Runaway Train
(Sacred/Circle)

[Full notes] [Summary notes] [Other dances & the source code]

Dance Structure ((A x 4) + (B1 + B2)) repeated throughout the music.
Formation Circle. W-hold.
Music Structure 4 counts/bar, 4 bars/phrase.
Music Speed 130 counts/min.
Choreographer Andy Bettis.
Music 'Hora' by Archètype.
Source Steps from Tony Mounter in Ipswich in 2012. Historical background from Andy Bettis's website.

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.

A rushing around party dance.

Andy Bettis choreographed this after coming across the music and liking it but, despite the name of the music, it did not fit a Romanian 'Hora' dance well so he made this simple jolly party dance (assembled from common Romanian dance steps) for it, fitting the non-stop rushing around feeling of the music. The similarity between the Romanian rhythm keeping bounces of the arms (with the hands doing small circles) & the old children's imitation of steam train wheels (same motion but much bigger) as a visual pun was a convenient bonus.

Style: Happy party. Continual movement. Striding around in an almost running feel. Runaway out-of-control feel in Parts B1 & B2.

Introduction

Summary: 2 phrases.

2 phrases (8 bars).

Part A.

Summary: Starting R ft. 3 steps in & touch. Ditto out. Optional train-circling hands.

Start Facing the centre of the circle. Weight on L ft. W-hold.
1
1
Feet R forwards.
Arms A Romanian arm bounce (small circle up, forwards, down, backwards done without flexing the wrist) but optionally exaggerated into bigger circles like a children's "choo-choo train" style.
2 L forwards with arm bounce likewise.
3 R forwards with arm bounce likewise.
4 L close without weight transfer with arm bounce likewise.
2 Repeat bar 1 but on opposite feet & going out backwards (L back, R back, L back, R touch with arm bounces).

Part B1.

Summary: Around the circle acw in 4 steps forwards, 4 steps backwards & 2 Grapevines (starting R side, L across infront).

Start Facing acw around centre of the circle. Weight on L ft. W-hold.
1
1 R forwards.
2 L forwards.
3-4 Repeat counts 1-2 (forwards R & L).
2 Repeat bar 1 going the same way but backwards (facing cw around the circle, backwards R, L, R, L). The direction change is done by a 180 deg acw turn on the first step.
3
1 Turning 90 deg cw to face the centre of the circle, R to the side.
2 L across infront.
3 R to the side.
4 L across behind. (This bar comprises a Grapevine step.)
4 Repeat bar 3 (Grapevine to the R starting R to the side & L across behind) but no need to turn to face the centre of the circle at the start as already facing that way.

Part B2.

Summary: As B1 but replace last Grapevine with 360 deg turn cw in 4 steps.

Start Facing acw around centre of the circle. Weight on L ft. W-hold.
1-3 As Part B1 bars 1-3.
4 Step forwards R, L, R, L while turning 360 deg cw. This turn is naturally done with some travelling around the main circle continuing because of the momentum. Release hold when the turn starts and regain hold at the end of the turn.