The document provides instructions for five folk dances: Setnja from Serbia, Syrtos from Greece, Ve David from Israel, Israeli Liberation Hora, and Lesnoto from Macedonia. For each dance, the document outlines the rhythm, steps, formation, and any additional notes. The dances can be done individually or in a group and represent folk dance traditions from several different countries. Music and additional resources for international folk dances are available on archive.org.

1. Folk Dance instruction by John Clement
1. SETNJA from Serbia pronounced Shetna (hold hands at shoulder height, W hold) done in an open
circle or line.
a. The rhythm is slow, slow, quick, quick, quick (Slow steps are Capitalized)
b. Moving in line of direction to right R, L, r, l , r or walk, walk, quick, quick, quick
c. Facing center move out from circle L, R, l, r, then cross l over in front of r in line of direction.
This last step you also face line of direction.
d. When music gets faster hands down and skip or hop during the slow R, L steps
e. During the motion in line of direction you can
2. SYRTOS from Greece (W hold) line and only the leader does fancy things.
a. Rhythm is Slow, quick, quick (7/8 time)
b. Facing toward center start with weight on L and step to R, then cross behind l, and to side with r.
To look a bit more Greek you add a small hop or bounce on the last r.
c. Facing in line of direction L, r, l forward
d. Facing in line of direction R, l forward, and r stepping in place.
e. Facing in line of direction L backward, R backward, L in place and face toward center
3. VE DAVID from Israel (V hold) Even rhythm 4/4 time
a. Partners with men on inside of circle holding inside hands down (V hold), both people facing in
line of direction (counterclockwise around circle) Each section takes 8 beats to complete.
b. Partners take 4 walking steps forward, then 4 backward
c. Face center of circle and partners take 4 toward center, and 4 backward
d. Women take 4 forward and 4 backward while men clap
e. Men take 4 forward, turn to right and walk 4 steps toward the woman who was originally on
their right.
f. 8 counts of buzz step turn. Partners have R hips adjacent, R arm across the waist, L arm in the
air. Step is down on R, up on L. the R foot remains almost stationary next to partner’s R. Think
of having your R foot on a scooter and just pushing with the L foot.
4. ISRAELI LIBERATION HORA (shoulder hold) (4/4 time)
a. Circle with hands on near shoulders of other dancers (shoulder hold)
b. Counts 1, 2 Step to R, and L across r going to R (some people cross behind)
c. 3,4 Step R lift L leg
d. 5,6 Step L lift R leg
e. In Greece the fast Hasapikos is the same dance but reverse direction.
5. LESNOTO from Macedonia (Lesnoto means simple) (W hold) (7/8 time)
a. This dance is essentially the Israeli hora but with Slow, q, q rhythm
b. S,q,q Step R, lift L across r, and step l on last quick
c. S,q,q Step R to r and lift l
d. S,q,q Step L in place and lift r
e. The key is that the dance is quite slow, and you can easily rush it.
f. This dance is done in many countries in the Balkans. They will do it at weddings and after a few
slivovitz (plum brandies) they use any handhold that keeps them stable, so shoulder or waist hold
is also used. This is the type of dance where people socialize with their neighbors so is a very
social dance.
Some FD music is available on the Web at www.internetarchive.org search under "international folk dances"
or directly at http://www.archive.org/details/InternationalFolkDances