You can learn a lot by watching our couples who know the dance. But a student can’t actually do the dance with a partner until she or he learns the turning step. The trick is, the man and woman must do different steps. Until the student gets this step, it’s pointless to attempt to do the dance with a partner.

 

I wish I could teach the Hambo, but I can't even do it any more. But in my opinion, it's best to teach the hard part first. The rest you can pick up in a few minutes.

 

Perhaps you can get started learning the hard part on your own.

 

The man steps left-touch-right while

the woman does right-left-touch.

(NOTE ED GAINES CORRECTION)

left - touch - right

 

Or, you could say:

Man: left - both- right.  

Woman: left - both - right

 

ED GAINES says I have the women's step wrong, and then tells me it's left - touch - right JUST LIKE THE MEN'S STEP! Nancy gave me my version. Someone help me out here!

 

Say the words and move the feet to feel the rythm, standing in one spot. Do it while walking forward. Then turn clockwise slowly, then a lot. Finally do it while making a 360 degree turn. for a couple dozen turns.

 

Now you're ready for an experienced partner. He or she will teach you the transition step into the Hambo hold, and into the turn. (We have Dick Oakes description of this below, but it's far better to get it from an experienced partner.

 

Finally you do the step with every opposite-gender person in the circle.

 

Don’t worry if you can’t quite make the full turn right away. Move closer the center of the room so you don’t get in the way of the outer circle of experienced dancers. I'd like a chance to teach all the women to do cripple-old-man styling!

 

Don't feel bad if you can't get the Hambo. Vossarul is a great way to fly that isn't so athletic.

 

There are hundreds of great Scandi turning dances, lots more than the few dozen popular in IFD groups. I’ve danced with Scandi groups in DC and Austin. I’d go every week if there were a group nearby, and if I get my knee back...

 

Here's an authoritative source, and excerpt from Dick Oakes' Hambo Dance Description. :

 

First... read this quick guide to dance notes shorthand:

 

M = man, men, man’s or men’s

W = woman, women, woman’s, women’s

L = left, R = right.

LOD = ‘line of direction’ – couples move CCW around the room; CW = clockwise

shldr = shoulder, ptrs = partners, cpls = couples,  ft = foot, ct = count

swd = sideways or sideward, fwd = forward....

 

HAMBOPOLSKA STEP: Cpls assume Swedish Folkdance Hold (also called Hambo Hold): Ptrs almost facing with M R arm around W waist, W L hand on M R shldr, M L arm sharply bent and forearm parallel to floor with palm upward and holding W upper arm near elbow, W R arm nearly straight out from her shldr with her hand holding his upper arm hear his elbow.

 

MAN'S STEP (Dip R, Step L, Both): Step R in LOD, turning toe to R to begin CW pivot and bending knee in a "dip" in a natural movement (ct 1); step L swd and fwd and continue pivot on ball of L ft (ct 2); continuing pivot, bring R next to L with only momentary wt on both (ct 3).

WOMEN'S STEP (Step L, Touch R, Leap R): Step L, following (not initiating) M "dip" (ct 1); describing an arc with R ft behind L and close to floor, touch R toe in back of L (ct 2); leap slightly fwd onto R, completing full CW turn with ptr (ct 3).

 

(2) ADJUSTING STEP: Ptrs dance one step in LOD, opening out of close dpos into open pos with M applying strong pressure to small of W back with his R hand to stop her pivot (ct 1); both take two steps in LOD as W brings her L hand down in front of M shldr and M brings his R hand up to take her L hand and give her support (cts 2,3).