POLKA ALEGRE (pohl-kah ah-leg-reh) = merry polka Mexico

BACKGROUND: This contradanza norteña (contra dance from northern Mexico) to a composition by master accordionist Antonio Tanguma shows the influence of post-renascence court dances brought by Europeans to Mexico (See “Mexican Folk Dancing,” in the 1993 Problem Solver) and altered by the native exuberance. As Alura says: "You must whistle: it is very happy!" Alura Flores (see her biography in the 1993 Problem Solver) arranged Polka Alegre from traditional material learned from the natives of northern Mexico and introduced this dance to the U.S. in San Antonio through El Patronato and the Extension Courses of UNAM in 1971 and 1972; she also presented it at Festival Folklórico Internacional (Mexico Folk Dance Camp) in 1971 and 1987. COSTUME: Traje Norteño (northern costume). MUSIC: ECO LP 207 = ECO 25207, Polkas Alegres: Antonio Tanguma, su acordeón de botones y sus Regiomontanos; B-1, Polka Alegre. FORMATION: Four couples in a longways set, approximately 2 meters apart; men's L shoulders FRONT W1 W2 W3 W4 to front. Steps are noted for man; woman uses Ð Ð Ð Ð opposite footwork unless otherwise noted. (top of Sway body in the direction of the first step in set) Ï Ï Ï Ï each bar. Men will normally hook the thumbs M1 M2 M3 M4 of their free hands in their belt buckle, while women will hold skirts and swing them to counterbalance the movement of their feet. ______

BARS ACTION

3/4 Introduction: none, other than a 3-note upbeat.

1. Forward and back. Dance an exaggerated pas-de-Basque step thus: 1 Dancing forward and lifting knees high: leap diagonally forward to R onto R foot (ct 1), step in front of R foot onto L heel (ct 2), step in place onto R foot (ct 3). It's easy to neglect or omit the steps of cts 2 and 3. Don't do it! Give this step all the animation and vivacity it deserves! 2 = 1, with opposite footwork (dance a pas-de-Basque forward, starting onto L foot). 3-4 = 1-2 (2 more pas-de-Basque forward). 5-8 = 1-4, moving backward to place. 9-16 = 1-8 (forward and back again).

6/8 2. Skipping. Use a skipping step: Skipping step: hop on L foot (ct 6 of preceding bar), step forward onto R foot FRONT W1 W2 W3 W4 (ct 1), hop on R foot (ct 3), step forward onto L foot (ct 4). (top of 1-4 Man 1 and woman 4 hook R elbows or R set) hands, turn once or twice CW, and return M1 M2 M3 M4 to places. Others clap (cts 1,4 of each bar). 5-8 = 1-4, man 1 turning woman 1 with L elbows or hands. (concluded on next page)

55th Anniversary International Folk Dance Workshop with Ron Houston & Alix Cordray 13 Miami Valley Folk Dancers, Dayton, Ohio, March 27-30, 2008

Polka Alegre (concluded)

3. Heel-toe and slide. Couple 1 join hands (man's L to woman's R, man's R to woman's L) extended out to sides shoulder-high. Steps described for man, woman uses opposite footwork. 1 Hop on R foot, touching L heel out to L side (ct 1), hop on R foot, touching L toe beside R instep (ct 4). 2 Leaping onto L foot, touch R heel out to R side (ct 1), hop on L foot, touching R toe beside L instep (ct 4). 3-4 Slide to bottom of set with 4 slide steps. Slide (2 per bar): slide to R onto R foot (ct 1), leap beside R foot onto L foot (ct 3), repeat action of cts 1,3 (cts 4,6). Look to R. To slide R, use opposite footwork and direction and look to L. 5-8 = 1-4 with opposite footwork, returning to top of set.

3/4 4. Progression. 1-8 = step 1, bars 1-8. Couple 1 dances down the outside of the set while the FRONT W1 ÍW2 ÍW3 ÍW4 others dance up. 9-16 = step 1, bars 9-16 (forward and (top of back). set) M1 ÍM2 ÍM3 ÍM4

Repeat figures 2, 3, and 4 with couple 2 leading.

Repeat figures 2, 3, and 4 with couple 3 leading.

Repeat figures 2, 3, and 4 with couple 4 leading.

6/8 5. Finale. 1-8 Face top of set and join near hands with partner (man's R hand holding woman's L hand). Skip off, following couple 1, swinging arms.

"Now how," [I hear you asking], "does one know when to dance the Finale instead of another turning sequence?"

Easy! When the original first couple returns to first place, you finish the forward and back of the Progression and then skip off to the fast music. Just try not to forget who was first couple!

Sequence:

melody: a b c a b c a b c a b c a b figure: 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 2 3 4 2 3 4 5

End of POLKA ALEGRE. Description © 2008 by Ron Houston.

14 55th Anniversary International Folk Dance Workshop with Ron Houston & Alix Cordray Miami Valley Folk Dancers, Dayton, Ohio, March 27-30, 2008