 1
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2.  [Bars 1-4 are a total of 16 walking steps in LOD)
Bar 5: Facing center, walk R (1), L (2), R (3), L (4) into the center, arms slowing coming up and forward.
Bar 6: repeat bar 5, arms coming up and above head.
Bar 7: Keeping hands above head, step R (1), L (2), R (3), Stamp L (2) turning 1/4 CCW  to face RLOD throughout the bar.
Bar 8: Repeat bar 7, with opposite footwork, turning 1/2 CW to face LOD
Bar 9: Repeat bar 7, turning 1/4 CCW to face center.
Bars 10-11: Back out of the center, step L (1), R (2), L (3), R (4), L (1), R (2), L (3), R (4), slowly lowering arms back down to V position.
Bars 12-15 repeat bars 1-4, except in RLOD, and using opposite footwork (16 walking steps)
Bars 16-17: turning CCW, step L (1), R (2), L (3), R (4), L (1), R (2), L (3),  Cross R foot across in front of L in a stomp, R arm swings across in body (4).
Bar 18: Step LRL in place (123), Stamp R next to L (4)
Bar 19-21: repeat bars 16-18 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 22: Repeat bar 18.

repeat the dance two more times. 

Ending

Bars 1-4: repeat bars 1-4 of the main dance (16 walking steps in LOD)
Bars 5-6: repeat bars 1-2 of the introduction (in and out)

Other notes on the web:

• http://www.folkdancecamp.org/assets/Zimushka-2006SFDC-E.pdf

Other videos on the web

Zimushka from Loretta Holz on Vimeo.

Also spelled: Zimuška

Tuman Yarom

Туман яром 

Russia/Ukraine

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. Choreographed by Hennie Konings based on traditional khorovod steps. Widely taught by Radboud Koop. The dance is in the Russian Khorovod tradition, but is done to music from Eastern Ukraine.

Music:
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Closed circle, holding hands down in V position. Start facing LOD (CCW).
Introduction: 12 bars no action, start with singing.

Bar 1: Step R (1), L (2) in LOD
Bar 2: Take a slow step R in LOD (1,2)
Bar 3: Take a slow step L in LOD (1,2)
Bars 4-12: repeat bars 1-3, three more times.
Bars 13-15: turn to face center and use the footwork of bars 1-3 to travel into the center. Arms come up parallel to the floor
Bars 16-18: repeat bars 13-15 but backing up and lowering arms back down. Drop hands towards the end of bar 18 and put them on your hips
Bars 19-21: repeat footwork of Bars 13-15, but making a CW turn in place, you don't have to turn all the way around.
Bar 22: Step on R to R (1), stamp L gently next to R (2) (completing turn during bars 22-24 if necessary).
Bar 23: Repeat bar 22 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 24: Repeat bar 22
Bars 25-48: repeat bars 1-24 with opposite footwork and direction.

Repeat the entire dance.
Then repeat bars 1-24
When music slows and stops, pause, then repeat bars 13-24
End with a bow.

Video on the web

Lyrics

From Radbook Koop's Russian Folk Dances syllabus