Troika

Three dancers stand side by side in a large ring. The one in the middle holds their hands up, and the other two place their hands on theirs (a light hold). All face counter-clockwise. The steps used are light skipping steps.

Explanation

1. Everyone runs eight light skipping steps forward and eight back (1–8)×2.
2. The dancer in the middle and the one on the left form an arch and run in place. The outermost dancer (to the right) marks the beat by stomping, bends down, and goes through the arch and back to their position. The dancer in the middle must 'follow around' so as not to lose their grip (1–8).
3. The dancer in the middle and the one on the right now form an arch and run in place, while the third dancer 'slips' through the arch and back into position – in the same way as in point 2 (1–8).
4. The three dancers who are together join hands in a circle and run 12 skipping steps clockwise (1–12). They stop and take three stomps (13–14–15), with a pause on 16. This is repeated (1–8)×2.
5. Repeat turn 4 counter-clockwise. After the 12 skipping steps, open the circle to return to the starting position. At the same time as taking the three stomps, the dancer in the middle is 'pushed' forward to the pair in front in the ring (1–8)×2.

Progression (Learning)

It's easiest to learn the dance in a line, three by three, one after another.

• Start by lightly skipping forward to the music.
• Then practice the 'slipping turn' (arch and slipping through).
• Finally, practice the ring turn.

Once the participants know all three turns, they move on to dancing in a large ring.

Wait with the 'tossing' (pushing the middle dancer forward to the next pair) until the participants know the dance well.