Tarantella Montevergine (Italy)

Tarantella Montevergine 

Italy

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. This dance was choreographed out of steps seen by Rod LaFarge at various Montevergine Festas in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania

Music: Cinderella Tarantella, Victor 25-0127
Meter: 6/8
Formation: Two couples in a square. W on M's R.
Introduction: None, start right away
Footwork: Either Light running steps (2 per measure) or a Pas-de-basque step. Start with R foot.
Castanets: the dancers may optionally click castanets. One click per step.

Part 1: Circle

Bars 1-2; Hold hands in a V position and circle to the right using a grape vine step: Step on R to R to start then step on left behind. Then R to R, and then L in front
Bars 3-8: repeat bars 1-2, three more times
Bars 9-16: Circle to the L, start by stepping on R foot behind L, then continuing in a grapevine to the L

Note that many groups don't do a grapevine here and simply run to the R and then run to the L 

Part 2: Chorus step 

Bars 1-4: using 4 pas de basque steps (RLR, LRL, RLR, LRL), facing partner. Hands are held over the head and sway to the R, L, R, L.
Bars 5-6: Using 4 running steps, walk CW around partner in "Sorellina" (little sister) position: don't touch your partner put your hands out around your partner, M's hands are higher than W's
Bars 7-8: Put hands above head and turn CW in place ending facing opposite person (i.e. corner)
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8 facing corner.

Part 3: Star

Bars 1-8: Stick R hand into the center for a Right-hand star all the way around with 16 running steps. Free hand is held up in the air.
Bars 9-16: Pull R shoulder back and put L hand in for a L hand star back to place with 16 running steps.

Part 4: Chorus step 

repeat part 2

Part 5: Elbow Turns

Bars 1-2: Turn Partner by the R elbow all the way around with 4 steps
Bar 3: M pass each other back to back with two steps, leading with L shoulder
Bars 4-6: Turn opposite with the L elbow all the way around with 4 steps, then M cross back to back to partner using two steps leading with R shoulder
Bars 7-12: Repeat bars 1-6
Bars 13-14: Repeat bars 1-2
Bars 15-16: Turn CW single in place with arms above head.

Part 6: Chorus step 

repeat part 2

Part 7: Pousette

Bars 1-2: Face opposite, with hands above head, M dances forward and W backs up with two pas de basque. M Start to pass back to back (the couples do a dosido as couples)
Bars 3-4: Complete the dosido with the couples having swiched places. M backs up and W dances forward. Two pas de basques (R, L)
Bars 5-8: Turn a 1/4 to face partner, repeat bars 1-4 with partner.
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8.

Part 8: Chorus step 

repeat part 2

Part 9: Arches

Bar 1-2: Face opposite, but take nearer hands with partner,  2nd couple Raise hands above heads, 1st couple duck through while 2nd couple walk forward.
Bar 3-4: Turn as a couple to face opposite, M backing up, W dancing forward.
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4, but with 1s forming the arch.
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Part 10: Chorus step 

repeat part 2

Part 11:

Bars 1-2: M grab R hand in R hand with other man and exchange places with 4 steps, on the last count leap onto the L extending L hand up and pulling away from other M (but keep holding hands)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 back to place.
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4
Bars 9-12: M retain R hand and form an arch. W repeat the figure described in bars 1-4, under M's arch.
Bars 13-16: W turn inwards, retaining R hands. Take L hand with same gender. Using a sashay step sashay to the L for 8 beats.

Part 12: Chorus step 

repeat part 2
end with a "hay" hands above your head. 

Tucson Video

(I didn't video this, so it isn't my fault)
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Other notes on the web

• http://www.folkdance.com/LDNotations/TarantellaMontevergine1953LD.pdf
• http://sifolkdancers.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Tarantella-Montevergine.pdf
• http://evansvillefolkdancers.com/resources/Notes/M/Montevergine,%20Tarantella%20DN.pdf
• Page 63 of Stockton Folk Dance Camp (1952)

Other videos on the web

Other sources

• Casey, Betty (1981) International Folk Dancing USA. Doubleday and Company
• Houston, Ron (2018) Folk Dance Problem Solver 2018. Society of Folk Dance Historians
• Lidster, Miriam and Dorothy Tamurini (1965) Folk Dance Progressions. Wadsworth Publishing
• Lafarge, Rod (1950) Rosin the Bow, Vol 3, Issue 8

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