The Dances
Brawls - No, 'brawl' doesn't mean the dancers start fighting, but comes from a French word for swaying - this type of dance is done mostly moving sideways. The dancers join in a long line, or circle, to start.
SCA Maltese Brawl - An SCA invention, somewhat
like the version in Arbeau, usually done with the music gradually speeding up.
Double sideways left + right, repeat.
Singles left, right, left into the center of the circle, snapping fingers each
time, then clap three times.
Singles right, left, right out of the circle (backing or turn + go forward),
snapping fingers each time, then clap three times.
Korobushka - The Russian 19th century poet
Nekrasov wrote a poem on a hawker. Later
the tune ``Korobushka'' was written to this poem. This tune became very
popular in the late 19th century Russian cities and country side. Soon
a dance ``Korobotschka'' developed. In the beginning of the 20th century
Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine brought the dance to the USA. The
Ukrainian Micheal Herman learned the dance from his teacher Abramenko.
The fast Herman version became very popular in the 40's in the
USA. The steps of the original Korobushka were much smaller and slower
than of the fast form. Also, the first part (arm movements, turn,
clap, Hungarian-like closing-step) is absent in the original version.
Source: H. Konings (1994), Hoe heet die dans/2: Korobushka.
In:
Barinya Brief '94, nr. 5, p. 5.
Setting: a processional line of couples in promenade hold, perhaps curving to form a large circle.
Version: 1.0
1- 2 2 singles right, two singles left,
3 single right, single left,
4 woman turns under, couple faces each other.
5 couple spins away from each other in 3 steps, claps,
6 couple spins back to each other, takes hands,
7 balance in, balance out,
8 woman spins under, partners trade places (ending improper).
9-12 Repeat 5-8, returning to place and promenade hold.
Hole in the Wall
Source: Playford (1695 edition?); Dixon book 5, 9; Letter of Dance #3.
Setting: A line of couples.
A perennial SCA favorite: hated by musicians, demanded by dancers, used to raise money at Pennsic. Danced by a line of couples, with actives and passives and all that.
First couple casts off around twos, leads up back to place.
Second couple casts up around ones, leads back down to place.
First man and second woman change places.
Second man and first woman change places.
All hands halfway round.
Ones cast down while twos lead up the center to trade places.
The dance repeats with the twos moving up the line and the ones moving down. When you reach the end, wait out one cycle and then come in as the other couple. Some folks dance this dance with a lot of ornamentation, while others claim that it should be danced plainly.