Swedish Masquarade (Denmark)
Note
This dance makes fun of the Swedish class structure in the 19th century. Each of the movements immitates the way one of the classes dance.
Formation
Circle round the room, men on the inside, ladies on the outside, open waist hold, facing anticlockwise round the circle. Your outside hand should be behind your back.
Instructions
The nobles' dance :
- Walk in an anticlockwise direction slowly for about 6 steps turn out of the circle, so that you are facing the opposit direction by the 8th step.
- Walk in a clockwise direction slowly for about 6 steps turn into the circle, so that you are facing the middle by the 8th step.
The landowners' dance :
- Take inside hands (lady's left hand with man's right hand). Step into the circle at the same time as you swing those joined arms into the circle, then step back to place, swinging your arms out of the circle.
- Repeat
- Waltz 4 waltz steps on the spot.
- Repeat part 1 to 3 of this section.
The peasants' dance :
- Face the centre of the circle and take inside hands with partner, thus forming an arch. Kick under the arch with your outside foot.
- Kick away from the arch with your inside foot.
- Repeat part 1 and 2.
- Take your partner in a ballroom hold, lean back on your back foot and put your front foot in the air. Come down on your front foot putting your back foot in the air. Repeat this movement and circle in a clockwise direction on the spot.
- Repeat part 1 to 3 of this section.
Calling
- March, turn round , march , turn and face the centre. (16)
- Take inside hands. In and out and in and out and waltz round.(8 waltz steps)
- In and out and in and out and waltz round. (8 waltz steps)
- Take inside hands. Kick and kick and kick and kick and step round. (8)
- Kick and kick and kick and kick and step round. (8)
- Start again
