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FOLKLORE> DANCES> Circles

I WAS TOUGHT NICELY
Esu dailiai iđmokyta

It is one of the numerous variants of “Audëjëlë”(“ Weaver”). The variant, which is provided here very clearly illustrates weaving with loom.

dance05n.gif (4281 bytes)

audio/iii_3.mp3

The sequence of the circle

The circle is danced in couples. Boys and girls stand in rows one in front of another, and the distance between the rows is 1.5 m. In the rows the dancers join hands in a simple way low. In the ends between the rows two more active persons are standing and acting “the shuttles” (1 figure).

1. Coming closer and moving away

(8 bars)

“I was taught..."

"..to weave nicely”.

1 - 2 bar: the rows come close to each other, when the dancers step six simple steps forward. The “shuttles” are standing (2 figure).

3 - 4 bar: in six simple steps back, backing, the rows are moving away from each other.

5 - 8 bar: the text and movements of the 1 - 4 bar are repeated.

dance05b1.gif (2294 bytes)

2.Weaving (8 bars) “Pykszt pokszt”, 1 bar: standing in the same place, the dancers clap twice, and the “shuttles” quickly run to the other end between the rows, passing each other through the left shoulder (3 figure).

 

  “tapu, tapu, “ 2 bar: boys’ and girls’ rows come close to each other in big steps and the couples join both stretched hands (4 figure). “Shuttles”, having run between the rows, remain in the opposite ends.

dance05b2.gif (2821 bytes)

  “pupu, pupu,” 3 bar: the couples in two quite big steps turn half a circle against the Sun in the same place: the girls change sides with the boys (4 figure).

dance05b3.gif (2648 bytes)

  “klepu klepu”. 4 bar: the dancers of the couples, having changed sides, let their hands free and alingning in the rows, backing, move away from each other in two big simple steps (5 figure). “Shuttles” remain standing in the same places.

dance05b4.gif (2734 bytes)

  5 - 8 bar The text and movements of the 1 - 4 bar can be repeated once again: boys and girls, having changed sides, come back to their original places, and the “shuttles”, having run between the rows, pass each other again and come back to the same places, where they have been in the beginning of the element. dance05b5.gif (2740 bytes)

Afterwards the circle is repeated from the beginning , singing the same or other stanza:

“The shuttle is shuttling merrily,

It is not touching the thread.

Pykszt pokszt, tapu tapu

Pupu pupu, klepu klepu.”

Note: “shuttles” can change, i.e. stand in the ends of their rows, and from the opposite end other dancers can take their place. The couples would then be changing.

The dance originates from the East of Lithuania, Đvenčionys region.

 

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