Four Wallon Folk Bal Dances

Gigue Wallonne

This is danced to music in 6/8 of a style similar to the tunes used for the gigue and circassian circles. It is a mixer of modern choreography that slowly gets introduced in folk bals.
Starting position is as in the gigue: couples standing side by side in a circle, facing counter clockwise, gent on the inside, his lady's left hand in his right hand at shoulder height.

A. 4 bars: advance for 2 bars along the circle, stepping left forward, right forward, left forward, right next to left (for both gent and lady), then retiring backwards with the same kind of step;
B. 4 bars: couples separate, gents moving towards the centre of the circle, ladies outwards, using the same step as before for 2 bars, coming back for the next 2 bars. At the end, couples face each other, gents still on the inside of the circle, their left shoulder in the line of dance. Gents take the lady with both hands in the waist, ladies take the gents' shoulders (waist-shoulder hold);
C. 2 bars: couples slide counter clockwise, the gent to the left, the lady to the right;
D. 2 bars: couples make a full turn clockwise;
E. 2 bars: partners drop hands. Both gents and ladies slide to the left, hence are moving in opposite direction, and meet the next lady/gent in line;
F. 2 bars: newly formed couples make a full turn clockwise with waist-shoulder hold as before;
repeat A-F till the end of the music.

Circle dance

Also this dance is a mixer danced to jigs.
Starting position: all lined up in a circle, gents on the outside, facing counter clockwise, ladies on the inside facing clockwise, partners not entirely side by set but positioned so that they can see each other.

A. 8 bars: gents move counter clockwise, ladies clockwise, using a normal walking step (or jig step), clapping left hands on the first beat of each bar of each person encountered, starting on beat 1 with the own partner. During the second beat of the last bar, gents face inwards and ladies outwards towards a new partner, i.e. the first person with whom one did not clap;
B. 4 bars: (new) partners take open facing position (also called double-hand hold i.e. left in right and right in left), gents gently pushing the lady towards the centre of the circle using a jig- or polka-step;
C. 4 bars: gents pull lady back;
D. 8 bars: as in A, but now gents and ladies in the other direction. During the last beat, gents turn 1/4 to the right to face towards the circle, and ladies similarly to face outwards. Gents take with right hand their partner's right hand, and with the left hand, the left hand of the lady on the right of their partner;
E. 4 bars: using polka steps, all move forwards, the circle of ladies towards the outside crossing the circle of gents that is moving towards the inside;
F. 4 bars: as E, but in opposite direction coming back to the end-position of D;
And then ? I know gents have to drop their partner's hand, and then to lead the other lady under their arm, while walking balk to the outer circle. What I don't remember is the number of beats. It maybe has to be done during the last beats of the previous sequence. Have to ask Michaëla.

Arèdge di Malempré

Malempré is a village which is part of Manhay.
The dance is performed in sets of four couples, couples facing into the set, couple 1 standing with the back to the music, the other couples being numbered clockwise from the first couple on.

A. 16 beats: All take hands, forming a circle, and move clockwise using 16 chassé steps;
B. 16 beats: Back counterclockwise, making sure to end on the right spot in the set;
C. 32 beats: Couple moves to the centre of the set in 4 steps, and swing for another 4 beats with right arms crossed. The gent then has 4 beats to swing (arms crossed) with lady 2, then 4 with own partner, 4 with lady 3, 4 with own partner, 4 with lady 4, and finally 4 to swing back with own partner to the original place in the set;
D. 32 beats: repeat A and B
E. 32 beats: now second couple dances C, the gent swinging with lady 3, 4 and 1 consecutively;
F. 32 beats: repeat A and B
G. 32 beats: third couple dances C, the gent swinging with lady 4, 1 and 2 consecutively;
H. 32 beats: repeat A and B
I. 32 beats: fourth couple dances C, the gent swinging with lady 1, 2, and 3 consecutively;

The music for this dance is on the CD Le reveil ardennais,

Circle waltz variation

Couples line up in a circle facing counter clockwise in promenade hold: couple side by side, with the man a little behind the lady, left hands joined and held up at shoulder height, right hands joined and held up over the lady's right shoulder.

A. 2 bars: waltz promenade counter clockwise, both starting left;
B. 2 bars: gent leads lady to turn around him counter clockwise, keeping hands joined;
C. 2 bars: continue waltz promenade counter clockwise;
D. 2 bars: turn the lady again, releasing first left hand, then right. Make sure all ending up in one big circle joining hands, gents having their partner on their right hand side;
E. 2 bars: 2 waltz steps gently moving forward and backward;
F. 2 bars: gents lead their partner with their right hand to turn in front of them, coming back into the circle on their left hand side;
G. 2 bars: same as F with the (new) lady on their right;
H. 2 bars: 2 waltz steps gently moving forward and backward;
I. 4 bars: now the gents have to do the same figure (F to G) twice to the left, such that at the end, they have back their partner on their right hand side;
J. 4 bars: gents release partner's hand, turn around the lady on their left, and take with her starting position but facing into the circle;
K. 4 bars: now the music switches to jig-tempo. Couples do a jig-step left and right for the first 2 bars, moving into the centre and then using a two-step on 3rd and 4th bar to turn clockwise 180%;
L. 4 bars: still in jig-tempo, couples do a jig-step left and right for the first 2 bars, moving outbound and then using a two-step on 3rd and 4th bar to turn counter clockwise 90%, facing the circular line of dance;
repeat all till the end of the music.

I'm not sure about the right timing and order of the figures. Suggestions welcome