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Miles Hamby
Miles Hamby
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Dance Like the Gypsies! (Under construction)
The
Sevillana dance originates from
Sevilla, Spain, and is four iterations (‘coplas’) of the music, with each
copla diifferent from the previous, but set by tradition (i.e., there are
only these four coplas.) It is danced with a partner (non-gender specific) in
opposition, accompanied by castanuelas (castanets) whose rhythm is prescribed
for the respective step. The Sevillana music for dancing is 36 bars
in 3/8 or 3/4 time, not including introductions and transitions. Some
Sevillana music is not intended for dancing and can be shorter or longer than
the steps permit. The dance is danced in sets of two bars
per step for 18 steps, usually in three phases of step sequences (see ‘Step
Sequences as Three Phases per Copla’).
Unlike the strict phrasing of Viennese Waltz, the Sevillana is often
highly synchopated deriving from the Moorish origins of Spanish music and
thus, the phrasing of the dance steps is often not clearly on the
downbeat. For the directions provided here, the
large numbers indicate the step, the smaller number indicates the specific
eighth or quarter note. For example,’ 623,456’ indicates Step 6 for two bars
of music, i.e., 6 eighth/quarter notes (123 and 456). These directions assume one knows how to do
the Paso de Sevillana and Pasada steps. Descriptions for other steps are
provided at the end. Click on the above link to open the description of the Sevillana. Written by Miles Hamby.. |
