Dance Archive of Ireland at the University of Limerick

The University of Limerick recently announced the establishment of Ireland 's first national dance archive to be based at the Glucksman Library. The Dance Archive of Ireland will be established through seed funding of €40,000 from the Arts Council and came about through initiatives carried out by Dance Research Forum Ireland, a body set up in 2003 by Dr Catherine Foley, Director of the MA Ethnochoreology and MA Irish Traditional Dance Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick. Dance Research Forum Ireland received an award from the Arts Council in 2008 to carry out a feasibility report in connection with the establishment of a national dance archive in Ireland .

Dr Catherine Foley, Chair of Dance Research Forum Ireland said "Following years of effort, the National Dance Archive of Ireland is now becoming a reality; it is a historic moment for all dance in Ireland . Dance Research Forum Ireland owes an enormous debt of gratitude to the Arts Council for the awarding of this seed funding"

The report, written by dance historian, Dr Victoria O'Brien, established the existence of a wealth of dance archival material, which to date has been difficult to access. Since the completion of the feasibility report, Dance Research Forum Ireland together with the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, the Glucksman Library at the University of Limerick, and the Arts Council have worked together towards the establishment of an accessible dance archive.

Commenting on the announcement, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Professor of Music and Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University said: 'The establishment of the Dance Archive of Ireland at the University of Limerick, is a direct follow on from the inspired and inclusive vision of Dance Research Forum Ireland, across ballet, contemporary, traditional, popular and world dance genres."

www.irishworldacademy.ie

www.danceresearchforumireland.org

Christmas gift ideas & classes

Happy Holidays,

I am in the middle of a big show here in Portland featuring sean-nós and set dancing. It's been a great run and we have 6 shows left. I wanted to let everybody know that I now have Gift Certificates available for classes and private lessons.

Also available is the Dance Sean-nós DVD for $35. The 12 step sean-nós dance program. Learn steps in the comfort of your own home.

Bellow is the information for next terms classes. I hope to see some of you in the new year. Folks can register for Portland classes or buy the DVD on my website at www.maldonmeehan.com/products.html

-Maldon

WEEKLY CLASSES IN 2010

PORTLAND
Mondays 7pm Sean-nós Dance Class
Performance Works Northwest, 4625 SE 67th Ave, Portland
Jan. 11 - March 29 ($80 for 12 weeks)

Mondays 8pm Percussive Choreography
Performance Works Northwest, 4625 SE 67th Ave, Portland
Jan. 11 - March 29 ($80 for 12 weeks)

SALEM
Tuesdays 5:30pm Sean-nós Dance
VFW Hall, 630 Hood Street, Salem, OR
Year round (no class Dec. 29) $5-8

Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm Irish Céilí and Set Dance
VFW Hall, 630 Hood Street, Salem, OR
Year round (no class Dec. 29) $5-8

Workshop in Newport Feb. 7

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Susan Spencer
Bridie's Irish Faire
342 SW Bay Blvd
Newport OR 97365
(541) 574-9366

What: Irish Sean-nós Step Dance Workshop with Maldon Meehan
Sponsored by Bridie's Irish Faire and The Céilí of the Valley Society
When: Saturday February 7, 2009, 11am-2pm
Where: Dance and All That Jazz, 630 SW Hurbert Street, Newport, OR
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Step Lively!

There's nothing like a traditional Irish jig to lift your spirits and get your feet moving lively, and that's exactly what is planned for the Oregon Coast on February 7th, when The Céilí of the Valley Society and Bridie's Irish Faire host an Irish Sean-nós step dance workshop featuring Maldon Meehan.

Sean-nós dance, literally meaning "old style", is the oldest form of Irish dance, and most likely the form where the American traditions of tap and clogging draw their roots. An improvisational, rhythmic dance form, sean-nós steps are danced low to the ground and the dancer is free to interpret the music individually.

