19th century POLKA variations
Brief descriptions of steps taught by Richard Powers
Promenade Polka forward in open side-by-side promenade position. Man has L arm akimbo, R arm around lady.
Valse ˆ Deux Temps A polka without any hops which turns as smoothly as a waltz.
Hop Waltz Deux temps with a jetŽ (leap) on count one. Do not hop on count 4.
Reverse Polka Simply a polka or deux temps that turns counter-clockwise. Man still begins L foot and lady R.
Stamps An early polka where you stamp the floor on count three and hitch the free foot up behind on count four.
Pursuit One of the dancers polkas backwards while the other advances, in closed waltz position.
Coquette (Love Chase) The lady escapes from her partner and polkas solo while the gent pursues her, arms akimbo.
Pas d'Allemande Take R hand with partner's R hand. The lady polkas turning under the man's raised right arm.
Crossed-Hand Keeping the Allemande R hands, offer L hands below, held close to the heart, and polka.
Vis ˆ Vis Gent's R hand takes lady's L hand. Polka one bar face-to-face, then polka one bar back-to-back. Repeat.
Moulinet of Single Hands Take R hands with partner and polka forward around each other. Then L hands back.
Omni Dance Galop in "sidesaddle" position, somewhat similar to skater's position. 4-slide galop is a challenge.
Zulma L'Orientale Start with 2 bars of turning polka; stop and point the first foot straight forward to the floor then close it back to the supporting foot (1 bar), and conclude with one more bar of turning polka. Repeat opposite.
Bohemian (Heel and Toe) Place the straightened first leg to the side, heel down, toe raised, then close this foot to the supporting foot (1 bar); polka 1 bar. Repeat opposite (another 2 bars). Conclude with 4 bars of turning polka.
Casting Do a Bohemian heel & toe step in closed promenade position, then he casts her into his L arm during the polka step. Repeat the heel & toe step with opposite feet, then he casts her back into his R arm with a polka step.
Redowa The Redowa step (turning pas de basque) can be done in polka time. Must be learned in class.
Hungroise Two coup de talon mazurka heel-clicks toward LOD, followed by 2 bars of turning Redowa. Then galop.
4-Slide Galop Do 4 straight slides of a galop toward LOD, turning halfway on the fourth. Repeat opposite, to LOD.
6-Slide Galop Do 6 straight slides of a galop toward LOD, turning halfway on the sixth, then polka one bar.
Esmeralda Do a 4-Slide Galop toward LOD, then two bars of turning polka. Recommence with opposite footwork.
Cross-Step Polka He does a L step-hop toward LOD; crosses R over or behind L; then half-turns with a polka,
while she does a 4-slide galop. For the next 2 bars, she does the cross-step polka as he does the 4-slide galop.
Copyright © 1984,1994 Richard Powers