Tarantella Montevergine (Italy) ~ Folk Dance Musings

Tarantella Montevergine
Italy

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. This dance was choreographed out of steps seen by Rod LaFarge at various Montevergine Festas in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania

Music: Cinderella Tarantella, Victor 25-0127
Meter: 6/8
Formation: Two couples in a square. W on M's R.
Introduction: None, start right away
Footwork: Either Light running steps (2 per measure) or a Pas-de-basque step. Start with R foot.
Castanets: the dancers may optionally click castanets. One click per step.

Part 1: Circle

Bars 1-2; Hold hands in a V position and circle to the right using a grape vine step: Step on R to R to start then step on left behind. Then R to R, and then L in front
Bars 3-8: repeat bars 1-2, three more times
Bars 9-16: Circle to the L, start by stepping on R foot behind L, then continuing in a grapevine to the L

Note that many groups don't do a grapevine here and simply run to the R and then run to the L

Part 2: Chorus step

Bars 1-4: using 4 pas de basque steps (RLR, LRL, RLR, LRL), facing partner. Hands are held over the head and sway to the R, L, R, L.
Bars 5-6: Using 4 running steps, walk CW around partner in "Sorellina" (little sister) position: don't touch your partner put your hands out around your partner, M's hands are higher than W's
Bars 7-8: Put hands above head and turn CW in place ending facing opposite person (i.e. corner)
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8 facing corner.

Part 3: Star

Bars 1-8: Stick R hand into the center for a Right-hand star all the way around with 16 running steps. Free hand is held up in the air.
Bars 9-16: Pull R shoulder back and put L hand in for a L hand star back to place with 16 running steps.

Part 4: Chorus step

repeat part 2

Part 5: Elbow Turns

Bars 1-2: Turn Partner by the R elbow all the way around with 4 steps
Bar 3: M pass each other back to back with two steps, leading with L shoulder
Bars 4-6: Turn opposite with the L elbow all the way around with 4 steps, then M cross back to back to partner using two steps leading with R shoulder
Bars 7-12: Repeat bars 1-6
Bars 13-14: Repeat bars 1-2
Bars 15-16: Turn CW single in place with arms above head.

Part 6: Chorus step

repeat part 2

Part 7: Pousette

Bars 1-2: Face opposite, with hands above head, M dances forward and W backs up with two pas de basque. M Start to pass back to back (the couples do a dosido as couples)
Bars 3-4: Complete the dosido with the couples having swiched places. M backs up and W dances forward. Two pas de basques (R, L)
Bars 5-8: Turn a 1/4 to face partner, repeat bars 1-4 with partner.
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8.

Part 8: Chorus step

repeat part 2

Part 9: Arches

Bar 1-2: Face opposite, but take nearer hands with partner, 2nd couple Raise hands above heads, 1st couple duck through while 2nd couple walk forward.
Bar 3-4: Turn as a couple to face opposite, M backing up, W dancing forward.
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4, but with 1s forming the arch.
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Part 10: Chorus step

repeat part 2

Part 11:

Bars 1-2: M grab R hand in R hand with other man and exchange places with 4 steps, on the last count leap onto the L extending L hand up and pulling away from other M (but keep holding hands)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 back to place.
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4
Bars 9-12: M retain R hand and form an arch. W repeat the figure described in bars 1-4, under M's arch.
Bars 13-16: W turn inwards, retaining R hands. Take L hand with same gender. Using a sashay step sashay to the L for 8 beats.

Part 12: Chorus step

repeat part 2
end with a "hay" hands above your head.

Tucson Video

(I didn't video this, so it isn't my fault)
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Other notes on the web

Other sources

Casey, Betty (1981) International Folk Dancing USA. Doubleday and Company
Lidster, Miriam and Dorothy Tamurini (1965) Folk Dance Progressions. Wadsworth Publishing
Lafarge, Rod (1950) Rosin the Bow, Vol 3, Issue 8

Folk Dance Musings

Saturday, 1 July 2017