"When my shop first opened in Salem, customers frequently asked about Irish language and dance classes for adults, which were not available locally at that time," says Susan Spencer, current president of the Céilí of the Valley Society, and owner of Bridie's Irish Faire, a gift shop she moved to the Newport Bay Front last spring. By researching venues, musicians, instructors, and callers, Spencer was able to form weekly sean-nós and céilí dance classes, as well as create a monthly céilí—an Irish social dance gathering that features live music—which is when she and Maldon Meehan first met.

"Maldon Meehan is a tireless, generous instructor, who has been instrumental in the continuation of the Salem classes and céilí in my absence. I am so grateful that she will be able to carve time out of her busy schedule to teach a workshop at the Oregon coast," says Spencer.

Maldon Meehan is a performer, teacher and scholar of Irish dance who holds a BA in Irish Studies/Theater Arts from The Evergreen State College and an MA in Ethnochoreology from the University of Limerick, Ireland (maldonmeehan.com). She has over 18 years experience dancing, teaching and performing, and was a 2008 Regional Arts and Cultures grant recipient [www.maldonmeehan.com].

"Maldon's education and background in ethnic dance make her an ideal instructor and performer," says Nancy Jarrell of Portland Community College. "She not only knows the physical dance inside and out, but knows and has a love for the dance history, which she happily communicates to her students".

Exciting, rhythmic and fun, this workshop will teach the basics of sean-nós dance with the focus on rhythmic footwork to jigs and reels, specific sean-nós dance steps and improvisation techniques—understanding Irish music and the history of Irish dance will be touched upon as well.

As a sean-nós dancer, Maldon Meehan appeared on the nationally televised 2005 Oireachtas at the Cork Opera House in Cork City (TG4) and on Connemara Community Radio and Raidió na Gaeltachta (RTÉ). She placed 3rd in the Comórtas Chóilín Sheáin Dharach, a sean-nós jig competition held annually in Connemara as well as release an instructional DVD of sean-nós dance with Ronan Regan, in 2005, which has sold in more than 17 countries worldwide.

"I love traditional Irish music and dance," says Susan Spencer, "so it was really a selfish endeavor to organize my first Newport Irish dance workshop the moment my new customers showed an interest!" And Spencer is planning ahead, "I can't wait to hold our first "céilí by the sea" here in Newport. I've got amazing musicians and callers lined up, I'm just looking for the perfect dance floor!"

The venue for the February 7th workshop is Dance and All That Jazz, 630 S.W. Hurbert Street. The workshop is open to all levels and ages with no previous experience necessary. Please bring shoes with smooth, hard leather soles; no tap shoes please. To pre-register (cost is $25 in advance, $30 at the door, with one scholarship available), or more information, please contact Susan Spencer at Bridie’s Irish Faire (541) 574-9366 [www.bridiesirishfaire.com].

###

UP COMING EVENTS

Yachats Celtic Music Festival, Yachats, OR (Nov 7-9)
www.yachatscelticmusicfestival.com/

Sean-nós Dance Class, Portland, OR (Mondays Nov. 10 - Dec. 15)
6:30pm Beginners, 7:30pm Intermediate
www.maldonmeehan.com/schedule.html

2nd Friday Irish Céilí Dance, Salem, OR (Nov. 14)
www.ceiliofthevalley.org

3rd Friday Irish Céilí Dance, Portland, OR (Nov. 21)
www.portlandceilisociety.org

I hope to see you at one of these events.

A Celtic Celebration at the Elsinore Theatre

I had a performance on Sunday that was so unbelievably inspiring that I had to share with you all. Irish flute payer and vocalist, Hanz Araki and I joined the Salem Concert band, a classically based band of 45 members. It was pretty incredible to have sean-nós dance improvisations melding with the full brass sound of a conducted band. Dancing to piccolos, flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons, trumpets, horns, tubas, harp, string bass, and drums gave new meaning to the informal nature of sean-nós dance.

