Folk dance from Denmark

Dona Bleska (Doudlebska Polka)

Simple all family dance edition
Niels Mejlhede Jensen, Bøgeløvsvej 4, 2830 Virum, Denmark. e-mail (web master)

Link (back) to the main page with music, which may be just behind here, so you instead only need to close this window.

Dance description, simple all family edition:

 
Animation of the dance

Dona Bleska (Doudlebska Polka), simple all family dance edition

  • Dance of any number, non couples, adults and children
  • Walk steps  (2 steps per bar)
  • The dance is in 3 sections: a, b, c :
    • a: bar 1-10 (16 bars): big circle clockwise and anti clockwise
    • b: bar 11-21 (16 bars): "train" by all
    • c: bar 22-32 (16 bars): claps by all
The dance ends by clapping.
Animation of the claps

Dona Bleska (Doudlebska Polka): claps

  • 3 claps in your own hands, 3 claps per bar (beat 1, 2 ,3)
  • 3 claps in your neighbours' hands :
    • right hand palm down claps downwards
    • left hand palm up claps upwards
    repeat (first own hands, then neighbours')

 

Dona Bleska (Doudlebska Polka) - Simple all family dance edition
bar 1-8 circle clockwise Circle one way:
All get into a circle in any number and at any place: boys, girls, men, women.
All take the hands of one another and walk around in a circle one way, maybe clockwise (but mostly starting the other way for non folk dancers, that is OK).
bar 1-10
(repeating)
(8 bars)		 circle anti clockwise Circle the other way:
When this music is repeated, then walk the opposite way around.
bar 11-21
(16 bars)		 train Train:
Everybody form a train by placing both hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you. If you are too small then place your hands on the hips of the tall person in front of you or somewhere else.
(You have to make the circle smaller now than above to reach all way around).
bar 22-32
(16 bars)		 big circle clapping Claps:
Stand side by side in a circle in any order.
Clap 3 times in your own hands (naturally fast, like the music).
Then clap 3 times in your neighbours' hands.
Then your own, your neighbours', etc.
If it is not exactly OK, it is hopefully fun.

(Instructor: stand in the middle and rehearse this part a reasonable number of times without music, before dancing).
The clapping of neighbouring hands is further illustrated below:
Bar 22-32
(16 bars)		 clapping neighbouring hands Claps:
Clapping neighbour hands:
Right hand, palm down, claps downward from above,
left hand, palm up, claps upward from below.

(Or something like this).
(Inexperienced people are amazed when they succeed).

The dance is repeated as long as pleased. That is not so very long for inexperienced people, because they tend to clap too hard and may get red and sore hands.

I always include this dance when I am out to a party where they want everybody to participate in a little folk dancing. (The first dance I use is dance no. 2: Cousin Mikkel). I stand in the middle of the circle with my accordion and explain and demonstrate specially the challenging phrase of clapping. When the music is playing I still walk around and so, to assist with "body signals" and yelling. It has never failed in any group. If appropriate I change the dance to the ordinary couple wise edition. In inexperienced groups I often stop after two dances: it is better to stop while there still is a wish for another dance. In physically fit groups I include more of the easy dances.

Bottom of this page