Folk dance from Denmark

Når vandet fryser (Freezing Waters) 

Trekant (3 corner dance)
Niels Mejlhede Jensen, Bøgeløvsvej 4, 2830 Virum, Denmark. e-mail (web master)

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Dance description:

 
Animation of the dance

Når vandet fryser (Freezing Waters)

  • 3 corner dance, dance of 3 couples
  • Walking steps, and two steps (= pivot steps); 2 steps per bar
  • The dance has an introduction:
    • bar 1-5 (= 8 bars): circle around for the 3 couples 
  • The rest of the dance is in 2 sections: a, b :
    • a: bar 1-5 repeated (= 8 bars): chain (= grand right and left for the 3 couples), with left arm hook turn with partner, and chain back to place
    • b: bar 6-14 (= 8 bars): couple wise two steps (= pivot) around in the 3 corner circle
    • a: bar 6-14 repeated: chain again
    • b: bar 1-5: two steps
    • etc... chain and two steps
The dance ends with two steps, so the music ends without the last repetition.

 

Når vandet fryser (Freezing Waters) - Trekant (3 corner dance); dance of 3 couples
bar 1-5
= 8 bars		 circle around Circle of 3 couples around clockwise, holding hands, walking steps, 2 steps per bar, start left foot.
This circle is only danced this once - as an introduction.
Dance is repeated from here - from the chain.
bar 1-
...		 chain Chain: right hand to your partner, left hand to the next, right hand to the next, and then ...
Chain:
bar 1-5
repeated
= 8 bars
(or later:
bar 6-14
repeated)		 arm-hook turn with partner ... you meet your partner with a left arm hook and turn around to face the opposite way ...
...
bar  -5
repeated		 chain back to place ... to chain back home the way you came from, start right hand.
(Time is short in the chain, to be back home).
bar 6-14
= 8 bars
(or later:
bar 1-5)		 couple-wise two steps Couple wise two steps (= pivot) around in the 3 corner circle line.
See animation of two steps as part of the animation figure of dance 5.
(Please be patient in starting the two steps if the group is late in the chain. The dancing is for pleasure. The group will eventually improve its mobility to fit the music here).
The dance is repeated from the chain - again and again. The dance ends with the two steps. The music ends here with no repetition of the last phrase.
There are many different melodies to this same 3 corner dance (like a waltz can be danced to many waltz melodies).

Alternative 3 corner dance:

I learned the above 3 corner dance when I moved to Copenhagen, and I like turning around with the left arm hook.
But at many places in Jutland they still dance 3 corner dance with a normal chain (hand chain), like I knew it: 
Chain:
bar 1-5
repeated
= 8 bars
(or later:
bar 6-14
repeated) 		 normal hand chain The dance is the same as above, except for the chain:
  • Normal hand chain, passing your partner on the opposite place, and further on home. (There is plenty of time to reach home and make ready for the two steps).
  • So you may even be 4 couples. 
  • Or you chain passed your partner at home place to the first right hand meeting with a new partner for two steps, and in this way eventually having two steps with all 3).
Mixer:
In this way the dance can also be a big ballroom circle mixer dance, with "chain as far as the music tells" to a new partner (no. 9, right hand). Then the big circle part is included after each two step part. So the dance of many couples is: circle, chain, two steps; circle, chain, ... etc.

The dance is repeated as long as pleased.
 

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