Folk Dance Study Guide
Name of Dance
Country
Cherkassiya
La Raspa
Israel
Mexico
Ace of Diamonds
Denmark
Stick Dance
Korbushka
Guam
Russia
Form / How dance is
done?
Group Line
Single Circle with
Partner
Double Circle w/ partner
& partner changes
(mixer)
Partner
Double Circle partner
Alunelul
Pata Pata
Romania
Africa
Single circle
Line
Step used in dance
Grapevine --6 verses
Bleking (kicks)
Chorus
Bleking & chasse (polka)
6 verses
Chasse (polka), ladies
turn
Grapevine
Tap, click heels
Dances:
Pata Pata: tap, cross, tap, together, heels, heels, knee, knee, stomp & turn rt 4 x
Cherkassiya: chorus: grapevine w/ accent beat 1 x4 (right in front (stomp), step left, right behind, step left
Verse1: scissors kicks forward
Verse 2: scissor kicks back
verse3: combo kicks
Verse4: step hop
Verse 5: swivel heel toe
verse 6: duck walk
Ace of Diamonds:
Rt heel, clap, right arm swing, lf heel, clap, left arm swing, (bleking) rt & left (slow), rt, lt, rt, lt (fast) –
repeat 2 slow, 4 fast
Step to step (chasse/polka) around partner to new partner (8 counts)
Repeat
La Raspa
Chorus: right, left, right, 2claps - left, right, left 2 claps (bleking step) = 4 x total
Verse 1: Rt arm swing w/partner (8 counts), left arm swing w/partner (8 counts) repeat
Chorus
Verse 2: Rt arm swing w/ partner, left arm swing w/ partner - (16 counts)
Circle right (8 counts), circle left (8 counts)
Chorus
Verse 3: Rt arm swing w/ partner, left arm swing w/ partner - (16 counts) ½ turn to person behind you
Rt arm swing w/ partner, left arm swing w/ partner behind - (16 counts)
Chorus:
Verse 4: Rt arm swing w/ partner, left arm swing w/ partner - (16 counts)
Walk into center of circle (8 counts), walk back out (8 counts)
Chorus:
Stick Dance – Guam
Partners both down on right knee facing each other
Verse 1: floor, own, floor, own (16 counts)
Verse 2: stand up and lift right leg (hit sticks under), left ,own, behind the back, own, partner, own (repeat
Verse 3: Right leg forward & turn left to have ankles cross (partners facing opposite direction), down,
own, down, own, behind the back, own, partner, own (repreat)
Verse 4: (Circle clockwise) floor, own, partner, own x 4 (16 counts)
Verse 5: on partner on right knee & one standing – near, own, partner, own, far, own, partner, own
(repeat)
Verse 6: standing partner to right knee – floor, own, partner (rotating sides), own x 4
Whole Dance Repeat
Alunelul – Romania


Right, behind, right, behind, right, stomp, stomp
Left, behind, left, behind, left, stomp, stomp
Repeat


Right, behind, right, stomp
Left, behind, left, stomp
Repeat
 Right, stomp, left, stomp, right, stomp, stomp
 Left, stomp, right, stomp, left, stomp, stomp
Whole dance repeats
Korbushka – Russia
Hold hands
Men move forward starting on left, women backwards starting right
 Call for guys: forward, 2, 3, hop (right up), back (right), 2,3 hop
Forward, 2, 3 hop, cross, out (straddle) together
 Guy/Girls: turning right – right, left, right, clap, - turn left – left, right, left clap
 Grab right hand to right hand: chasse inward (right together right), backward (left, together, left)
 Ladies turn – step forward right foot and turn left – boys walk around
 Guy/Girls: turning right – right, left, right, clap, - turn left – left, right, left clap
 Grab right hand to right hand: chasse inward (right together right), backward (left, together, left)
 Ladies turn – step forward right foot and turn left – boys walk around
 Repeat whole dance
Vocabulary Words:
1. Chorus: steps that are repeated
2. Mixer: dancers get new partners when the dance repeats
3. Verse: specific steps
Practice Test:
1. Which dances had 6 verses? ___________________________________________________
2. Which dance had a chasse or polka step? ___________________________________________
3. Which dances had a grapevine step? _______________________________________________
4. Name 2 dances with a partner? _____________________________
Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
Cherkassiya and Stick Dance
Korbushka and Ace of Diamonds
Cherkassisya and Alunelul
LaRaspa, Stick Dance, Ace of Diamonds or Korbushka