La Volta

Also see Galliard steps.

Music for Galliard and La Volta (wma -- 603 Kb)
Music for Galliard and La Volta (midi -- 6 Kb)

Volta Turn

Man's Steps

1 - Step Left
2 - Hop on Left, Right leg bent
3 - Step Right
4-5 - Lift woman. Use Left leg to push woman and/or her skirt around clockwise.
6 - Gently lower woman

Woman's Steps

1 - Step Left
2 - Hop on Left, brushing Right foot Forward
3 - Step Right
4-5 - Jump on Right, kicking Left foot in air and bringing feet Together in air.
(Use right hand on man's shoulder to push self higher, and left hand to hold skirt down.)
6 - Land feet Together

Volta Choreography for Four

The two couples start in left and right "upstage" corners of the room. When there are two of any step or combination, do the first one starting on the left and the second one starting on the right, unless specified otherwise. "Galliard" refers to the galliard basic described under Galliard steps.

Part 1
1-12 - slow bow
1-12 - 2 Continenzi - L, R (continenzi = single side with rise and fall, and shoulder motion)
1-12 - 2 galliards forward (on diagonal towards center of room) - L, R
1-12 - 2 galliards opening out from partner and circling 'round to face each other - L, R

Chorus
1-24 - 4 volta turns

Part 2
1-12 - 2 galliards each turning to left and separating along diagonal
1-12 - 2 galliards turning towards right (middle partner of each couple continues towards left, taking left hands and going around each other)
1-24 - 4 galliard variations (Left front, Right back, Left front, Right front, hold, jump-land & reverse feet) - zig-zag together - L, R, L, R

Chorus
1-24 - 4 volta turns

Part 3
1-6 -- 1 galliard back - L
1-6 -- 1 galliard forward - R
1-12 - 2 galliards circling around each other, holding Right hands - L, R
1-6 -- 1 galliard back - L
1-6 -- 1 galliard forward - R
1-12 - 2 galliards circling around each other, holding Left hands - L, R

Chorus
1-24 - 4 volta turns (on 4th turn - lift as high as possible, both woman's hands on shoulders, locking elbows for support)

Final chord - bow