An Dro

Formation: Mixed open circle with leader at L end. Little fingers interlocked ("pinky hold"). Hands fwd of body at waist level, with forearms parallel to floor and parallel to neighbours' - care should be taken that dancers in the circle remain close together but not bumping. All face very slightly L of centre of hall.

Style: Light , bouncy and buoyant. Mostly on the balls of the feet with the free foot brought up sharply 4 - 8" off the floor. The line moves constantly RLOD. Metre: 2/4

Dance only takes two measures of music to perform; these are repeated throughout the dance.

No introduction - the leader may start at the beginning of any musical phrase.

FOOTWORK

1. Step fwd slightly L of ctr on ball of foot (count 1), close ball of R to side of L heel (&), still moving slightly L of ctr, step fwd L on flat of foot to produce a small accent (NOT a stamp), bringing R ft up sharply behind (2), hold (&).

2. Maintaining same body position, moving either straight bkwd or slightly RLOD; step bkwd R (count 1), close ball of L along but slightly fwd of R (&), step bkwd R with slight accent, at same time bring L ft up sharply in front (2), hold (&).

HAND AND ARM WORK - simultaneous with Footwork above

1. Push fwd and upward with emphasis in a circular motion (count 1), loop hands upwards and toward body to continue large arc (&), continue looping hands down and fwd (2), raise hands up and fwd to complete a small loop, ending the loop about shoulder height (&).

2. Exact reverse trace of path of hands and arms in measure 1, except at the end (&).

Pull hands down and twd body to begin a small loop (1), raise hands up and start them fwd to continue the loop (&), push hands fwd and down with emphasis in a large arc (2), pull hands bkwd twd body so that the arms are parallel to the floor (and to neighbours') and elbows have moved as far back as comfortable - hands will come back almost to the waist (&).

RETOUR




Avant-Deux De Travers

This is a popular form of a dance done throughout Brittany. This one is done in mixed lines and comes from L'Orient region on the coast.

Formation: Short mixed lines, 4 - 6 people. Tight hold; arms held upwards (under shoulder height), elbows bent, very close. Looks somewhat like a Turkish-type hold, but fingers are not interlocked. Metre 2/4.

MeasureStep
"Travelling Two Step"
1Step fwd onto R (ct 1); close L to R (ct &)
2Repeat action as above but reversing direction and footwork (moving bkwd and at the same time turning entire line CW, freely in room).
3Repeat action of meas 1-2 three imes.
"Chorus Step"
1Take a small step fwd onto R (ct 1); small hop on R (ct &); small step bkwd onto L (ct 2); small hop on L (ct &).
2Take small step to R on R (ct 1); small hop on R (ct &); small step to L on L (ct 20; small hop on l (ct &).
3-8Repeat action of 1-2 three times. Do not move around room on this step.
Dance repeats from beginning.
Index

RETOUR




Le Bal De Jugon

Couple dance from Haute-Bretagne (upper Brittany).
Formation: Circles of couples in Varsouvienne hold, facing CCW. Meter 4/4. No introduction.
Footwork is the same for men and women.

CountStep
Part IHEEL, TOE and ½ TURN
1-2Facing LOD, touch L heel diagonally L forward (1), touch L toe next to R toe (2)
3-4Keep arms in varsouvienne position and step LRL, pivot on the spot CW individually to face RLOD. M should still be on inside of circle.
5-8Repeat counts 1-4 with opposite footwork and turn CCW.
9-32Repeat counts 1-8 three more times
Part IIPROMENADE
1-2Facing LOD, step L-R-L (a two-step) moving LOD-CCW around circle, swinging hands and bodies slightly.
3-4Repeat counts 1-2 with opp. footwork
5-28Repeat counts 1-4 six more times (making it 14 two-steps in total)
29-30Step L in place, step R in place

Words:
Monsieur Le Curé ne veut pas, que les gars embrassent les filles
Mais il ne défend pas, que les filles embraasent les gars!

Monsieur Le Curé ne veut pas, que les gars embrassent les filles
Mais Monsieur l'Maire a dit, de les embrasser malgré lui!
Tra, la, la, la lère etc...

RETOUR




Bannielou Lambaol

Line dance, arms in W-position, little fingers linked, metre 2/4.
One note introduction.
MeasurePART I - SIDE STEP TO L etc
1Facing centre, step on L to L, flexing knees slightly before each step (1). Close R to L (2). HAND ACTION for cts 1 and 2: Make a complete CW circle with the hands, bringing hands up, fwd, around down, and back up to beginning position. Action for cts 1,2 constitutes side close step. Repeat side close step action meas 1, cts 1,2 (3,4)
2Repeat meas 1, cts 1-4 two side close steps.
PART II - POINT ACTION
3Extend R ft fwd, touch R toe, pushing hands straight fwd from shoulders (1). Pull R back to L, touch action, no weight. At same time, pull hands back to shoulders (&). Extend R ft fwd again, touching toe, extending hands (2). Close R to L, stepping on R, bringing hands back to shoulders (&). Repeat action of step close step, meas 1, cts 1,2. (3,4).
4Repeat meas 3, cts 1-4.
Slight retard in music, dance begins again.

