Basic Folk Dance Moves
Circle Left (or right) - 3 or more dancers join hands and
circle to their left (or right).
Grand Chain – Usually, face your partner, give
right hand and pull by to meet the next dancer and offer left hand and pull by, continue alternating
hands around the circle for the number of times (or hands) instructed or until
back to place.
Back
to Back (or Do Si Do)
-Take 2 steps forward (to just pass partner's right shoulder), one side step to
the right and 2 in reverse passing left shoulder to finish back in place.
Right
hand turn –Give right
hand to partner or another member of the set as instructed and walk a full turn
clockwise to place.
Left
hand turn – The above
anti-clockwise.
Two
hand turn – Give two
hands to partner and walk a complete turn clockwise.
Cast - Turn away from partner and move to
the position instructed.
Promenade – With lady on man’s right, hold
right hands and left hands and move forwards or in the direction instructed.
Right Hand Star (or hands across) - Usually danced by
two couples giving right hand to the diagonally opposite person to form a cross
and dancing around to finish back in place (travelling in clockwise direction).
Also left hand star travelling
anticlockwise.
Ladies
Chain - With 2
couples facing and a lady on the man's right. The ladies give right hands to
each other to pull by and give left hand to the opposite man's left. The man
puts his right arm around the ladies waist to turn her around so that the 2
couples are again facing and the lady is on the right. Repeat the movement from
the opposite side so that the ladies get back to place
Swing
–American walk swing - Using
the ballroom hold, men stand slightly to the left of partner and walk around
each other.
Or Pivot Swing - With the same hold, each put the
right foot into the centre and use the left foot to push off as if riding a
scooter.
Or cross hand hold with partner, useful in a hop step
dance, or if ladies meet or an adult meets a child.
Reel or Hey – Usually done with 3 or 4 people who
weave in and out along a straight line until they get back to place. There are
many variations.
Figure of 8 - One couple stand still whilst the
other couple with the lady in the lead go between them, around the person on
the opposite side of the set, between them again and around the other
stationary person to finish back in place.