Aunty Sarah's Hambo Helper

Hambo is a Swedish couple dance in 3/4 time. The music is recognizable for strong first and third beats of each measure, lending the dance its characteristic "up-down" movement or "svikt".

Hambo Quick Reference

Measure

Step

Man

Woman

1 & 2

Dal steps in open position

Beat 1 Step/bend
Beat 2 rise up/ lift foot
Beat 3 come back to level

Step Left, lift right
Step right, lift left

Step right, lift left
Step Left, lift right

3

"Running"steps in open position
Not really running - just
Beat 1 walk
Beat 2 walk
Beat 3 walk

left
right
left

right
left
right

4

1 Hambo step to closed
positionNote: This hambo step
doesn't make a complete turn

right
left
both

left
both
right

5 - 7

3 full turning hambo steps
making a complete clockwise
turn in each measure

right
left            (X3)
both

left
both            (X3)
right

8

Running steps in open position
1 walk
2 walk
3 walk

right
left
right

left
right
left

This is meant as an easy reference for folks who have taken a workshop and is not a substitute for learning from skilled partners. There are many excellent teachers of Scandinavian dance, including the following, who all are wonderful hambo teachers.

Jennifer Brosious and Tamberlaine Harris brosious@cttel.net

Roo Lester http://members.aol.com/DancingRoo/index.html

Chris and Rita Leydon http://www.ritaleydon.com/

For more detailed information about hambo visit the following websites:

Folk Dance Descriptions http://www.folkdance.suite.dk/index.htm

John Gustin's Hambo Page http://www.freewheelers.org/1DancingFool/hambo.htm

Scandia D.C. http://users.erols.com/s526/Spelmannslag.html

Sapphire Swan Dance Directory http://www.sapphireswan.com/dance/

Recordings with hambos:

Hambo in the Barn (Scandinavian dance music) Andrea Hoag

The Pioneer Trio: Old Time Scandinavian Dance Music

Steppin' Out - Music for Couple Dancing Footloose

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