LA VARSOUVIANNA
"Dances of Early California"

The Mission fathers banned La Varsouvianna as well as the waltz because the
closed couple position was too intimate to be entirely proper; it wasn't
allowed until 1834.  Danced differnt ways acround the state.  "Varsuvienne"
position didn't actually come in later.

Closed position:  If woman on right, her left hand on his right arm below
                  the shoulder, his right arm on her back about waist level,
                  free hands lightly joined, partners quite far apart.
                  (If woman on left, positions reversed.

Long phrase never danced more than twice in a row, short phrase never more than
four times in a row (differs from other versions).

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PACIFIC GROVE VARSOUVIANNA
3/4 time - uses Pacific Grove Varsouvianna Music.
Closed position, couples facing around the room, woman on partner's left,
man's right hand points toward LOD.  First foot is right for M, l for W.

A 1-3: On first foot, pause (count 1), step sideward (2), close (3.)
       Repeat.
       Repeat.
    4: step (1), hold, hold.

  5-8: Same thing going the other way, starting on other foot.

B 1-2: turning slightly to man's right, first foot sideward in LOD (1),
       close second foot (2), step sideward (3), pause, pause, pause.

  3-4: same thing going the other way, starting on other foot.

  5-8: As in 1-4.

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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO VARSOUVIANNA
Uses Watsonville Varsouvianna Music
Varsouvianna position; women on partner's left (inside the ring), hands
raised above shoulders.  Man takes her left with his left going behind her 
back; her right with his right in front.  She's slightly ahead of him.
Same foot for both partners.

Up beat: With weight on left foot raise the right a few inches from the floor
and bring it in front of of the left ankle with a little swing, bending the
left knee slightly.  That's on introductory music (third beat).

A: 1: Step diagonally forward right with right foot (1), close left foot (2), 
      swing right to left ankle (3).
   2: Same again, same foot: step close swing.
   3: Step sideward with right foot (1), close left (2), 
      step sideward right (3).
   4: Touch left heel diagonally forward to left; toe is not raised (as
      distinct from, say, heel and toe polka.)

      (Czarnowski: four measure sequence is "bend (left knee) a-step a-close.
       bend a-step a-close, bend a-step a-close, step touch.)

 5-8: Same thing starting left foot.

B: 1: Three walking steps diagonally right, starting right foot. (RLR)
   2: Point left foot diagonally forward left (1 and 2); swing left foot
      to right ankle.
   3: Three walking steps starting left foot, diagonally forward left. (LRL)
   4: Point right foot diagonally forward right (1 and 2); swing right 
      foot to left ankle (3).
      (Winston: walk-walk-walk touch and bend walk-walk-walk touch and bend)

 5-8: as in 1-4.

Repeat several times.

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MONTEREY VARSOUVIANNA
Use Pacific Grove Varsouvianna Music.
Closed position, woman on right (outside of circle).  Closed is not _very_
closed, remember; bodies face more forward than toward each other.
In this version, Varsouvianna step is always taken with left foot of man,
right foot of woman starting the swing toward the ankle of the supporting foot.

Up Beat:  First foot swings toward other ankle, bending knee of supporting 
          foot slightly (and); 

A: 1:     Step forward with first foot (1), close second foot (2), swing 
          first foot in front of other ankle (3).

   2:     Same again, same foot.

   3:     Walk forward three steps, starting first foot.

   4:     Step back on second foot (1), hold (2), swing (3).  
          On (1) turn slightly toward the foot going back and look over 
          that shoulder (the one closer to partner).

 5-8:     All that again.

B: 9-10:  Couple turns CW with four walking steps, starting first foot.
          first (1), second (2), first (3), second (1), hold (2), swing (3).
          Go as far as you want; once, half, 3/4, whatever.

  11-12:  Start with first foot and go CCW (reverse), as in 9-10.
 
  13-16:  As in 9-12.

"The elderly Californian who described this dance stated that 'they just flew
around on these turns.'"

The dance is repeated about three times.
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WATSONVILLE VARSOUVIANNA
Use Watsonville Varsouvianna Music.
Closed position, woman on left (inside of circle).  Closed is not _very_
closed, remember; bodies face more forward than toward each other.
First foot is R for man, L for woman.
First four measures progress CCW; next four progress CW.


Up Beat: with first foot turned outward, swing first foot toward other ankle
         (count "and")

A: 1:  step-close-swing
   2:  step-close-swing (same foot).
   3:  step-step-step
   4:  Turning slight toward partner, facing in opposite direction as much
       as original closed position permits, point second foot diagonally 
       forward (wrt your body, not LOD) on its own side (M L, W R) (1-2);
       swing second foot toward ankle of first foot (3)

5-8:   As above, starting on other foot and progressing other direction, but
       finish facing original direction.

   9:  Facing CCW, three steps forward. starting on first foot (1 - 2 - 3). 
  10:  Turn toward partner to face CW; point second foot diagonally forward;
       swing foot toward other ankle.
11-12: Facing CW, same thing on the other foot, finish facing CCW.

13-16: Repeat 9-12; you change directions every two measures; on measure
       16, the pointed foot (first foot) is held for all three counts.

B 1-16: Couples closed waltz at will around the room.  Waltz used in
        Watsonville was the two-step waltz, (step, close step, step, like 
        Cajun.)  Man starts pulling right foot back to turn CW.
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