Raksijaak (Estonia)

Formation

1 man join hands W hold with 2 ladies on either side of him. All face into the centre of a large circle. Ladies keep their outside hands free.

Instructions

Chorus:
  1. In 3s step right with right foot and close with the left foot, man and right lady acknowledge each other.
  2. In 3s step left with left foot and close with the right foot, man and left lady acknowledge each other.
  3. Repeat 1 and 2.
  4. Starting on right foot walk forward 3 steps, then swing left foot forward.
  5. Walk backwards starting on left foot for 3 steps and close with the right foot.

Verse 1:

  1. Man makes an arch with left hand lady, and right lady goes through the arch in front of the man and man follows through the arch. Man should now face the opposit direction.
  2. Man makes an arch with right hand lady, and left lady goes in a clockwise direction through the arch and man follows, so the 3 are back where they started.

Chorus:

Verse 2:

  1. Ladies join hands with each other and pull the man towards the centre the centre using the polka step, on each step alternately acknowledging each other, and then the man, 4 steps in all.
  2. Ladies turn towards the man under his arms, 3 times whilst doing the polka step backwards back to place.

Chorus:

Verse 3:

  1. At the end of the chorus the ladies raise their outside hands into the air. The man brings his hands down and backwards, and the ladies roll towards the man a complete turn, so that the man has his hands round the ladies waist. Ladies must keep outside hand free.
  2. 4 polka steps forward starting on right foot.
  3. Take 1 step back and ladies unroll.
  4. Take another step back and man pulls the ladies towards him, he then makes an arch either side of him which the ladies spin under.
 
Glossary