Žiogelis

ŽIOGELIS
Lithuanian

PRONUNCIATION: zhy-oh-GYAH-lihss

TRANSLATION: Grasshoppers

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: "The harvesters of the rye see many grasshoppers cavorting amid the stalks. This is an imaginary dance of how grasshoppers would dance, if they danced. They start off coyly and end up in a nice family group." --Folkraft LP-35 jacket notes

MUSIC: Folkraft (LP) LP-35, "Viltis Lithuanian Folk Dances," side B, band 2.

FORMATION: Trios of one M between two W facing a similar trio approximately 8 feet apart in a "set."

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.
GALLOP STEP: Step R swd (ct 1); pause (ct &); close L to R, momentarily taking wt (ct uh); quickly step R swd (ct 2); pause (ct &); close L to R, momentarily taking wt (ct uh). May be danced to L with opp ftwk.
BALANCE: Step R swd, turning slightly diag R and slightly bending knees (ct 1); step L swd, turning diag L and slightly bending knees (ct 2).
BLEKING STEP: Hop L, touching R heel fwd (ct 1); low leap to R in place, touching L heel fwd (ct 2); repeat action of cts 1-2 beg with a low leap to L (cts 1-2 of next meas).

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

None.

CHORUS

1 Beg with hop on L, dance 1 Polka Step fwd (cts uh,1-2);

2 Step L (ct 1); step R (ct &); stamp L, taking wt and bending body fwd while extending R leg bwd (ct 2);

3 Moving bwd, repeat action of meas 1;

4 Moving bwd, repeat action of meas 2, except bending bwd while extending R fwd on ct 2.

5-8 Repeat action of meas 1-4.

I. W GALLOP ACROSS

1-4 The two R-hand W exchange places with 8 swd Gallop Steps, leading with R shldr and passing back-to-back, while the other two W flirtatiously dance 4 Balance Steps, first facing twd each other then away from each other (R,L,R,L,R,L,R,L);

5-8 The two L-hand W exchange places with 8 swd Gallop Steps, leading with L shldr and passing back-to-back, while the other two W flirtatiously dance 4 Balance Steps, first facing twd each other then away from each other (L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R).

CHORUS

1-4 Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

II. W ELBOW-SWING ACROSS

1 Beg R, the two R-hand W step R twd each other and clap hands, while M and L-hand W do the same (ct 1); the two R-hand W hook R elbow and beg turning CW in the ctr of the "set" in an Elbow-Swing, while the M and L-hand W do the same in place (ct 2);

2-3 Continue the Elbow-Swing with 2 steps per meas;

4 All return to orig pos;

5-7 The two L-hand W do a L Elbow-Swing in the center of the "set," while the M and R-hand W do the same in place;

8 All return to orig pos.

CHORUS

1-4 Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

III. M GALLOP AND BLEK, W ARCH

1-2 Passing in front of ptr, M dance 4 Gallop Steps swd to R and beg CCW around the outside of the "set," while W in each pair join inside hands and beg to exchange places with other pair with 2 Polka Steps;

3-4 M dance 4 Bleking Steps, while one pair of W ducks under an arch formed by the other pair of W and continue on with 2 Polka Steps to end having exchanged places;

5-6 M dance 4 Gallop Steps swd L to end in original pos, while W release joined hands, turn individually, and rejoining handhold, dance 2 Polka Steps twd orig pos;

7-8 M dance 4 Bleking Steps, while the other pair of W ducks under an arch formed by the original ducking pair of W and continue on with 2 Polka Steps to end having exchanged places back to orig pos.

CHORUS

1-4 Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

IV. TRIO ARCH AND TURN

1-4 Trios join inside hands and W, with 4 Polka Steps, exchange places with R-hand W going under an arch formed by the M and the L-hand W and all ending facing away from the other trio;

5-8 Repeat action of meas 1-4 with the L-hand W going under the arch and all ending facing twd the other trio.

CHORUS

1-4 Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

V. CIRCLE THREE

1-4 Forming a cir of three, each trio cir R with 4 Polka Steps;

5-8 Trios cir L with 4 Polka Steps opening to face the other trio on the last Polka Step.

CHORUS

1-4 Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

VI. CIRCLE SIX

1-4 All six dancers in the "set" join hands and cir R with 4 Polka Steps;

5-8 All six dancers circle L with 4 Polka Steps, opening out to end in "Formation" pos and bow twd the other trio.

