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Dance Mainzer Narhalla Reel 20947

Reel · 40 bars · 3 couples · Longwise - 4   (Progression: 213)

Devised by
Knut Wissenbach (2009)
Formations
Steps
  • Pas-de-Basque, Skip-Change
Extra Info
The title of this dance is inspired by the Mainzer Narrhalla-Marsch, the signature tune of the “Meenzer Fassenacht” (Mainz …

The title of this dance is inspired by the Mainzer Narrhalla-Marsch, the signature tune of the “Meenzer Fassenacht” (Mainz carnival), composed in 1840 by bandmaster and founding member of the Mainzer Carneval-Verein (Carnival Club of Mainz), Carl Zulehner (1805–1847).

In the city of Mainz, carnival is culturally very important (to a point where it is referred to locally as “the fifth season”). The SCD group there is called the “Narhalla Dancers” [only one “r”].

The formations of the dance symbolise various aspects of the history and culture of the city of Mainz:

  • The hands across on bars 1–8 stand for the wheels in the city’s traditional coat of arms.
  • The 1st couple’s solo figure on bars 9–16 symbolises the Mainz carnival parade.
  • Bars 17–24 evoke the Äbsch Seit (“wrong side”), i.e., the other bank of the river Rhine. Of course the inhabitants of Mainz consider themselves greatly superior to the people living there (a sentiment that is vigorously reciprocated).
  • Bars 25–32 allude to Mainz-based Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of printing using movable type.
  • The cross formation in bars 33–36 signifies the archbishopric of Mainz.
  • The final movement on bars 37–40, the “wine press”, points to the local tradition of viticulture.
Mainzer Narhalla Reel 3/4L · R40
1–
1c+2W & 2M+3c RH across ; 1c+2M & 2W+3c LH across
9–14
1c lead down between 2c | cast behind 3c ; lead up to 1pl
15–16
2c+3c ch pl on sides RH
17–
M advance, pull RS back, dance back to own sides | all ½ chase cw
25–
All cross R | 1c set adv ; turn BH [in PdB], open towards the bottom and cast up to 2pl
33–36
1c set while 2c & 3c set advancing [into line in ctr of set] ; all balance in “cross” formation
37–40
1c pull back RS and cast to own sides while 2c & 3c turn LH ¾ to own sides ; 1c and 2c cross RH on sides while 3c set. [This doesn’t seem to quite work; our suggestion would be for everyone to set on 39–40. – Ed.]

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