TANKO BUSHI

(Coal Miner's Dance)

(Japanese Folk Dance)

RECORD:		Folkdancer MH 2010 A
TAUGHT BY:		Jerry Joris Lindsay
FORMATION:		No partners, all stand in single file, facing clockwise around the room. Each person dances alone following the one ahead around the circle.
1.	Lift R ft up below L knee and touch R toe to floor at the same time. Pretend you are holding a spade and dig with both hands towards the floor.
2.	Lift R ft again, but this time place full weight on R ft as you dig with hands again towards the floor.
3.	Repeat 1 & 2 but to the left and with L ft.
4.	Touch R toe to floor and throw hands over R shoulder and put full weight on R ft.
5.	Touch L ft to floor and throw hands over L shoulder and put full weight on L ft.
6.	Now touch R toe back and then step on it as you place L hand, palm out, over head as if shading eyes, R hand is back. Then step with full weight on R ft. Now step back on L toe, then step with full weight on L ft as R hand shades eyes and L hand goes back.
7.	Push with both hands from shoulder out, palm out as if pushing coal cart forward and at same time step forward on R ft. Then push again and step forward on L ft.
8.	Traditional ending: Step forward on R ft and bring both hands downwards from in front of body and to the sides. Step forward on L ft raising hands and then bring R ft down beside left and clap own hands once. Then do two-quick and one slow clap. (The clapping rhythm is slow--quick, quick--slow.)
Do the dance twice, then do five slow claps and begin dance again. Note that the 5-clap interval comes every second time through the dance. Also it helps to know that you always begin the dance on the vocal.
NOTE:		Cue the above as follows: Dig and Dig and dig and dig and throw and throw and shade and shade and push and push and down up clap, clap, clap, clap.