TRADITIONAL DANCE
Lakonmèt
The Lakonmèt is one of the indigenous folk dances of Saint Lucia. It is danced in three different ways, all keeping the same rhythm. These are the Lakonmèt Piqué, Lakonmèt Mazouk and Lakonmèt Roulé.
Lakonmèt Piqué
This is made up of six dance moves. One has to dance to the rhythm of the music for a count of five and, on the sixth, the leg is raised slightly from the floor. When the same leg returns to the floor, it begins the next step. Familiar tunes include: “Ti Mamai”, “Kazmelia” and “Aunty Poe”.
Lakonmèt Mazouk
The Mazouk is a modification of the Lakonmèt Piqué above. The basic five steps are danced but instead of raising the leg once, it is raised three times. Some tunes recommended for the Mazouk are: “Mengo” and “La Rue Marian”
Lakonmèt Roulé
With this Lakonmèt, the raising of the leg is omitted. One Just has to dance freely to the rhythm of the music.
Out Movement
Widova
A Widova step has the timing of two waltz steps. The dance step is made up of a waltz step and an out-and-in movement of the foot. It is worth noting that the foot that does the out-and-in movement begins the next waltz step. The posture for the waltz must be adopted because of the presence of the waltz in the dance. Some refer to this dance as the heel-toe waltz since they replace the out-and-in with heel-toe movements.
(Timing: 1 (short pause), 2-3, out-and-in )
Norwegen
The Norwegen, a reel, is danced longways, meaning that couples face each other in a long line down the room, men on the right and ladies on the left. Couples number from nearest the band or the back of the stage, as indicated.
The dance begins when the line of men as well as ladies join hands and dance forward towards each other, then back to their original position. The lines move forward again but, this time, the couples hold and dance around once, then they drop hands and move back to their original position on the two lines
Using short arm grip throughout, (hook at the elbow), the first couple, that is, the couple towards the back and closest to the band, swing once and a half with the right arm, as shown below. Then they work down the opposite line (Ladies down the men’s line and men down the ladies’, as shown), turning side persons with the left arm. This couple returns to the centre and swing once around with the right arm.
This continues until the 1st couple reaches the bottom, they spin to end the phrase. The next move is for the couple to dance down the two lines, the men’s first and then the ladies’s. The man, (on the inside), holds the lady’s left hand in his right and, maintaining the grip, they raise their hands high enough over the heads of the others as they dance freely down the two lines. Finally, the man swings his lady and places her in a new position at the bottom of the line and he places himself opposite her.
This movement will be repeated by each couple till all couples have danced. To end the dance, the lines join hands as at the beginning and move forward and backward, the forward again. The couples hold and dance around once, then they dance off stage with the men holding the ladies at the waist with the right hand and the ladies holding the men at the waist with the left hand.
Formation of two lines
Men and ladies joining hands
The first couple breaks from each other to dance with the next couple on the side lines