There are in many cases difficult for me to know if a direct translation of Swedish dance term makes sense in a foreign language.. For this reason, in many places on this site the Swedish name is used, with a link to this site where the meaning of the name is explained. If there is a proper translation of any of these terms to English, I would appreciate to be informed about this.
The dance starts with (druff) polka for 16 bars, that mostly is danced clockwise. Then the couples walk behind each other in a ring, with the leader's left arm on the left shoulder of the leader in front of him (16 bars).
During the next 16 bars all the leaders head inwards towards the centre and starts handclapping (e.g. on knees, hands, shoulders and above the head), the followers dance in a ring outside the leaders, headed forwards and using polka steps. Then the described dance sequence is repeated with a new partner.
Two variants of the waltz are used - but just one at the same dance. Either the steps above are repeated once more, or clockwise waltz is started from here, where the leader dance with the follower to the left of him three turns. If the the steps above are repeated, the waltz in couples will last for only two bars. The ring is then re-established with the follower to the right of the leader, and the sequence described is repeated.
See also Hambo
The second melody is mostly danced as "skånsk" mazurka, with eight bars per sequence - two bars dalsteg, two bars with two turns outwards from each other with frykdal steps, two bars with frykdal steps forwards side by side, two bars where the couple makes one turn together but side by side.
During later years it has become slightly more frequent that the European type of mazurka is also danced in Sweden. The European mazurka is however not a traditional Swedish gammaldans.
See also Mazurka
Sequence 1: Walking steps forwards (4 beats), walking steps backwards (4 beats), polka forwards (4 beats), snoa two turns (4 beats).
Sequence 2: One turn from each other forwards (4), one turn towards each other backwards (4), polka and snoa as above.
Sequence 3: Pancake turn from each other and forwards (4), pancake turn backwards and towards each other (4), polka and snoa.
Sequence 4: Walking steps forwards with double hand hold and the follower walking backwards(4), walking steps with kept hand hold backwards and with the follower making one turn counter-clockwise (4), leader polka steps, follower one clockwise turn under leader's arm (4), snoa (4).
Sequence 5: Leader walking steps forwards, follower turns once clockwise under leader's arm(4), leader walking steps backwards, follower turns once counter-clockwise under leader's arm (4), leader polka steps forwards, follower turns twice clockwise under leader's arm (4), snoa (4)
See also Snoa and Polka
See also Polskor
At the fourth bar the follower change position to the left of the follower by making a half turn counter-clockwise in front of him using three steps. During the next three bars once again Frykdal steps are used, with the follower to the left of the leader. Then the follower turns clockwise in front of the leader, and the couple dances waltz clockwise for the next eight bars.
See also The Schottische dance
See also Snoa and Polka
See also Waltz
There are many variations of bakmes, but basically it is danced counter-clockwise, with the leader positioned to the right of the lady, and with the steps outside the partner. In many cases the bakmes uses two bars to make a complete turn. The waltz section contains a short video with the variant. It can also can be danced clockwise, and is then in waltz called stigvals.
Enben is danced using just one leg for a complete 360 degree turn, while the other foot is kept lifted, in many cases used for keeping the balance or add power to the turn. The feet are placed outside the partner to the right.
The variant is often used in Bingsjöpolska, but can also be used for example in Bodapolska, hambo, schottische or waltz.
The variant is rather demanding for the balance, and would perhaps need some training before it will run smoothly.
In principle it should be possible for both persons in the couple to dance enben at the same time, e.g. in waltz. But it is rarely seen.
Enben is generally danced clockwise, but in schottische I dance it also counter-clockwise.
Last updated: b 24, 2014