Modern folk dance with ballroom dance steps and latin dance steps

Quicksands

Steps: quickstep

2 couples line dance

Other dances - Contents

Klik til dansk

18

Music notes in pdf format

Melody (violin, accordion)

Mel + 2 voice

Clarinet A

Clarinet B

 

Topics on this page

Dance-description

Steps and figures

Music

Video-reference

 


Our sailor has been to America and was inspired to use quicksteps in a traditional Danish type folk dance.

We dance for the pleasure so you are free to select a relaxed informal hold etc.

 

 

Dance description

 

Start: all couples stand in the line of dance (lod) after one another: Lady (L) to the right of Gent (G). Every second couple turn around so 2 couples face one another: in the big lod circle in the ballroom (or in a long straight line). L stands to the right of her G and faces her corner G = the opposite G. At the end of the dance G+L has moved forward to face a new couple.

 

Short description:

 

The dance consists of 4 parts: circle, couple dance with corner, chain, couple dance with partner:

 

1        circle clockwise and anticlockwise, walking steps or quicksteps

2        quickstep couple dance with corner the circle around, zig zag ¼ turns

3        chain 1 round walking steps or quicksteps

4        quickstep couple dance with own partner to opposite place, ready to face a new couple

 

Description in detail:

 

bar no

1-6                Circle of the 2 couples, holding hands, clockwise and anticlockwise, walking steps or walking with quicksteps.

7-12              Couple dance with corner: full round of the circle, zig zag ¼ turn basic quickstep.

13-16            Chain (G anticlockwise): right hand (rh) to corner-partner, then lh to own partner, then corner, then stop by own partner ready for:

17-18            Pendulum swing with own partner, with fast transition to:

19-22            Couple dance with own partner to opposite place: promenade with and without lock step, ¼ left turn basic quickstep G lf back, then forward right turn quickstep to place facing the new couple.

 

Alternativ to pendulum and promenade, close hold:

17-18            Stand and step like the melody: G: lf rf, lrlr (2 slow + 4 quick).

19-22            ¼ turn zig zag basic to opposite place.

 

Dance ends in bar 6 with circle or substituted by couple dance out into the ballroom.

                    

 

Dance steps and dance figures:

 

Quickstep basic steps, basic figure:

We dance quickstep as shown on the dance instruction video of Freddie-Pedersen.

We count slow quick quick slow, which fits with 6/4. G: walk forward right foot (rf) slow, then chasse to left lf rf lf quick quick slow. Next step is the same.

When we walk in a circle we walk this way, both G and L.

Dance with close hold: L follows G. G: while taking the steps forward: walk 1 chasse we have ¼ right turn. Then the next step is rf backward walk 1 chasse with ¼ left turn. In this way we dance zig zag in lod. (So walk step is always rf).

The music here is made for this type of quickstep.

(Some dance quickstep in the same way as fast foxtrot see the dances 15 and 16 Foxy furs and Foxy games).

 

Promenade:

Close hold. G: forward rf, L: rf back. Then G: ¼ left turn L: ¼ right turn so both face forward (to the side) and side by side step 1chasse forward.

Next promenade: G and L walk side by side slow, then G and L face each other with side chasse forward.

Chasse can be with lock step: G: lf forward, rf forward crossing behind lf, lf forward quick quick slow.

 

Pendulum swing:

Close hold. G: stand on rf and swing lf out left, then stand on lf and swing rf out, slowly in 17 and fast in 18 with small jumps, and fast transition to next step (promenade). L follows G.

 

 

Music

Quickstep music is usually in 4/4 alla breve. But I have chosen to make it 6/4 because the quickstep dance is 6/4; except in bar 17-18 where the dance is 4/4. The melody fits note by note with the dance steps.

Accordion: beats pr bar: 3 + 3 in 6/4 as a first simple proposal, and 2 + 2 in 4/4.

 

 

Video

These quicstep figures and steps can be seen explained (in Danish) by: Søs & Mickey Freddie-Pedersen: Flyt sofaen & dans med, 1995 (on 4 videoes Copenhagen Main Library).