Lenochek (Ukraine)

Alternative Names	'Леночек' is the original spelling. 'Lenochek' is an English transcription by Hennie.
Ethnicity	Cossack.
Translation	Flax.
Formation	Circle. V-hold.
Dance Structure	((A1 + A2) + (B1 + B2)) repeated throughout the music.
Music Structure	4 counts/bar, 4 bar phrases.
Music Speed	115 counts/min.
Choreographer	Hennie Konings.
Musicians	Ozorniye Naigrishi.
Source	Hennie Konings in his Russian/Ukrainian course in Bognor Regis in 2003.

Disclaimer: Mistakes are quite likely in the notes and no guarantees are made as to accuracy. There may be other versions of the same dance or other dances with the same name. Music may differ, particularly in speed, introduction and duration, between performers. The division into parts, bars & counts might not be standard. These notes of the dance are freely distributable (under GPL or CC-by-sa) in so much as the note's author's contribution but the choreography and/or collection were by other people and so their copyright might apply to the dance itself. Better than using notes, go to a dance class where it is taught by Hennie Konings.

A very easy Ukrainian/Russian style dance to a gentle tune. It can optionally be made into a showy dance by being done in concentric counter-rotating circles.

It is a dance done by unmarried girls as part of their rituals aimed at getting a good husband and good future. Traditional steps choreographed by Hennie. The song is about a girl tending flax with which she will weave a handkerchief to bind her to the boy she loves.

("Lenochek" is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable & the 'o' as in "hot" not with 'o' as in "no" & stressed).

Style: Gliding, smooth & quiet. Activity in legs only. Toe leads, feet skim the floor. Stamps are flat & very gentle.

Introduction

Summary: Start when the singing starts.

There are 4 bar of instrumental as introduction.

Part A1

Summary: Forwards to the R starting with R foot in (slow walk) x 4, (walk, stamp) x 2, walk x 3, stamp.

Start

Facing acw around the circle.

1-2	Walk R forwards.
3-4	Walk L forwards.

Repeat bar 1 (walk R, L).

1	Walk R forwards.
2	Close L foot to R foot with a very gentle flat footed stamp (almost just a placing of the foot on the floor) without weight transfer. The stamp is almost done as a passing movement as the foot continues into the next step rather than a pause in the progression.
3-4	Repeat counts 1-2 in mirror image (L forwards, R close stamp).

1	Walk R forwards.
2	Walk L forwards.
3	Walk R forwards.
4	Close L foot to R foot with a very gentle flat footed stamp without weight transfer with an optional a slight lean to the L (which was gradually gained during the previous 3 steps and is very slight).

Part A2

Summary: Part A1 on opposite feet.

The same as Part A1 and still travelling acw around the circle but on the opposite feet (slow steps L, R, L & R, step L, stamp, step R, stamp, steps L, R & L, stamp).

Part B1

Summary: 7 Russian Glides starting R foot, turn in 2 steps.

Start

Facing acw around the circle.

1	R forwards.
2	L forwards.
3-4	R forwards.

Repeat bar 1 on opposite feet (forwards L, R, L).

3-7

Repeat bars 1-2 two & a half times more (5 more Russian Glides making 7 in total).

Turn 180 acw in 2 (R, L) walking steps.

Part B2

Summary: Part B1 mirrored.

The same as Part B1 but in mirror image (7 Russian glides starting with L foot cw around the circle ending with turning 180 deg cw in 2 steps).

Two Circle Variation

An artistic variation for two concentric circles is to have one of the circles do the complete dance in mirror image (going the opposite way around the circle on the opposite feet).

This variation makes the very easy dance look surprisingly showy but needs at least 30 people to avoid it looking too crowded.

Ending

Summary: Bow.

Facing centre. Bow bending only at the waist in 2 counts & straighten up again in 2 counts.