Bourée Droit du Pays Fort (France) ~ Folk Dance Musings

Bourée Droit du Pays Fort
France

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. The dance is from Haut Berry. Taught by Louise and Germain Hebert, who learned it from Pierre Panis and Paul Brouart. Also taught by Michele Brosseau.

Music: Rythme 4001; Barclay 820138; Cocorico CD
Meter: 3/8
Formation: Longways set
Introduction: Start with main melody

Part 1 "Avant deux de Berry"

Men
Bar 1: Step forward on L towards partner (1,2), hop on L, bringing R across in front of L (3)
Bar 2: Cross R over R (1), step on ball of L backing away from partner (2), Step on R next to L (3)
Bar 3: Backwards "pas de bouree": step on L backwards (1), step on ball of R foot next to L (2) Step on ball of L foot backwards (3)
Bar 4: Pas de bouree in place starting with R foot

Women
Bar 1: Backwards "pas de bouree": step on L backwards (1), step on ball of R foot next to L (2) Step on ball of L foot backwards (3)
Bar 2: Pas de bouree in place starting with R foot
Bar 3: Step forward on L towards partner (1,2), hop on L, bringing R across in front of L (3)
Bar 4: Cross R over R (1), step on ball of L backing away from partner (2), Step on R next to L (3)

Part 2: Bransiller et Croisements

Men:
Bars 1-6: Dance 6 "Bransiller steps", essentially these are flatfooted pas-de-basques (or pas de bouree) steps done in place. Step L in place (1), step R next to L (2), Step on R in place (3), and the opposite footwork. On the 6th bransiller, pull R shoulder back slightly so that L is ready to lead into the crossing.
Bar 7: leading with L shoulder forward take a big step on L into the center, starting to pivot around each other (2), step on R completing turn to end facing partner on opposite side (2), Step on L in place (3)
Bar 8: Do a pas de bouree on R foot, facing partner OR stomp on R and hold.
Bar 9-10: do 2 pas de bourees backing up
Bars 11-14: do 4 Bransillier steps
Bars 15-16: repeat footwork of bars 7-8, but do not cross over, instead end in a long single file line facing up the dance (M behind partner). M pull L shoulder back to do a 3/4 turn to end facing up.

Women
Bars 1-2: repeat bars 1-2 of part 1 backing up
Bars 3-16: Same as the men's part, except women only turn CCW a 1/4 to end facing up the set at the end

Part 3: Épingle à Cheveux (Hairpin turn)

Both men and women do the same footwork
Bar 1: Both traveling to the M's original side, take a big step on L, turning 1/2 to face down the set (pull L shoulder back) (1), step R (2), L (3) in place. W are now behind M
Bar 2: Do a R Pas de Bouree in place
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 back to center.
Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4 three more times.

Part 4: Bransiller et Croisements again

Bars 1-2: using 2 pas de bourees steps backing up to original sides.
Bars 3-14: repeat bars 3-14 of part 2
Bars 15-16: M: does 2 pas de bouree steps turning in place. W does 2 pas de bouree steps in place.

Dancers are now on opposite side, repeat the entire dance on the opposite side

Boston TNR video

Other notes on the web

Sheet Music

Other sources

Society for International Folk Dancing (1966). A Selection of European Folk Dances Vol 3: Pergamon Press.
Casey, Betty (1981) International Folk Dancing USA. Doubleday and Company

Also spelled: Bouree

Folk Dance Musings

Tuesday, 2 August 2016