Information on Dutch traditional dances

The Netherlands, 
A melting pot of 
European dance traditions

Last update:
11.02.2012

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Dutch dance descriptions by Elsche Korf

Dance descriptions and sheet music of the dances in the publication Op Oude Voet can be downloaded in English or  Dutch.

This contains: HarmonikAa, Paspie Menuet, Valsen til Christine, Petite Tonkinoise, Aan den oever van Snellen Vliet, Dubbel & Dwars, Te Haerlem in den Houte, Wals, Sleiver nr 17, Walsje voor Peije, Gavot voor de Marionetten, Decemberwals, Malbroek, When Chloe, Rigaudon, Maatwerk. 

Dance descriptions and sheet music of the dances in the publication Op Goede Voet can be downloaded in English or  Dutch.

This publication contains: Blaauwe Boer, Deindans, Franse Slag, Haerlemmerdijk, Henriks Mazurka, Hoge Dijk, Hongaarse Mazurka, Polka Jenny Lind, Jubilaris, Keperen Schots, Ljouwerter Skots, Marskramer, Polka Ongelijk, Pot van Cees en Tonia, Rijglijf, Sextant, Schots Air, Trekzak, Utrechtse Schots, Waterpas, IJswals.

Index of dances on this page

to view dance description and sheet music (pdf).
 to listen to a dance tune (midi)
to view a dance video (wmv)

Baonopstekker

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In the older days people often danced in pubs. Before the actual dance could start the room had to be cleared of people and furniture.


Blaauwe Boer

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The 'Blaauwe Boer' is part of a collection of 996 very popular Dutch dance tunes from round 1700. In Holland we only have the tunes. To our regret we didn't have a dancing master like John Playford who published his first 'English Dancing Master' in 1651. Elsche wrote a new dance to this Dutch tune in the English tradition.


Carl Eriks Wals

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The inspiration for this dance came after listening to a CD by the Danish accordion player Carl Erik Lundgaard Jensen. The third track on the CD called 'Valsen til Christine' affected Elsche in such a way that a dance was written. She had the opportunity to show the dance to mister Jensen. He was very touched by the steps to his music.
(Video: Performed by Elsche Korf, assisted by members of the Dutch display team Pieremachochel.)


Chloe

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This tune is previously published in the Sussex Tune Book, which mentioned the Welch Family Manuscript (England about 1800). Elsche was inspired both by the music and by the dance figure 'das kleine Fenster' from an Austrian dance called 'Ländler'. The same 'little window' is also known in the Cajun Jitterbug.

 
Gavot voor de Marionetten

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A friend of Elsche's suggested this tune to her on the occasion of the first Dutch Dance Workshop in 1997 organized by the display team Pieremachochel.

 
Henriks Mazurka

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The tune for this dance was written by Henrik Holm as a gift for Elsche on the occasion of her 40th birthday. Henrik is of Swedish nationality. He was a member of the display team Pieremachochel for many years.
(Video: Performed by members of the Dutch display team Pieremachochel.)

 
Hongaarse Mazurka

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A dance made by Elsche Korf in 1987 to a traditional Dutch tune.

 
IJswals

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A dance made by Anne Sanson-Catz around 1925 to a traditional tune 'Oude Passepie' published in 'Hollantsche Schouburg', Amsterdam (1696-1716).
(Video: Performed by members of the Dutch display team Pieremachochel.)

Olde step

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Traditional Dutch (from a musical which stood in Amsterdam round 1900). (Video: Performed by members of the Dutch display team Pieremachochel.)


 
Pot van Cees en Tonia

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The name of the dance demands an explanation. 'Pot' is from a pub in Utrecht called 't Oude Pothuys', which has a coffee-pot painted on the sign-board outside. 'Cees', pronounced as 'case' stands for the late 'Cees Eekels'. He was the last old-fashioned accordion and melodeon builder in Holland. 'Tonia' stands for 'Elsche' because Cees persistently addressed Elsche as Tonia during a visit. Cees played 'valse inconnue' for her then.
(Video: Performed by members of the Dutch display team Pieremachochel.)

 
Rigaudon

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A friend of Elsche's suggested this tune to her on the occasion of the first Dutch Dance Workshop in 1997 organized by the display team Pieremachochel. From Tune Books like 'Hollantsche Schouburgh' we have it that dances like the rigodon were very popular in Holland round 1700. the dance Elsche wrote got its style from the TV series 'Pride and Prejudice'. In particular Mr. Beveridge's Maggot.

 
Schots Air

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In Dutch manuscripts from around 1700 there are many tunes with the word 'Schots' in the title. 'Schots' in Dutch has many meanings, one of them being 'from Scotland'. Out of many tunes only 'Schots Air' has the particular Scotch snap. In Holland we have in manuscripts from around 1700 over 1500 dance tunes. Sadly enough we don't have any dance descriptions. We didn't have a dancing master like John Playford who published the first edition of the 'English Dancing Master' in 1651. Both Dutch and English choreographers can't resist the temptation to write new dances to these tunes.

 
Sleiver, no. 17

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The music was found in Visser's manuscript (1817-1821). A Swedish way of dancing mazurka inspired Elsche to write this dance.

 
Wals Insomnia

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This waltz was written by Elsche for the dance team from Schagen during a sleepless night.

 


   Copyright 2001, Elsche Korf.
   Source: http://www.elschekorf.nl/

 

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