Oberek Na Lewo (Poland)

Oberek Na Lewo

Poland

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Ada Dziewanowska and choreographed by Jás Dziewanoski. There is a different version was taught by Jacek Marek. Obereks are spinning dances, and Na Lewo means "to the left".

Music: ZM-40591 "Tańce Ludowe Z Polski"
Meter: 3/8
Formation: Couples in a circle, in ballroom hold but facing LOD (inside hips touching) to start.
Introduction: 4 bars, no action

Footwork

I =  inside = M's R, W's L
O = outside = M's L , W's R

Oberek Step: Leap onto O (1), step on ball of I foot next to O (2), step onto I (3); also done with the opposite footwork:

Kneels (men only): Leap onto R, with a deep knee bend, left foot goes back with top of foot to floor, knee to floor (1,2), straighten up (3); also done with the opposite footwork.

Hołubczyki (click steps): 

Man's step:making a complete 1/2 CW turnBar 1: Step R In LOD (1), Lift L out to the side, click feet in the air (2), land on R (3). Bar 2: Step L (1), R (2), L (3)

W's step:making a complete 1/2 CW turnBar 2: Step L (1), R (2), L (3)
Bar 1: Step R In LOD (1), Lift L out to the side, click feet in the air (2), land on R (3). 

Skoki Chłopców (men only): 
Bar 1: Leap on R, Swing L up high up in the air (1), continue swinging L up, leaping off R, to hook it in behind L knee in the air, L hand is up high (2,3)
Bar 2: Land on L with bent knee, R foot back with top of foot on floor, R knee on the floor (1,2), straighten up on L (3)

Zawajany (men only):
Bar 1: Leap on R, bending R knee deeply, Swing L around on floor towards front(1), continue swinging L around to front(2,3)
Bar 2: Land on L with bent knee, R foot back with top of foot on floor, R knee on the floor (1,2), straighten up on L (3)

The Dance

Part 1 Bieg Dookoła Sali (running)

Bar 1: Run forward in LOD  I (1), O (2), I (3) 
Bar 2: repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork
Bars 3-6: repeat bars 1-2 two more times
Bar 8: Stomp O (1), I (2), making a 1/2 CW turn as a couple, so man is on the outside and W is on the inside
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8, except traveling in RLOD and starting with the opposite foot

Part 2: Obroty z Przyklekami (Oberek and kneels)

Open up so, both facing center. M's R hand is on W's R hip, and W's L hand is tucked under M's bicep (support position). Free hands are on hips. 
Bars 1-12: using 12 Oberek steps, starting with I foot. Spin CW in place, M dances forward, W backs up. 
Bars 12-16: W continues to do 4 Oberek steps backing up. M does 4 kneels (R, L, R, L), moving forward.

Part 3: Transition

Bars 1-4: Do 4 Oberek steps, starting with I foot, getting into Ballroom position, with O shoulder towards LOD. 

Part 4: Hołubczyki (Clicks)

Bars 1-2: do 1 complete Holubczyki step turning 1/2 way CW, and moving forward in LOD. 
Bars 3-16: repeat bars 1-2, seven more times.

Part 5: Skoki Chłopców (Men Leap high)

Open up so, both facing center. M's R hand is on W's R hip, and W's L hand is tucked under M's bicep (support position). Free hands are on hips. 
Bars 1-2: do 2 Oberek steps, M moving foward, W backing up. Start I foot.
Bars 3-4:  W does two Oberek step backing up. M does Skoki Chłopców
Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4, three more times.

Part 6: Transition 2

Bars 1-4: repeat bars 1-4 of part 3

Part 7: Figura Niesiona

M has hands on W's hips, W has hands on M's shoulders, M faces LOD, W has back to LOD.
Bar 1-7: M runs forward, W runs backwards,  IOI, OIO, IOI, OIO, IOI, OIO, IOI
Bar 8: Stomp O (1), I (2,3)
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8 with opposite footwork and direction (M backing up, W dance forward)

Part 8: Przykleki Chłopców

Bars 1-7: Drop hands and dance solo. M does 7 kneels, starting with I foot in place. He claps on each kneel.  W does 7 oberek steps spinning in place CW, 1 turn per step. 
Bar 8: Jump on both feet, hold.
Bars 9-10: In ballroom position, do two oberek steps, turning  moving forward in LOD
Bars 12-16: open up in "support" position, do 4 spinning oberek steps, M forward, W backwards, as Part 2

Part 9: Zawijany

Bars 1-2: M do a Zawijany step. W back, up with two oberek steps
Bars 3-4: Both do 2 oberek steps continuing to spin CW, M moves forward, W backs up.
Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4, three more times, W has to drop last step so that she has L foot free on the last count of Bar 16.

Part 10: Na Talarku

Get into shoulder-waist position, and rotate in place CW

Bar 1: Step L to L (1), close R next to L (2), Step L to L (3)

Bar 2:  Close R next to L (1), Step L to L (2), Close R next to L (3)

Bars 3-6: repeat bars 1-2, two more times

Bar 7: repeat bar 1

Bar 8: Stomp R (1), L (2), push free hands up in the air.

(Man can lift woman in the air for a more spectacular ending)

Other Notes on the web

• Page 39 of Stockton Folk Dance Camp Syllabus (1976)

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other Videos on the Web

Other Sources

• Dziewanowska, Ada (1997) Polish Folk Dances and Songs: A step by Step Guide. Hippocrene books