The Troika is a get-your-heart-pumpin’-super fun folk dance perfect for any winter celebration, not just the holidays! Inspired by a horse-drawn sleigh, everything about this dance (except the meter) revolves around the number three. “Troika” means “three” in Russian, and the dance features three dancers per group and three main parts.
Imagining the Sleigh
To help students connect with the theme of the dance, create a story:
Envision a horse-drawn sleigh. (The interesting thing is that many of my students in Poland may have firsthand experience with horse-drawn sleigh rides!)
Each group of three dancers includes a “driver” (middle dancer) and two “horses” (dancers on either side).
After the ride, they all go inside the barn to warm up, but to their discovery, there’s a party going on in there!
You get the gist.
Learning the Dance
First…Sitting together, listen to just the music for the dance. Point out the three distinct sections of music. Nicknames for the three parts of the dance help make it fun and easy to remember…keep in mind the story:
- Part 1: Go for a Ride
- Part 2: Barn Doors Go Up (Ahh…. a cozy, warm barn is encountered after a lengthy sleigh ride where hot chocolate and sweets are served)
- Part 3: Party Time (A side-gallop, a naturally joyful dance move.)
I know….they are funny nicknames, but they reflect the vision in their minds of what the sleigh ride could be like. Creating catchphrases helps students respond quickly and easily when I call out each part of the dance.
Learn the three parts of the dance out of order. Start with the most challenging, part 2, a.k.a. “Barn Doors Go Up,” followed by part 3, then part 1.
Put groups of 3 dancers in a scattered formation rather than the opening circle formation. They need room to move when practicing “Barn Doors Go Up.”
BEGIN TEACHING FIRST Parts 2 and 3 followed by Part 1
“Barn Doors Go Up” → “Party Time”→ “Go For A Ride”
Practice Order:
Barn Doors Go Up-Part 2
- Students stand shoulder-to-shoulder in lines of three scattered around the room.
- Establish the “driver” in each group. They are the middle dancer.
- The driver raises both arms like “barn doors.”
- The horse on the right passes under the driver’s raised arm, and the driver follows (the driver follows the horse so to ensure that the horses get to their stall😉).
- TIP: encourage the driver to give a gentle pull/lead so it’s clear what horse goes in.)
- Repeat this with the horse on the left, with the driver following the horse again under their arms.
Party Time-Part 3
- Once all dancers are “inside the barn,” the group of three holds hands.
- Side-gallop one way for 16 beats, ending with a stomp, stomp, stomp.
- Switch directions and side-gallop for 16 beats, finishing with stomps.
- Students will quickly recognize the musical phrasing for when to stomp.
- TIP: encourage dancers to end their final side gallop a beat or two early so they can reorganize themselves for the repeat of the dance.
Go for a Ride-Part 1
- Students come back to that standing, shoulder-to-shoulder, in lines of three.
- TIP: In this stage of the teaching, don’t take the time to place students in a circle. You’ll see they will naturally begin walking in a circle. The resulting shape resembles spokes on a wheel, each of their lines representing a spoke! OR, if you want, you can put strips of masking tape showing them where to stand.
- Walk (promenade) counter-clockwise (CCW) for 16 beats.
Putting It All Together
Once students are confident in the parts, combine them:
- A Phrase: Go for a Ride: Groups promenade CCW for 16 beats.
- B Phrase: Barn Doors Go Up: The driver leads each “horse” through the “barn doors.”
- C Phrase: Party Time: Groups gallop in one direction (16 beats), stomp, and then gallop the other (16 beats), stomping again at the end.
Tips for Success
- I think this dance works best with students in grades 3-5.
- Begin in a scatter formation and teach the parts in this order: 2-3-1.
- “Barn Doors Go Up” is the most challenging move by far. Let kids practice trying it on their own, then try it as a group, still in scatter formation!
- Use the nicknames to guide transitions: “Go for a ride,” “Barn doors go up,” and “Party time!”
- Practice Parts 2 into 3 a few times, then add Part 1, then try creating the wheel-spoke formation.
- This folk dance there has many versions. One additional step you can add would be to have the “driver,” or middle person, move forward to the following line and become the new driver of that set of horses. I often leave this out simply because it’s hard for them to slow down the “Party Time” part, IN TIME, to move up to the next “sleigh.” Do know that this switching of partners was an essential part of original folk dances because it encouraged the socializing part that dancing has to offer.
Resources
Music: Shenanigans Dance Music for Children’, CD
OOHHH! Also, Shirley McRae wrote a terrific Orff arrangement and lyrics entitled “Sleigh Ride.” You can easily adapt this version of the Troika for her music. You can find it in her collection, Sing ‘Round the World.