Confessions of a Reluctant Choreographer (part 5)

Ivouschki

About the dance: Laura and I had been introduced to the music of Bratsch while staying with a friend in Paris and we both loved the mixture of gypsy, klezmer, folk and whatever that they used. We'd bought several of their CDs as 'listening' music but I felt sure that some of the tracks were danceable.
The event that crystallised the dance was a beginners' dance group. I'd been invited to teach at a six-week series of evenings using a small repertoire that the group could continue with on their own afterwards. This had gone very well and to celebrate at the last meeting I wanted a dance that would be easy to teach, that they wouldn't need to worry about remembering, and that would go well at the end of the evening. I also wanted to create something new to go with this new group, and to let them be the first to dance it.
Ivouschki had the right feel for this, the lyrics (although somewhat surreal) gave the impression of a predictable loss, of a child leaving her home because she needs to grow, something sad but necessary. A close elbow-link hold emphasised the feeling of togetherness but hinted that the group was about to separate. I started off with swaying and the side steps just fitted with the vocal melody, it was only later that I realised there was another '3-something-1-something' sequence in there. The extra bars between verses became extra sways and the dance was finished.

Music: 'Ivouschki' by Bratsch from 'Sans Domicile Fixe' (Griffe GRI 19012-2 CB 811).

Formation: A close circle with a 'linked elbows' hold.

Steps: Remain facing centre throughout (difficult to do anything else with this handhold).

• Step with the right foot to the side, close with the left, and step with the right to the side again. This is fairly quick, the three steps come as 1-and-2 compared with the slow and even sways.
• Sway three times, starting to the left.
• Repeat the side-together-side sequence to the right.
• Sway once to the left.

The introduction lasts for two complete step sequences, the dance begins with the singing.

There are two extra sways after the first verse and four slower ones after the second, these keep the step sequence aligned with the music.

Later thoughts: Although probably my most popular dance I still think it can be tricky, especially with the tempo variations in the middle. Even so, this has become my closing dance of choice.