Doudlebska Polka

DOUDLEBSKA POLKA
Czechoslovakia

PRONUNCIATION: dood-LEHB-skah POHL-kah

TRANSLATION: Dance from Doudleby

SOURCE: Jeannette Novak learned this dance in Czechoslovakia and subsequently taught it to folk dancers in the United States. It was also seen on early dance films from Europe.

BACKGROUND: The name Doudlebska means "from Doudleby," a village in Bohemia (the modern Slovakia and Czech Republic). The dance is also known in German as Sternpolka and in Danish as Dona Bleska.

MUSIC: Folkdancer (45rpm) MH 3016;
Folkraft (45rpm) 1413.

FORMATION: Cpls in Closed (Balroom) pos in one or more cir. Step descriptions are for M; W use opp ftwk.

METER/RHYTHM: 2/4

STEPS/STYLE: POLKA: Hop L^R (ct & of previous meas); step R^L (ct 1); step L^R or close L^R to R^L taking wt (ct &); step R^L (ct 2). Repeat with opp ftwk.
The feeling of the dance is happy and lively. Dancers are encouraged to sing la-la-la (or whatever) along with the music. Dancers are cautioned NOT to throw their ptrs into the ctr of the cir or try to keep them from getting out of the cir. Not only is it dangerous, both when being thrown in or when trying to escape the ring, but that just "isn't the way it's done."

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

1-4 No action.

I. POLKA

1-16 In Closed Dance (Ballroom) Position, dance 16 Polka steps, beg M L and W R, moving CCW in LOD around the dance area. Cpls rotate CW.

II. WALK AND CIRCLE

1-16 In Open Dance Position, with M R arm around W waist, M stretches L arm fwd to place L hand on L shldr of M ahead and cpls walk CCW around dance area with 32 walking steps. W R hand is on her hip, palm out; M R hand is holding W R hand in a sort of handshake, palm to palm. to close the baps in the cir, M move diag L, spiraling in twd the ctr until the L hands are in contact with the shldrs of the M ahead. On the last 4 walking steps, the M stretches his R arm out of the cir, thus turning the W to face CW (or RLOD) around the dance area and then, releasing the W hand, turns to face ctr.

III. M CLAP, W CIRCLE

1-16 M face the ctr of the cir and clap hands as follows: Clap own hands (ct 1); clap own hands (ct &); clap hands of M on both sides at shldr height (ct 2). W, facing CW in RLOD, dance 16 Polka steps fwd around the outside of M cir. On the last meas, M turn 1/2 CW to face the W cir and taking the nearest W in Closed Dance Pos . . .

Repeat entire dance from beg.

NOTE: During Fig III, M often clown around extensively, slapping thighs, crossing hands, jabbing neighbors playfully, etc., all the while hooting and whistling.

Extra M (a rare occurance) may cheat by squeezing in on Fig II, while extra W often join the outside cir in Fig III. If more than one cir, W may switch from one cir to another for added fun.

Persons without ptrs should go to the center of the dance area to find a ptr. If a ptr canot be found there, slip out through the dancing cpls and ask someone who is sitting or standing around the dance area!

Copyright © 2003 by Dick Oakes

DOUDLEBSKA POLKA Czechoslovakia

PRONUNCIATION:	dood-LEHB-skah POHL-kah

TRANSLATION:	Dance from Doudleby

SOURCE:	Jeannette Novak learned this dance in Czechoslovakia and subsequently taught it to folk dancers in the United States. It was also seen on early dance films from Europe.

BACKGROUND:	The name Doudlebska means "from Doudleby," a village in Bohemia (the modern Slovakia and Czech Republic). The dance is also known in German as Sternpolka and in Danish as Dona Bleska.

MUSIC:	Folkdancer (45rpm) MH 3016; Folkraft (45rpm) 1413.

FORMATION:	Cpls in Closed (Balroom) pos in one or more cir. Step descriptions are for M; W use opp ftwk.

METER/RHYTHM:	2/4

STEPS/STYLE:	POLKA: Hop L^R (ct & of previous meas); step R^L (ct 1); step L^R or close L^R to R^L taking wt (ct &); step R^L (ct 2). Repeat with opp ftwk. The feeling of the dance is happy and lively. Dancers are encouraged to sing la-la-la (or whatever) along with the music. Dancers are cautioned NOT to throw their ptrs into the ctr of the cir or try to keep them from getting out of the cir. Not only is it dangerous, both when being thrown in or when trying to escape the ring, but that just "isn't the way it's done."


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

1-4	No action.

I.	POLKA

1-16	In Closed Dance (Ballroom) Position, dance 16 Polka steps, beg M L and W R, moving CCW in LOD around the dance area. Cpls rotate CW.

II.	WALK AND CIRCLE

1-16	In Open Dance Position, with M R arm around W waist, M stretches L arm fwd to place L hand on L shldr of M ahead and cpls walk CCW around dance area with 32 walking steps. W R hand is on her hip, palm out; M R hand is holding W R hand in a sort of handshake, palm to palm. to close the baps in the cir, M move diag L, spiraling in twd the ctr until the L hands are in contact with the shldrs of the M ahead. On the last 4 walking steps, the M stretches his R arm out of the cir, thus turning the W to face CW (or RLOD) around the dance area and then, releasing the W hand, turns to face ctr.

III.	M CLAP, W CIRCLE

1-16	M face the ctr of the cir and clap hands as follows: Clap own hands (ct 1); clap own hands (ct &); clap hands of M on both sides at shldr height (ct 2). W, facing CW in RLOD, dance 16 Polka steps fwd around the outside of M cir. On the last meas, M turn 1/2 CW to face the W cir and taking the nearest W in Closed Dance Pos . . .

	Repeat entire dance from beg.

	NOTE: During Fig III, M often clown around extensively, slapping thighs, crossing hands, jabbing neighbors playfully, etc., all the while hooting and whistling.

	Extra M (a rare occurance) may cheat by squeezing in on Fig II, while extra W often join the outside cir in Fig III. If more than one cir, W may switch from one cir to another for added fun.

	Persons without ptrs should go to the center of the dance area to find a ptr. If a ptr canot be found there, slip out through the dancing cpls and ask someone who is sitting or standing around the dance area!

Copyright © 2003 by Dick Oakes