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Baztan Dantza

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BACKGROUND

Information: A dance.

Quoting Westwind notes: "This is one of the Mutil-dantzas, of "men's dances" characteristic of Navarre's Baztan Valley. It is traditionally a men's social dance, although today women are sometime allowed to join in. It was learned by Candi deAlaiza from Marie Maritorena in 1975. There are many versions of this dance both in Europe and among American Basques."

Translation: Dance from the Baztan Valley of Navarre

Pronunciation: BAWHS-tawn DAWN-saw

Region: Basque Country

Meter: 4/4

Formation: Men and allowed women in a circle, all facing CCW, hands unjoined and down at sides.


BARS ACTION

  Introduction.
1 No action. Listen carefully for the 3 drum beats (cts 1,2,3).
 
1.   Forward and turn.
1 Run forward 3 steps onto: R ft, L ft, R ft (cts 1,2,3), hop on R ft (ct 4).
2 Repeat action of bar 1 with opposite footwork.
3 Raise hands head high and turn once CW with 2 step-hops onto: R ft, L ft (cts 1,2,3,4). Click fingers twice (cts 2,4).
4 Repeat action of bar 1, with hands lowered again.
5-8 Repeat action of bars 1-4 with opposite footwork, still moving CCW around the circle but turning CCW.
       Note: do all hops with free heel kicked up before the supporting ft.
 
2.   Short turns.
1-2 Repeat action of bars 3-4 of step 1 (Two step-hops turning CW and three steps forward).
3-4 Repeat action of bars 1-2, with opposite footwork and moving CW (in reverse direction) around circle.
5-8 Repeat action of bars 1-4. Note: don't click fingers when turning CCW and moving CW.
 
3.   No turns.
1-2 Repeat action of bars 1-2 of step 1 (Three steps forward, twice). Swing R ft in a small CW circle and:
3 Step behind L ft onto R ft (ct 1), hop on R ft, swinging L ft around behind R ft (ct 2), repeat cts 1-2 with opposite footwork (cts 3-4).
4 Step back, back, forward, onto: R ft, L ft, R ft (cts 1,2,3), hop on R ft (ct 4).
5-8 Repeat action of bars 1-4 with opposite footwork.
 
4.   Long turn. Raise hands head high and:
1-3 Repeat action of bar 3 of step 1, 3 times in all (Six step-hops turning CW).
4 Repeat action of bar 1 of step 1 (Three steps forward).
5-6 Repeat action of bars 7-8 of step 1 (2 step-hops CCW plus 3 steps forward (CW around circle)).
7-12 Repeat action of bars 1-6. Take a fourth step (ct & of 4 of bar 12) or leave one out (ct 2 of bar 12).
 
5.   Interlude. Facing CCW around circle:
1 Step onto L ft (ct 1), hopping on L ft, kick R ft forward about 36 cm (ct 2), turn 180o CCW to face CW around the circle with 2 steps onto R ft, L ft (cts 3,4).
2 Repeat action of bar 1 with opposite footwork. Don't turn, but end facing CW around the circle.
3 Clap (hands) thrice, chest high (cts 1,2,3).
4-6 Repeat action of bars 1-3, in mirror image, to end facing CCW.
       Note: always turn toward the center of the circle.
       Note: initial step of each bar is onto the inside ft.
 
1-32 Repeat entire dance from beginning.
 
    Finale.
1-2 Touch L toe across R ft; pivot 270° CW to end facing center. Don't bow or curtsy.

REFERENCE


DOCUMENT


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