New webstie

On June 16th of this year I received a Regional Arts and Cultures grant to build and create my new website. As part of the grant I was able to hire design and marketing firm Brian Thomas Wright Creative Group (BTWCG) to create the site. You can check out the site at www.MaldonMeehan.com.


The grant also included a photo shoot with Andrea Wright, an amazing photographer with a knack for capturing movement. For the photo shoot we went up to the rose gardens in Washington park on a overcast day and danced in the gardens. Bellow is one of the photos from the shoot.

Brían Ó hAirt Dance Workshop August 4th

Brían Ó hAirt
Sean-nos dance workshop
Monday August 4, 2008
7-9pm (all levels)
Reserve your spot 503.206.9311 $20

Brían Ó hAirt
Singer, dancer, musician and Irish language master

Now as a matured singer, Brían Ó hAirt (pronounced BREE-un oh-HARCH) has become a mouthpiece for the promotion of unaccompanied song. His anomalous and evocative voice stands as a testament to the power of tradition while his ability to share the mind’s eye of an older generation of singers has afforded him great acclaim at his age. He became the youngest and first ever American to win the coveted Sgiath Uí Dhálaigh shield at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Listowel, Co. Kerry in 2002—adding his name to the shield’s long list of noted traditional singers including Seosamh Ó hÉanaí, Frank Harte and Paddy Berry.

Brían is the founder of Sean-nos Milwaukee an annual event of language, song, dance and music held in Milwaukee every February.

More at:
www.brianohairt.com

www.buamusic.com

Summer term 2008

Here are the steps thus far:

MONDAY JUNE 2, 2008

THE BASIC CONNAMARA STEP (8 BARS)
Hop(L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
Back(R), heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)
(repeat 4 times)

STAMP AND STAMP STEP (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Stamp(R) and(R) Stamp (L) back(L) , heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
back(R) Stamp(L) and(L) Stamp (R) back(R) , heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)
(repeat 4 times)

HEEL TOE (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Heel(R) Toe (R) and (L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
Heel(L) Toe (L) and (R), heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)
(Repeat 4 times)

HEEL TOE SIDE STEP(8 BARS) (Maldon after Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Step (L) Heel(R) Step (L) Toe (R)
Step (L) Heel(R) Step (L) Toe (R)
Step (L) Heel(R) Step (L) Toe (R)
and (L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)

Step(R) Heel(L) Step (R) Toe (L)
Step(R) Heel(L) Step (R) Toe (L)
Step(R) Heel(L) Step (R) Toe (L)
and (R), heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)

HEEL TOE SIDE STEP variation 2(8 BARS) (Maldon after Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Step (L) Heel(R) Step (L) Toe (R)
Step (L) Heel(R) Step (L) Toe (R)
and (L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
back (R), heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)

Step(R) Heel(L) Step (R) Toe (L)
Step(R) Heel(L) Step (R) Toe (L)
and (R), heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)
back (L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)

MONDAY JUNE 9, 2008

HEEL AND TOE STEP (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Heel (R in front), step (R), toe (L behind)
Step(L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
(repeat 4 times)

RHYTHM CIRCLE STEP (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
(in a circle)
Step (L), Heel (R) Heel (R) (6 TIMES)
Step (L), Heel (R) Heel (R), Heel (L) Step (L), Heel (R) Heel (R)
Repeat again.
(Rosin dances the ending with all heels, but I seem to use a step to make balancing easier)

(we also added a heel brush to the side step above, as well as a toe slap and dancing all of the toes and heels).

MONDAY JUNE 16, 2008

THE CROSS STEP (8 BARS)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
step(L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
step(L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
and (L heel drop) back (R toe), and (r heel drop), back (left toe)
and(L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
(You can also dance this step crossing to the right instead of crossing to the left)

We also joined in groups of 2 dancers and created our own steps from the material learned thus far. Bellow are the 2 steps that were created.
ERIN'S STEP (8 BARS) (after Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Heel(R) Toe (R) and (L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
Heel(L) Toe (L) and (R), heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
(pause)
Stamp(R) and(R) Stamp (L) back(L) , heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)

THE JUNE STEP (8 BARS) (after Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
If you come up with a better name let me know
Heel(R) Toe (R) and (L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
Heel(L) Toe (L) and (R), heel(L) down (L), heel(R) down (R), Stomp (L)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
step(L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)
Left, right, left, right (right foot crossing)
step(L), heel(R) down (R), heel(L) down (L), Stomp (R)

MONDAY JUNE 23, 2008

HEELS ZIG ZAG (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Hop(L), Heel(R) step(R), Heel(L) step(L), (6 times) stamp (R)
(Repeat 4 times alternating left and right)

TOE TOE HEEL (Padraig Ó Hoibicín)
Toe(L) toe(L) heel(L), down(L) heel(R) down(R) heel(L) down(L)
Toe(R) toe(R) heel(R), down(R) heel(L) down(L) heel(R) down(R)
(dance for 8 bars or so)

MONDAY JUNE 30, 2008

'THE JOHNNY’ (From Mick Mulkerrin & Mairead Casey)
Toe(R), Toe(R), heel(R)
Hop(R), heel(L) step(L), heel(R) step(R),Stomp(L)
Toe(L), Toe(L), heel(L)
Hop(L), heel(R) step(R), heel(L) step(L),Stomp(R)
(Repeat all 3 more times)

RONAN REGAN (this step is on the Dance Sean-nos DVD)
shuf(R heel)-le(R toe) step(R)
shuf(L heel)-le(L toe) step(L)
shuf(R heel)-le(R toe) step(R)
step (L) step (R)
shuf(L heel)-le(L toe) and (R) back (L)
step (R) step (L)
shuf(R heel)-le(R toe) and (L) back (R)
shuf(L heel)-le(L toe) and (R) back (L)
(repeat starting with left foot)

Golden Keyboard step

Here is the step we created during the September 8th class.
1. Part A
2. Part B
3. Both parts A & B

Thank you to those who helped in it's creation!

Clare Rhythm Steps

Here are the steps we covered on the September 8th class. They are the:

1. Clare basic step
2. Mick Mulkerrin's version
3. Maldon Meehan's variation of Mick's Step
4. Both Mick's and Maldon's step together.
The last two steps are very nice together when dancing a tune
with a low(A part) and a high (B part).

Class notes 9/29/07

Hi Class,

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed class today. It was really exciting for me to see all of you dancing. You all did a great job!! I gave you a lot of steps and a lot of very intertict and interesting steps. Well done.

Hopefully I remembered all the things I said I’d pass on. Let me know if there is anything I’m missing.

Just a reminder we have a class blog for the Saturday class. You can find past notes, dance clips and more on the site at:

http://seannospdx.blogspot.com/

Irish Events:

7pm, 1^st Friday Oct 5, Irish Ceili

VFW Hall, 630 Hood Street NE, Salem, OR
Hanz Araki, Johnny Connolly and Cary Novotny
Info: 503.585.4542

If you want to carpool down you should be at my house by 5:45 and we can head down from there. Let me know if you can get to my house and we can arrange something.

5pm, Sunday Oct. 7, 2007

Big Squeeze 2!
Accordion music from:
Mike Beglan (Irish)
Johnny B. Connolly accompanied by Cary Novotny (Irish)
Mira Dinsbir (Czech)
Courtney Von Drehle (from 3 Leg Torso)

Alberta Street Public House
1036 NE Alberta St., Portland , 97211
Info: Carol Spellman at 503-306-5292 weekdays

Saturday Oct. 13, Irish in October

Downtown SW Salmon and Park
All day event (12-5)
Irish music and dance
Free

Watch the Sean-nos Dancing Online!

The Oireachtas na Gaeilge is a yearly festival celebrating the Irish language (Gaeilge) and the Irish-speaking regions of Ireland (Gaeltachtai.)

To watch the competition, go to TG4 (www.tg4.ie/) the national Irish language tv station. Click on the Web TV banner at the top of their homepage. (It says "Beo ar an web" or "Live on the Web.") Click "Ceol" on the left of the screen. And choose "Steip Damhsa On Oireachtas."

And you'll have two and a half hours of sean-nos dancing to watch and study whenever you please!

Notes from class:
Here are the notes of the steps we covered in class today. Hopefully this system works for you. Graham is in the process of editing footage of some of the step and we should have them up on the class blog for all to view. I will let you know when they are on the class blog. Eventually when we have several of the recorded we will transfer them on to a DVD for you to all have and study with.

BASIC CONNEMARA STEP
Hop(L), heel(R) down(R), heel(L) down(L), Stomp(R)
Hop(R), heel(L) down(L), heel(R) down(R), Stomp(L)

STAMP AND STAMP STEP (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Stamp (R) and (R) Stamp (L)
Hop(L), heel(R) down(R), heel(L) down(L), Stomp(R)
Back(R) Stamp (L) and (L) Stamp (R)
Hop(R), heel(L) down(L), heel(R) down(R), Stomp(L)

(repeat all again)

HEEL AND TOE STEP (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Heel (R), step (R), toe (L)
Hop (L), heel(R) down(R), heel(L) down(L), Stomp(R)
Back(R) heel (L), step (L), toe (R)
Hop(R), heel (L) down(L), heel(R) down(R), Stomp(L)

(repeat all again)

RONAN’S STEP (Ronan Regan)
Shuff(R heel)-le(R toe) step(R)
shuff(L heel)-le(L toe) step(L)
Shuff(R heel)-le(R toe) step(R)
Step(L) step(R)
Shuff(L heel)-le(L toe) and(R heel drop) back(L)
Step (R) step (L)
Shuff(R heel)-le(R toe) and (L heel drop) back(R)
Shuff(L heel)-le(L toe) and(R heel drop) back(L)

WILLIE KEANE #1
I learned this step from Mick Mulkerrin
Heel (R) down (R) 1(L) 2(R)
Down(L) shuff(R heel)-le(R toe) and(L heel drop) back(R) Pause
Down(L) suff (R heel)-le(R toe) and(L heel drop)
Down(R) shuff(L heel) –le(L toe) and(R heel drop)
Down(L) suff (R heel)-le(R toe) and(L heel drop) down (R)

(repeat again)

WILLIE KEANE #2
Heel (R) down (R) 1(L) 2(R)
Down(L) shuff(R heel)-le(R toe) and(L heel drop) heel(R) heel(L) heel(R) heel(L)
Down(R) shuff(L heel) –le(L toe) and(R heel drop)
Down(L) suff (R heel)-le(R toe) and(L heel drop)
Down(R) shuff(L heel) –le(L toe) and(R heel drop) down(L)

See you in class next week.

-Maldon

Portland Class notes

Hi All,

Just wanted to let you know there will be dancing, art and music this Thursday at the Alberta Street Public House 5:30-8:30 and your all invited to come down and dance. You can see more at http://www.seannosdance.com/NewsEvents/show.html

Also class this Saturday will be a special workshop with Alicia Guinn. Alicia is a great set dancer and sean-nos dancer. I hope you all come out and meet here. It will give you a chance to see another teacher and style. Alicia is a great set dancer who has lived in Ireland and danced over there for years. She has a vast knowledge of battering steps and sets. This is a great opportunity learn some Clare battering.

Bellow is a note from Alicia Guinn:

Sept 1 - Workshop - Clare Steps for Set Dancing - Portland, Oregon
"I’ll be the guest teacher for Maldon Meehan’s usual series of Saturday afternoon workshops in Portland. We’ll focus on Clare battering, a style of stepping that can be used in either set or sean-nos dancing. We’ll put most of our effort into the steps, and at the end of class, we'll work on incorporating them into a figure of the Clare Plain set. I’m excited to see how the sean-nos dancing community is shaping up in Portland! Performance Works Northwest, 4625 SE 67th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97206. 11am-1pm. Live music. $10".

As for notes from Class we covered 2 steps last week.
The basic step
(notes and video clip are on this blog)

Cross Step (Maldon Meehan)
(This step was inspired by a tune that Joe, Dawn and Lee were playing. Lee told me the name the tune a few times, but alas it escapes my mind. I'll try to get the name from here on Saturday, if any of you know the name let me know.)

step(L) cross(R) step(L) step beside (R)
step (L) back (R) step(L) tap beside (R)
step(R) cross(L) step(R) step beside (L)
step(R) cross(L) step(R) Tap beside (L)
1(L), 2(R), 3(L), 1(R), 2(L), 3(R), 1(L) , 2(R)
step(L) heel(R) step(L) , step(R) heel(L) step(R) 1(L), 2(R)

-Maldon

Salem class Notes

Tuesday Sean-nos Dance class

Here are the notes from the 2 steps we learned on Tuesday night.

THE BASIC STEP Connemara Step
Hop(L), heel(R) step(R) , heel(L) step(L), Stomp(R)
Hop(R), heel(L) step(L), heel(R) step(R), Stomp(L)
(repeat all 3 more times)

STAMP AND STAMP STEP (8 BARS) (Rosin Ni Mhainnin)
Stamp(R) and(R) Stamp(L)
Hop(L), heel(R) step(R) , heel(L) step(L), Stomp(R)

Stamp(L) and(L) Stamp(R)
Hop(R), heel(L) step(L), heel(R) step(R), Stomp(L)

This is a video clip of me dancing the basic Connemara step.

Irish Sean-nos Dance Connamara

Add to My Profile | More Videos


Tuesday Ceili Class

Duke Reel
A round dance for three couples (Reels: 264 bars)

1. Circle Right and back (8 bars)
2. Body

Slip Sides: Slip sides with partner and back(8 bars), Slip sides with corner and back (8bars)
Link Arms: Link right with partner (2 bars), left corner(2 bars), partner(2 bars), corner(2 bars)
Interlace: face partner pass right shoulder to right, left to the next, right and left till home
Advance and Retire: join hands in a circle and advance and retire twice (8bars)

3. 1st Figure

Figure of eight: With promenade step, couple 1 advance towards couple 2 while couple 3 stand idle. Lady 1 dances figure 8 around lady 2 then gent 2, while gent dances figure 8 around gent 2 then lady 2. (8 bars). All circle to the left and swing back to place
Order: couple 1 with couple 2, couple 2 with couple 3, couple 3 with couple

4. Body
5. 2nd Figure

Right and left chain: Couples 1 and 2 dance right and left chain.
House around

6. Body
7. Finish: All house around to finish

Connemara Set
Figure 1: Reels
a. Lead around / lead back
b. Swing
c. Tops Advance / retire twice,
d. house
e. swing
f. Sides dance it
g. Top ladies chain
h. swing
i. Side chain and swing
j. Tops repeat figure
k. Sides repeat figure
l. All swing to finish

Figure 2: Reels
a. Lead around / lead back
b. Swing
c. 1st top gent and opp. Lady dance around eachother for 8 bars and Swing
d. Tops Advance / retire twice, house, swing
e. 1st side gent, 2nd Top gent, 2nd side gent
f. All swing to finish

Figure 3: Reels
a. Join hands in a circle, advance / retire twice
b. Swing
c. 1st top couple Advance / Retire twice, swing
d. Tops Christmas
e. Top Ladies chain
f. Tops Swing
g. 1st sides
h. 2nd tops
i. 2nd sides
j. swing to Finnish

Figure 4: Polka
a. Join hands in a circle, advance / retire twice
b. Dance at home
c. Circle Advance / retire twice change partners
d. Dance at home, moving 1/4 to the right
e. Repeat until home