Floriade

FLORIADE: four or five couples in a circle, progressive; easy

This dance was inspired by a visit to Floriade in Canberra in late 2018. The circular forms and raised ladies’ hands are intended to reflect the tulips and other flowers displayed at Floriade.

Suggested music is Erin Shore, original recording by Carisma, 4x 32bars, duration 3 min4s. 5x 32 bar version, also at 42 bars per minute. A four bar introduction has been added.

Formation: Four or five couples in a circle, man with partner on his right. Waltz step is used throughout.

Progression: men anti-clockwise, ladies clockwise. The next partner is your contra-corner. It is helpful for dancers to take notice of their partner, opposite (if a 4 couple set) and their contra-corner before commencing the dance. A lady’s contra-corner is the man in the couple to her left. A man’s contra-corner is the lady in the couple to your right. Men progress anti-clockwise and ladies clockwise.

At the start of the dance, turn to face partner.

BARS

1-2 Turn partner half way with right hand

3-4 Turn next person half way with left hand

5-6 Turn 3rd person half way with right hand (In a four couple set, your opposite)

7-8 Ladies in, men face right

Ladies flow in to join hands in a circle in the centre, bringing joined hands into the centre of  the circle at about waist height.

Men turn single ¾ right shoulder back, to face anticlockwise.

9-14 Ladies circle left, men right

WHILE: Ladies bring their joined hands upwards above their heads (representing the opening of a flower)

and, with joined hands raised, circle left, approximately once round. At the end of the eight  bars, ladies let go hands and pull right shoulder back to face out. (turn clockwise)

Men circle Indian file anticlockwise (to their original right) until each man meets his original partner, and partners face.

Note: In a four couple set men will dance half way round, but this will need adjusting for different numbers of couples, hence the instruction ‘ until you meet original partner’

The men represent the crowds circling the flower beds.

15-16 Partners turn left hand to bring the men in for a right hand mill.

Men join right hands in the centre, each putting his left arm around his partner’s waist.

Ladies put right hand on man’s left shoulder and raise their left (outside) hand above their heads. (representing the petals of a flower)

17- 24 Right hand mill. The mill rotates gently for eight bars.

25 -28 Men (letting go in the centre and moving out) turn partner left hand, until each man faces  his original contra-corner and each lady hers.

29-32 Dance back to back with contra-corner. This is your new partner. Face this new partner ready to start again.

Notes: the figures are intended to flow smoothly from one into the next. There is no need for individual dancers or couples to return to their original position around the circle. While a four couple set will start and end resembling a square set the figures and feeling of the dance are circular.

Bars 1 to 6 are three changes of a grand chain but described as turn half way in order to encourage the dancers to make this curvaceous.