The Gorlitza


This is a Polish round dance for two, which was brought over to London from Paris in 1851. Like the Varsovienne, it is now seldom seen beyond the walls of the dancing academy. Perhaps one reason of its short-lived popularity is to be found in the fact that it is rather troublesome to learn, the steps being changed continually. The time is the same as that of the Schottische, but not quite so quick. Take your position as for the Polka.

1st bar.—One polka step to the left, beginning with left foot, and turning half round.

2nd bar.—Slide your right foot to right, bring left foot up close behind it, as in the fifth position; make a glissade with your right foot, ending with your left in front.

3rd bar.—Spring on your right foot, raising your left in front.  Fall on your left foot, passing it behind your right foot. Glissade to right with right foot, ending with left in front.

4th bar.—Again spring on right foot, raising left in front. Fall on left foot, passing it behind right. Glissade to right, with your right foot; end with same foot in front. Then repeat from beginning during the next four bars, but the second time be careful to end with the left foot in front. During the last two bars you turn round, but do not move forward.

The step for the lady is the same, with the order of the feet, as usual, reversed; except, however, in the last two bars of this figure, which both begin with the same foot.

The Gorlitza, like the preceding dance, is divided into parts. The first part occupies eight bars of the music; the second, sixteen bars.  The step for the second part is as follows:--

1st four bars.—Commence with Polka Mazurka step, with left foot to the left, and turn half round. Then do the step of the Cellarius to the right, beginning with the right foot; fall on left foot, keeping it behind right foot; glissade with right foot, and end with same in front.

2nd four bars.—Polka Mazurka, with right foot to the right, and turn half round. Cellarius step, with left foot to the left. Fall on right foot, keeping it behind; glissade with left foot, bringing it behind.

Repeat from beginning, which completes the sixteen bars of second half of the figure.

Lady does the same steps, with order of feet reversed.

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This is taken from Routledge's Manual of Etiquette.

 

 



 

Copyright © D. J. McAdam· All Rights Reserved