Fjäskern

FJÄSKERN
Swedish

PRONUNCIATION: FYEHS-kehrn

TRANSLATION: Hurry-scurry

SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Gordon Tracie who learned it in Sweden in 1950 and subsequently taught it at the 1964 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. The dance was also described in Samkväms och Gillesdanser, Stockholm, 1950.

BACKGROUND: Fjäskern comes from southern Sweden. The provinces of Sweden are usually grouped together in three large lands or parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65 percent of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden tend to be virtually free of snow in some winters.

MUSIC: Aqua Viking (45rpm) V200
Sheet Music: Vancouver International Folk Dancers Music Book, Vol. 2., Deborah Jones, 1982.

FORMATION: Cpls in a a cir facing CCW around the floor, W on M R, inside hands joined and held at shldr height in "W" pos, free hands always on hips Swedish style (fingers fwd, thumb bwd).

METER/RHYTHM: 4/4. The music accelerates from almost ridiculously slow to almost impossibly fast.

STEPS/STYLE: Ftwk is the same for M and W. Throughout the entire dance, there is a simple L-R alternation of the ft without stopping. Style is sprightly and with humor.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

1-2 No action.

I. CIR FWD AND BACK

1-4 Beg L, walk 16 steps fwd CCW in LOD around the dance area;

5-8 Turning twd ptr, take opp hands and walk 16 steps CW in RLOD.

NOTE: After the first two sequences or so, running steps will be used for Fig I as the music accelerates.

II. KICK AND EXCHANGE PLACES

1 Facing ptr squarely with M on inside and W on outside of cir and with both hands on own hips, step L in place as R kicks fwd (ct 1); step R in place as L kicks fwd (ct 2); step L in place as R kicks fwd (ct 3); step R in place as L kicks fwd (ct 4);

2 Clapping own hands on first ct then placing hands on own hips for the last three cts, exchange places with ptr with 4 steps, moving CW;

3-4 Repeat action of meas 1-2 to return to orig pos with M back to ctr.

5-8 Repeat action of meas 1-4.

NOTE: After the first two sequences or so, kick-leaps will be used as the music accelerates.

As dance repeats, M move fwd to next W for a new ptr. Repeat entire dance from beg.

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes

FJÄSKERN Swedish

PRONUNCIATION:	FYEHS-kehrn

TRANSLATION:	Hurry-scurry

SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance from Gordon Tracie who learned it in Sweden in 1950 and subsequently taught it at the 1964 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. The dance was also described in Samkväms och Gillesdanser, Stockholm, 1950.

BACKGROUND:	Fjäskern comes from southern Sweden. The provinces of Sweden are usually grouped together in three large lands or parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65 percent of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden tend to be virtually free of snow in some winters.

MUSIC:	Aqua Viking (45rpm) V200 Sheet Music: Vancouver International Folk Dancers Music Book, Vol. 2., Deborah Jones, 1982.
FORMATION:	Cpls in a a cir facing CCW around the floor, W on M R, inside hands joined and held at shldr height in "W" pos, free hands always on hips Swedish style (fingers fwd, thumb bwd).

METER/RHYTHM:	4/4. The music accelerates from almost ridiculously slow to almost impossibly fast.

STEPS/STYLE:	Ftwk is the same for M and W. Throughout the entire dance, there is a simple L-R alternation of the ft without stopping. Style is sprightly and with humor.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

1-2	No action.

I.	CIR FWD AND BACK

1-4	Beg L, walk 16 steps fwd CCW in LOD around the dance area;
5-8	Turning twd ptr, take opp hands and walk 16 steps CW in RLOD.

	NOTE: After the first two sequences or so, running steps will be used for Fig I as the music accelerates.

II.	KICK AND EXCHANGE PLACES

1	Facing ptr squarely with M on inside and W on outside of cir and with both hands on own hips, step L in place as R kicks fwd (ct 1); step R in place as L kicks fwd (ct 2); step L in place as R kicks fwd (ct 3); step R in place as L kicks fwd (ct 4);
2	Clapping own hands on first ct then placing hands on own hips for the last three cts, exchange places with ptr with 4 steps, moving CW;
3-4	Repeat action of meas 1-2 to return to orig pos with M back to ctr.
5-8	Repeat action of meas 1-4.

	NOTE: After the first two sequences or so, kick-leaps will be used as the music accelerates.

	As dance repeats, M move fwd to next W for a new ptr. Repeat entire dance from beg.
Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes