This workshop was organised by 't Smiske, a folk club (even more than that) in Asse. Koen Dhondt was invited as dance instructor. He has regular dancing classes in Brussels and Gent. His folk dancing style is based on his experience in France.

The following dances have been covered:

1. Scottish
2. Mazurka
3. Waltz

Please allow us a few weeks to get everything complete. Meanwhile, you can already enjoy some (surprising ?) pictures.

Scottish

Dutch readers can already enjoy this report in Folkroddels.

Mazurka

Koen's style of mazurka dancing is different than what is seen nowadays on folk bals in Flanders, and comes close to the way it used to be done in the seventies: more smooth and less hopping around. This is realised by marking the beats in the mazurka (M) sequence (which goes // L R R-hop // for the gents and with opposite footwork for the ladies) much more gently. On the first beat, the foot displaced should take weight just shortly and rather perform a push off to come back next to the other foot on the second beat, but without taking weight at all. It sweeps then forward on beat 3, and is put down on the first beat of the next bar. The hip moves only gently during these movements. To give some more rhythm, it is possible to replace the tempting hop on the third beat with just a tap of the heel. As such, the M sequence becomes more // L R - //, what Koen then calls a 2-bar, the waltz sequence being a 3-bar. Logically, this calls for a 1-bar as well, what is done by putting the foot aside on beat 1 and transfering weight to it over the next two beats.
The different sorts of bars can be danced as one pleases although sometimes the music may dictate what is most appropriate.

Waltz

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