FOREIGN

FOLK DANCE

= MINUET =

*A minuet, also spelled menuet, is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time. The word was adapted from Italian minuetto and Frenchmenuet, meaning small, pretty, delicate, a diminutive of menu, from the Latinminutus; menuetto is a word that occurs only on musical scores. The name may refer to the short steps, pas menus, taken in the dance, or else be derived from thebranle mener or amener, popular group dances in early 17th-century France (Little 2001). At the period when it was most fashionable it was slow, soft, ceremonious, and graceful. * Minuets are in 3/4 time. The basic minuet step-combination consists of four steps in six beats (two measures) of music. Begin with a pli on left foot flat on upbeat and rise to ball of right foot on beat 1, straightening both legs, heels close together. Pli on right foot flat on beat two, and rise to ball of left foot on beat 3, straightening both legs, heels close together. Keeping legs straight, walk forward on ball of right, then left foot on beats 4 and 5 (or 1 and 2 of second measure of music). On beat six, sink into pli on left foot flat. Start again on beat one, rising to ball of right foot.

=TARANTELA=
In Italian culture, the word tarantella evokes images of a frenzied spinning dance traditionally played at weddings. However, this popular native dance of Southern Italy has a history and myth spanning several centuries.The dance, originally an Italian folk dance of the lower- and middle-classes, has been labeled as a dance to cure sickness and as a dance of courtship. In the courtship version of the dance, the woman uses rapidity and liveliness to excite the love of her partner. In turn, the man tries to charm her with his agility, elegance and demonstrations of tenderness. The dance is one of unity and separation, which sees dancers flying into each others arms only to bound away again.It is considered unlucky to dance the Tarantella alone so it is often danced by couples or by two women.

If the name tarantella sounds vaguely familiar, its not surprising. Tarantella is an alternate Italian form of the word tarantula, probably referring to the wolf spider in several regions of Italy. The word does reference the spider in its origins, and some of the more modern pieces of tarantella music may be reminiscent of a spider, but more often the dance version was perhaps to cure spider bites, a futile act, since vigorous dancing would only cause venom to further be absorbed by the body.The tarantella is mainly an Italian country partner dance, which features numerous twirls and spins. It was popularized as a ballroom dance by Madame Michau in the 19th century, and performed in France and England. The ballroom dance differs significantly from the country Italian dance, but it gets the main elements down. Usually music for the tarantella is in 6/8 or 3/4 time, or you may find some versions in 4/4 time with a lot of triplets. Though the dance is partnered, many of the steps are danced away from each other, and steps together are often taken with the partners side to side instead of face to face. Many of the steps are in triples, like triple gallop steps to left and right. In the country dance version, women can partner with other women, but the ballroom dance features a male and female partner. The dance is always vigorous, and triumphs womans superiority over admiring men (at least during the dance).As to the dances origins, there are actually multiple explanations. The dance may have originated in the small Italian village of Tarentum, though others suggest that this type of ecstatic dancing may go even farther back to dances performed by Grecian women to honor the God Dionysius. During the 15th to 17th centuries, women in Italy may have suffered from a malaise and illness called tarantata, tarantismus, or tarantate. The cure was vigorous dancing (not such an unsound way to cure minor depression). Some suggest that the condition of tarantate was believed to be caused by a spider bite, but here again, theres no suggestion that a spider existed in Italy that could cause depression or delusions.Another possible explanation is that the dance as treatment was a way of getting around church prohibitions of dancing, since it was considered a sinful act. Yet if the dance was sound for medical purposes, or so it was thought, people could rejoice in doing a dance that clearly referenced men and womens relationships. This wasnt sinful, but rather medicine. Whatever the origin, youll find numerous versions of the music in modern timesYoull hear the music in the beginning scenes of The Godfather at Connies wedding, and again in the sequels. If you can find it on VHS or DVD, you can also watch the ballet, La Tarentule, first choreographed and performed in 1839. If you happen to have the luck to attend a very traditional Southern Italian wedding, you may see the tarantella danced. It is thought that at one time, most weddings in southern parts of Italy would have included the dance at weddings, as shown in Coppolas films.

ASSIGNMENT

IN MAPEH
NAME :ANAMARIE M. BAYSA SECTION: III-YAKAL SUBMITTED TO: SR. DESEPEDA

=VARSOVIENNE=
The varsovienne, also known as the varsouvienne or varsoviana, is a slow, graceful dance in time with an accented downbeat in alternate measures. It combines elements of the waltz,mazurka, and polka. The dance originated around 1850 in Warsaw, Poland. The words varsovienne and varsoviana are French and Spanish feminine adjectives, respectively, meaning 'from Warsaw'. The dance was popular in 19th-century America, where it was danced to the tune Put Your Little Foot. It quickly became a favorite folk dance in the Scandinavian countries as well. The unique armhold by the same name also known as the promenade hold is used in other dance styles such as the American square dance, contra dance, and some ballroom dances. The varsovienne also known as the varsouvienne is a slow dance in

times with an accepted downbeat in alternative measures. It combines the elements of the waltz, mazuka and polka. When dancing the varsovienne take a partner in a shoulder waist hold, step forward on inside foot close with outside foot, step forward on inside foot, and hoop on it.

=RED RIVER VALLEY=

Formation
Each man has 2 partners; each on either side of him. Men take hold of his partners' inside hands. Go and face another 3 so that your 3 are either facing clockwise or anticlockwise in a large circle round the room.

Instructions
Chorus : 1. Pass onto next 3 passing right shoulders. 2. Circle left 4 steps then circle right 4 steps. Chorus takes place before the start of each verse. Verses 1. Man swings lady on his left, and then he swings the lady on his right. 2. Girls right hand star 360. Men do si do with the other man. 3. Lady on left swaps places with the girl diagonally opposit her. Lady on right swaps places with the girl diagonally opposit her. Start dance again.

Calling

You pass on right down the valley. And you circle to the left and to the right. Then you swing with your girl in the valley. And you swing with your Red River Girl. You pass on right down the valley. And you circle to the left and to the right. The ladies make a star in the middle. And the gents do si do so polite. You pass on right down the valley. And you circle to the left and to the right. You lose your girl in the valley. And you lose your Red River Girl.