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes

ŽIOGELIS Lithuanian

PRONUNCIATION:	zhy-oh-GYAH-lihss

TRANSLATION:	Grasshoppers

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:	"The harvesters of the rye see many grasshoppers cavorting amid the stalks. This is an imaginary dance of how grasshoppers would dance, if they danced. They start off coyly and end up in a nice family group." --Folkraft LP-35 jacket notes

MUSIC:	Folkraft (LP) LP-35, "Viltis Lithuanian Folk Dances," side B, band 2.

FORMATION:	Trios of one M between two W facing a similar trio approximately 8 feet apart in a "set."

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. GALLOP STEP: Step R swd (ct 1); pause (ct &); close L to R, momentarily taking wt (ct uh); quickly step R swd (ct 2); pause (ct &); close L to R, momentarily taking wt (ct uh). May be danced to L with opp ftwk. BALANCE: Step R swd, turning slightly diag R and slightly bending knees (ct 1); step L swd, turning diag L and slightly bending knees (ct 2). BLEKING STEP: Hop L, touching R heel fwd (ct 1); low leap to R in place, touching L heel fwd (ct 2); repeat action of cts 1-2 beg with a low leap to L (cts 1-2 of next meas).

MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

	None.

	CHORUS

1	Beg with hop on L, dance 1 Polka Step fwd (cts uh,1-2);
2	Step L (ct 1); step R (ct &); stamp L, taking wt and bending body fwd while extending R leg bwd (ct 2);
3	Moving bwd, repeat action of meas 1;
4	Moving bwd, repeat action of meas 2, except bending bwd while extending R fwd on ct 2.
5-8	Repeat action of meas 1-4.

I.	W GALLOP ACROSS

1-4	The two R-hand W exchange places with 8 swd Gallop Steps, leading with R shldr and passing back-to-back, while the other two W flirtatiously dance 4 Balance Steps, first facing twd each other then away from each other (R,L,R,L,R,L,R,L);
5-8	The two L-hand W exchange places with 8 swd Gallop Steps, leading with L shldr and passing back-to-back, while the other two W flirtatiously dance 4 Balance Steps, first facing twd each other then away from each other (L,R,L,R,L,R,L,R).

	CHORUS

1-4	Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

II.	W ELBOW-SWING ACROSS

1	Beg R, the two R-hand W step R twd each other and clap hands, while M and L-hand W do the same (ct 1); the two R-hand W hook R elbow and beg turning CW in the ctr of the "set" in an Elbow-Swing, while the M and L-hand W do the same in place (ct 2);
2-3	Continue the Elbow-Swing with 2 steps per meas;
4	All return to orig pos;
5-7	The two L-hand W do a L Elbow-Swing in the center of the "set," while the M and R-hand W do the same in place;
8	All return to orig pos.

	CHORUS

1-4	Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

III.	M GALLOP AND BLEK, W ARCH

1-2	Passing in front of ptr, M dance 4 Gallop Steps swd to R and beg CCW around the outside of the "set," while W in each pair join inside hands and beg to exchange places with other pair with 2 Polka Steps;
3-4	M dance 4 Bleking Steps, while one pair of W ducks under an arch formed by the other pair of W and continue on with 2 Polka Steps to end having exchanged places;
5-6	M dance 4 Gallop Steps swd L to end in original pos, while W release joined hands, turn individually, and rejoining handhold, dance 2 Polka Steps twd orig pos;
7-8	M dance 4 Bleking Steps, while the other pair of W ducks under an arch formed by the original ducking pair of W and continue on with 2 Polka Steps to end having exchanged places back to orig pos.

	CHORUS

1-4	Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

IV.	TRIO ARCH AND TURN

1-4	Trios join inside hands and W, with 4 Polka Steps, exchange places with R-hand W going under an arch formed by the M and the L-hand W and all ending facing away from the other trio;
5-8	Repeat action of meas 1-4 with the L-hand W going under the arch and all ending facing twd the other trio.

	CHORUS

1-4	Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

V.	CIRCLE THREE

1-4	Forming a cir of three, each trio cir R with 4 Polka Steps;
5-8	Trios cir L with 4 Polka Steps opening to face the other trio on the last Polka Step.

	CHORUS

1-4	Repeat action of Chorus that was danced before Fig I.

VI.	CIRCLE SIX

1-4	All six dancers in the "set" join hands and cir R with 4 Polka Steps;
5-8	All six dancers circle L with 4 Polka Steps, opening out to end in "Formation" pos and bow twd the other trio.

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes