The Society of Folk Dance Historians

Briulețul

From: Ron Houston. Folk Dance Problem Solver (1987). Austin, Texas: Society of Folk Dance Historians, 1987.

a dance

(bree-oo-LET-soo) = the little briul

No OTHER NAMES that I know of.

BACKGROUND:

It's Romanian. No, not Roumanian nor Rumanian, but Romanian, as in "This was the noblest Roman of them all." That "ou" spelling is the French transliteration and just doesn't work for English. Melissa learned this dance in Australia some years ago and we thank her for sharing it with us.

FORMATION:

Lines, hands joined and down. No introduction.

BARS ACTION

4/4 Forward and back.

1 Run forward 3 steps onto: R ft, L ft, R ft (cts 1,2,3), hop on R ft, kicking L ft forward, back in front of R shin, and forward (a "butterfly kick") (ct 4).

2 = 1 with opposite footwork, running backwards.

3-6 = 1-2, 3 times in all.

7-8 = cts 3-4 of bar 1, 4 times in all, using opposite footwork each time (cts 1-2,3-4,1-2,3-4).

3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 3.

1 Hop on L ft and touch R toe in front of L ft while pointing R heel to L (ct 1), hop on L ft and touch R toe diagonally forward to R with R heel pointed somewhat to R (ct 2), hop on L ft and touch R toe in front of L ft while pointing R heel to L (ct 3), leap in place onto R ft, kicking L ft up in back slightly (ct 4).

2 = 1 with opposite footwork.

3 Hop on L ft and touch R toe forward (ct 1), leap in place onto R ft, kicking L ft up in back slightly (ct 2), hop on R ft and touch L toe forward (ct 3), leap in place onto L ft, kicking R ft up in back slightly (ct 4).

4 = 1.

5-8 = 1-4 with opposite footwork.

Repeat dance from the beginning, 9 1/2 times in all, substituting the following ending into the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th repetitions (whenever you hear the violinist during the 3's).

Flashy hesitation ending.

7 = normal ending, except: jump in place onto both feet "pigeon-toed" (ct 4).

8 Straighten legs and smash heels together as you jump in place onto both feet (ct 1), hold (cts 2,3), stamp in place onto L ft, kicking R ft up in back slightly (ct 4).

End of BRIULEȚUL.

BARS	ACTION
4/4	*Forward and back*.
1	Run forward 3 steps onto: R ft, L ft, R ft (cts 1,2,3), hop on R ft, kicking L ft forward, back in front of R shin, and forward (a "butterfly kick") (ct 4).
2	= 1 with opposite footwork, running backwards.
3-6	= 1-2, 3 times in all.
7-8	= cts 3-4 of bar 1, 4 times in all, using opposite footwork each time (cts 1-2,3-4,1-2,3-4).

	*3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 3*.
1	Hop on L ft and touch R toe in front of L ft while pointing R heel to L (ct 1), hop on L ft and touch R toe diagonally forward to R with R heel pointed somewhat to R (ct 2), hop on L ft and touch R toe in front of L ft while pointing R heel to L (ct 3), leap in place onto R ft, kicking L ft up in back slightly (ct 4).
2	= 1 with opposite footwork.
3	Hop on L ft and touch R toe forward (ct 1), leap in place onto R ft, kicking L ft up in back slightly (ct 2), hop on R ft and touch L toe forward (ct 3), leap in place onto L ft, kicking R ft up in back slightly (ct 4).
4	= 1.
5-8	= 1-4 with opposite footwork.

	Repeat dance from the beginning, 9 1/2 times in all, substituting the following ending into the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th repetitions (whenever you hear the violinist during the 3's).

	*Flashy hesitation ending*.
7	= normal ending, except: jump in place onto both feet "pigeon-toed" (ct 4).
8	Straighten legs and smash heels together as you jump in place onto both feet (ct 1), hold (cts 2,3), stamp in place onto L ft, kicking R ft up in back slightly (ct 4).