RETOUR




Danse Fisel

This dance is from Lower Brittany.
Formation: Mixed lines (or open circle), hands joined down at sides. Weight is on R ft, face slightly L of ctr. Leader is at L end of line. Metre 2/4.
Introduction: Not easy to identify; musicians play the complete melody line once through, without any rhythm accompaniment. Approximate length of Introduction is 30 seconds!
MeasureSteps
IBASIC GAVOTTE
1Step on L to L (ct 1); step on R across in front of L (ct 2).
2Step on L to L with slight knee bend (ct 1); brisk touch of full R foot in front of L, no weight change, and straightening knee (ct &); transfer weight even more fully to L ft, picking up R foot sharply ("pumping" motion) (ct 2).
3Step on R across L to L (ct 1); step on L to L (ct 2).
4Step sharply on R twd ctr with marked knee bend and with marked "thump" simultaneously picking up L foot behind R calf (ct 1); hold (ct 2).
5-7Repeat measures 1-3.
8Repeat measure 4, but when stepping to centre on R, pivot CCW to L, keeping weight on R and pointing L foot in front (thus you now face wall).
9-16Repeat measures 1-8 but now facing wall and still going to L.
17-24Repeat measures 1-8 (except no turn on last measure - face centre).
IARMS for above GAVOTTE STEP
1-7Arms swing straight and strongly bkwd and fwd (odd measure bkwd, even measure fwd).
8When doing pivot on R foot, arms continue fwd and swing up high (let go of neighbours!), then come down and back to continue regular motion.
IIFISEL STEP
Arms:Arms here are joined in tightly closed arm grasp (Turkish-style), but do not interlock fingers - thumb over thumb only.
1Facing centre, step on L to L, simultaneously sliding R toward L foot (ct 1); sharp leap onto R foot next to L, and kicking L leg up bkwd sharply, knee bent (ct 2).
2Repeat measure 1.
3Dance three small steps, L,R,L slightly to L.
4Repeat measure 3 but with opposite footwork and direction.
5-24Repeat measures 1-4 five more times.
Note: Measures 3-4 can sometimes be replaced by leaps L and hold, R and hold (free foot kicks behind and dangles sharply).
Repeat dance from beginning.
RETOUR




Gavotte D'Honneur

This dance comes from the coastal areas of Brittany.

Formation: M and W in open circle, hands joined at shoulder height in W position. Everybody should be close to neighbours, leader at L of line. All face L of centre. End people also have free hand at shoulder level. Metre 2/4.

MeasureStep
IBASIC FIGURE
1Step on L ft to L (ct 1); step on R ft to L (ct 2)
2Step on L to L (ct 1); step on R to L (ct &); step on L to L (ct 2).
3Step on R to L (ct 1); step on L to L (ct 2).
4Step on R to L (ct 1); small hop on R ft in place, simultaneously raising L foot crossed in front of R (ct 2).
5-16Repeat action of meas 1-4 three more times.
IIHEEL CLICKS
17Facing ctr, and bringing arms down at sides, two small hops on R ft travelling slightly L and simultaneously "clicking" inner L ft on R (cts 1,2). Knees are slightly bent and ft are close to the ground. It is not a Polish-style heel click.
18Facing L, small running step onto L to L (ct 1); small running step onto R, crossing in front of L (ct 2).
19Facing ctr, sharp jump onto both ft, bending knees (ct 1); change wt sharply onto L ft, simultaneously kicking R ft sharply diag fwd (ct 2)
20Small leap bkwd onto R ft (ct 1); bring L ft around sharply and "click" it against R as in meas 17 (ct 2).
Dance repeats from beginning and alternates as above.

RETOUR




Hanter Dro

Dance from Basse-Bretagne (lower Brittany) near the towns of Vannes and Lorient. It is a Breton version of the "Hora" or Pravo Horo but in reverse direction!

Formation: Open circle, mixed, strong arm hold (Turkish style)L foot free. Face slightly L of centre. 2/4 Metre.
MeasureStep
1Small step on L to L (ct 1, small step on R across L ct 2)
2Small step on L to L (ct 1), pause (ct 2). Sometimes instead of a pause the R foot points or touches the floor briskly.
3Small step on R slightly bkwd (ct 1), pause (ct 2)
Dance repeats from beginning.
Index

RETOUR




Le Laridé

RETOUR




Pach'Pi