VĖDARAS Lithuanian
PRONUNCIATION:	VEH-dah-rahss
TRANSLATION:	The blood sausage or the blood pudding
SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance from Vyts Beliajus, a Lithuanian immigrant who has been called the "Father of Folk Dancing in the United States."
BACKGROUND:	"Originally, Vėdaras, or its variants, were performed on the eve before Lent, when special blood sausages and blood puddings were made as a last meal before no meat was allowed to be eaten. The clapping stamping indicate the stuffing of the filling in the casing." --From Folkraft LP-35 jacket notes.
MUSIC:	Folkraft (LP) LP-35, "Viltis Lithuanian Folk Dances," side B, band 1.
FORMATION:	Closed cir of cpls, hands joined and held down in "V" pos.
METER/RHYTHM:	2/4
STEPS/STYLE:	POLKA: Hop L (ct & of previous meas); step R (ct 1); step L or close L to R taking wt (ct &); step R (ct 2). Repeat with opp ftwk.
MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION
	INTRODUCTION
1-2	No action.
I.	FIGURE ONE
1-3	Dance 3 Polka steps to R in LOD;
4	Releasing handhold, stamp L without wt and clap own hands (ct 1); stamp L without wt and clap own hands (ct 2);
5-8	Repeat action of meas 1-4 to L in RLOD with opp ftwk.
	CHORUS
1-2	Hook R elbows with ptr and turn in CW in place with 4 Polka steps;
3-4	Hook L elbows with ptr and turn in CCW in place with 4 Polka steps.
II.	FIGURE TWO
1-3	In cpls, all facing R in LOD, M R hand around W waist, W L hand around M waist, dance 3 Polka steps beg M L, W R, CW in LOD;
4	Stamp free ft (M L, W R) and clap ptrs hands, M L, W R (ct 1); stamp free ft (M L, W R) and clap ptrs hands, M L, W R (ct 2);
5-7	Releasing hold and turning to face RLOD, M L hand around W waist, W R hand around M waist, dance 3 Polka steps beg M R, W L, CCW in RLOD;
8	Stamp free ft (M R, W L) and clap ptrs hands, M R, W L (ct 1); stamp free ft (M R, W L) and clap ptrs hands, M R, W L (ct 2).
	CHORUS
1-4	Repeat action of "Chorus" after Fig I.
III.	FIGURE THREE
1-3	Releasing elbow hold, M face R in LOD and dance 3 Polka steps in LOD, while W face ctr and dance 3 Polka steps twd ctr;
4	M stamp L without wt as W clap neighbors' hands on both sides (ct 1); M stamp L without wt as W clap neighbors' hands on both sides (ct 2);
5-7	M turn R and beg L dance 3 Polka steps in RLOD, while W turn to the outside of the cir and beg R dance 3 Polka steps to orig pos;
8	Stamp free ft (M L, W R) and clap ptrs hands, M R, W L (ct 1); stamp free ft (M L, W R) and clap ptrs hands, M R, W L (ct 2);
	CHORUS
1-4	Repeat action of "Chorus" after Fig I.
IV.	FIGURE FOUR
1-3	Join R hands with ptr and dance 3 Polka steps doing a "Grand R and L," passing three dancers;
4	Stamp free ft without wt and clap 4th dancer's L hand (ct 1); stamp free ft without wt and clap 4th dancer's L hand;
5-8	Repeat action of meas 1-4 with the 7th dancer becoming the new ptr.
	CHORUS
1-4	Repeat action of "Chorus" after Fig I.
	Repeat entire dance from beg.
Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes