LEZGINKA

LEZGINKA
Record: The Folk Dancer MH 1060
Old Russian Couple Folk Dance
FORMATION:
A double circle around the room of couples, standing side by side, all facing
counterclockwise, with the ladies standing to the right of man.
Figure l.
Hold inside hands. Free outside hands are swung freely in and out at
shoulder level. The step used in the first figure is a Russian polka
step done without aey hopping at all. It consists of a fast running
step forward with a long leap on the first count followed by two shorter
running steps. Just skim the floor, no shuffling, and move swiftly
forward.
Man begins with left foot, lady with right foot, and take 2 polka steps
forward, the outside hands swing back on the first step, and across your
own chest on the second step. (The inside hands are held at shoulder
level with elbows bent).
Now drop hands and both turn away from partner, man to left, lady to
right with two more of the same polka step ( Sometimes the tendenqy is
to do a walking step pivot here, and this should be discouraged).
Finish facing partner.
Figure 2:
Hands on own hip, man leaps onto the left foot and does 4 push steps
with the right foot. At the same time the lady leaps onto the right
foot and does 4 push steps with the left foot.
Man now swings right foot in just under his knee cap (in front) while
he hops on left foot for count 1. Hop again on left foot and kick right
foot straight out for count 2. Then stamp 3 times, Right, Left, Right.
At the same time lady hops on right foot, kicking left foot in below
knee-cap, then straight out, and stamps 3 times, Left, Right, Left.
Figure 3:
Still facing partner, bend right arm at shoulder level across the chest,
Left hand is stretched out in back at about hip level. Almost touch
right shoulders with partner as you dance around each other with 4 polka
steps (this time it is a two-step polka). Now reverse the armsJ so that
the left arm is bent across the chest and the right hand is stretched
out in back. With left shoulders close to each other, dance around with
partner with 4 polka steps.
Repeat the whole dance from beginning.
NOTE: This dance has its origin in the old Caucasian-Georgian Lezginka which was a solo dance for
both man and woman. It is extremely flirtatious in the 3rd figure, the idea being to get close to
partner without touching. The dancer may separate a greater distance half-way through the 3rd
figure in preparation for the change of hands, but it is not necessary.
Oglebay Institute Spring Folk Dance Camp 1971