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Susie’s Notebook: How to Conduct a Polonaise

Polonaise

by Susie & Gert-Jan Rotscheid

Taken from the perspective of YOU ON STAGE looking towards back of hall

  • Starting with 4 couples:
  • Couple number 1 (your strongest couple) is on your far left
  • Couple number 2 (your next to strongest couple) is one over to your right (so their left if facing you)
  • Couple number 3 is next, then Couple number 4
YOU
couple
4
couple
3
couple
2
couple
1
BACK OF HALL
  1. 4 couples – split –
    2 couples left – 2 rows right –
    go down sides of the hall, along the back,
    when you meet – RH set goes in front –
    come up to front of hall – split –
    (REPEAT with the 2 couples)
  2. GO AGAIN down side of hall and along the back
  3. when you meet – double pass through & continue to come up to the front –
    at front corner turn & go diagonally to the other corner (RH couple pass in front)
  4. at corner turn to come up that side of the hall – only 1/2 way –
    then turn towards COH –
    when you meet another couple – pair off –
    one row twds front – one row twds the back
  5. at the front (or back) separate – go along the side till you meet your partner – turn twds COH
  6. when you meet another couple veer LEFT; men in the lead –
    GIRLS give your right hand to the boy behind you to make a chain
  7. make a big spiral in – then spiral out – continue to make a big circle

NOTE: if you would rather not do the spiral, on #6, as you pass the other couple, continue as a couple to walk to the sides of the hall, then turn to your right. Everyone continue till all are walking in a circle, then face in.

We hope that you have fun with this –
For a round world,
Susie & Gert-Jan