Mazurka step variations

• Click heels: replace (3) by a quick click heels in the air, falling back on the right foot, continuing normally with (4). Similar for (9) and (10) but on the other foot;
• Lift your partner: replace (3) by lifting your partner on your right hip, and turn around during (4) and (5), putting her back on (6). You should prepare for this already on (2), inviting the partner to jump at the end of (2). If your partner isn't a cat walk professional, don't try it left;

Mazurka figure variations

• Both turn under (mpg; 1.6Mb): perform (1)-(3) on a straight line, for the gent to the left. Perform (4) to (6) also on a straight line, moving to the right, like this:
  • (4): L-step crossed behind your right foot, to the right, still facing your partner;
  • (5): R-step to the right, still facing your partner;
  • (6): L-step immediately left to your right foot, still facing your partner;
  Then perform (7)-(12) to the left, taking the following into account:
• the gent holds the lady's right hand with his left hand all the time, the other hands becoming free on (8) or (9)
• the gent starts turning clockwise on (9), the lady counter-clockwise;
• complete a full turn, under the gent's left and lady's right arms (forming an arch), during the waltz-sequence (10)-(12);
• make sure to be in the starting position at the end of (12).
• Right and left promenade:
• on (2), gent releases lady's waist and lady gent's shoulder; the gent already prepares to move to the right, the lady to the left;
• (3): while hopping in left open promenade hold, the gent moves the left leg in front of the lady to the right; the lady moves her right leg in front of the gent to the left;
• (4)-(6): continue to move in same direction;
• on (8), gent prepares to move to the left, lady to the right;
• (9): while hopping in open single hand hold, the gent moves the right leg in front of the lady to the left, the lady doing the opposite;
• (10)-(12): continue to move in the same direction, taking up again closed waltz hold.

Scottish variations

• tango variation: Replace the second part for the gent with "/L - R - /L - tango-turn/". With tango I mean: the gent holds his feet as they are and pulls left shoulder backward, while turning only slightly the hip counter-clockwise. As a result, the lady will hang in his right arm as in the well known tango position. Now you can't start the next first part with the normal steps, since the lady must be brought back in position, and the gent's weight is on the left foot. For that reason, the first bar of the first part following the tango variation goes for the gent "/R L R L/" such that he is back on the right foot for the second bar of the first part. Ladies, of course, start with the other foot.
• Cajun variation: this is a variation for the second part, that you must prepare at the end of the first part by taking a crossed hand hold: at chest height, the lady puts her right hand in the gent's right hand, and her left hand in his left hand, taking care that the right hands are above the left hands. During the second part, the gent turns the lady twice clockwise, keeping the hands very high (otherwise she'll be strangled). If done well, the arms should now form a triangle through which you can see each other's face. Dance the next first part in that position. During the next second part, the lady should turn anti-clockwise twice to come back in the starting position.
• 0.5/1.5 swing variation: this variation must be prepared at the end of part 1, whereby the lady places her left hand in the gent's right hand (hands are not crossed as in the Cajun variation). On the first two beats (hence first half bar) of part 2, the lady turns clockwise halfway under the gent's left arm, and then turns anti-clockwise for 1.5 turn during the next 1.5 bars till the end of the second part, the gent keeping the left arm high while she's turning. For the following first part, do the normal steps maintaining that folded position, and unfold during the next second part. At the end of it, the gent releases the lady's left hand and the couple continues the next first part in waltz hold.
• Sevillana hornpipe variation: in the basic first part, the foot on the second beat of each bar is placed next to the other one. In this variation, you must put that foot behind the other one. The foot on the third beat is placed on the spot, the sequence resulting in a Sevillana waltz step. But instead of hopping the last beat of part 1, gents place (or even better, to mark the beat, stamp with) the left foot and ladies the right one. The second part is then danced as a traditional hornpipe step which for the gents goes: / R hop L hop / R L R hop /. You then are ready to start a normal part 1 with the left foot. While doing the hornpipe step, gents have the choice to step towards the lady or back from her. Specifically when moving forward, be sure to lead her properly, or you will step on her toes!
• Sevillana rock variation: this is similar to the previous variation, but the last bar of the hornpipe step is replaced with Irish rocks. So when the gent moves backward, he puts his right foot behind the left, hooking the ankles into each other. Then, while standing as high as possible on the tips, balance left - right - left on the beat, and push off with the right foot on the last beat such that you can start the next first part normally. It is pritty dangerous for your ankles to do this unprepared. So practise this carefully, preferably using two chairs to keep you in balance.

• Scottish d'Auvergne: during the second part, you spot another couple that seems to be willing to dance the variation with you. Be sure that at the end of the second part, the two couples are more or less forming a diamond, the gents facing each other. Then, for the following first part, instead of keeping the partner in waltz hold, release him or her, but continue to dance in the normal direction. The ladies should however cross each other. Partners come back together at the end of part 1, to dance a normal second part, whilst, possibly, spotting another couple to repeat the sequence. As a variation to this variation, couples can also switch partners at the end of the first part.
• Scottish en ronde: all participating couples should form a large circle, lady on the right hand side of the gent. All first parts are danced in the same way: everybody faces into the circle, and the scottish steps as performed to the left: /L R-behind L hop /R-in-front L R hop/. For all odd second parts, the gent turns right and the lady left, hence couples are facing each other. The part is hopped as normal but without turning. As such, the gents are dancing backwards and the ladies forward. For the even second parts, ladies and gents turn the other side, hence facing the neighbours.

Bourrée variations

Bourrée choreographies

• Bourrée Les Gauthiers 1993 à quatres: (video, wmv 2,8Mb)
• Bourrée Les Gauthiers 1993 à plusieurs: (video, wmv 7,2Mb)
• Bourrée Saint Gemme à deux: (video, wmv 1,6Mb)
• Bourrée Saint Gemme à double jeu: (video, wmv 2,9Mb)
• Bourrée La Tournante des Grandes Poteries: You find a complete description of this dance on the page covering the bourrée workshop with M. Marginet. Links to videos are also there.
• Bourrée Cassiopé: (video, wmv 2,7Mb)
• Bourrée Saint Pierre: (video, wmv 2,6Mb)
• Bourrée Les Gauthiers 2000 (base figure): (video, wmv 1,7Mb)
• Bourrée Les Gauthiers 2000 (variation): (video, wmv 3,1Mb)