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't Smidje

(All American Promenade, La Chapelloise,
Aapje, Aleman's Marsj, Humppa Mixer)


The Music



The Formation

Couples in a circle, standing side by side facing line of dance, holding inside hands, Follow on the right.


The Figure

2 bars: Run Along LOD — Four counts forward along LOD with inside hands, then take other inside hands for four counts back along LOD.

2 bars: Run Against LOD — Repeat to travel against LOD back to place.

2 bars: Jump & Toss Across — With original inside hands, jump in to partner, jump away, then toss the Follow across to the inside lane, with a counter-clockwise rotation for her.

2 bars: Jump & Progress — With other inside hands, jump in to partner, jump away, then send the Follow diagonally forward to the outside lane, to repeat with a new partner.

Various Interpretations

There are many different interpretations of the footwork by various groups and teachers. Most of them are roughly compatible with each other. Here are some options:

Runs:

  1. Starting outside feet, take four steps forward, then three steps and a touch back
  2. Starting inside feet, take three steps and a hop forward, then three steps and a hop back
  3. The most popular option: whatever works to travel in the right direction
Jumps:
  1. Jump in toward partner and away from partner with two feet
  2. Leaping two-step (or pas de basque) in toward partner and away from partner
  3. Lazy side-close toward partner and away from partner
Progression:
  1. Simply send the Follow diagonally forward, without any rotation
  2. Follow free spins forward, clockwise
  3. Follow free spins forward clockwise as Lead free spins backwards counterclockwise
  4. Send the Follow back against LOD with an outside turn under the arch of the inside hands (this is not compatible with the rest)


If you or your community is interested in learning 't Smidje, .

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.

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