When you think of Russian folk dancing, you probably picture someone squatting low to the ground, arms folded, kicking their legs in front of them. This dance—which actually originated in Ukraine—is also known as the Cossack dance, Ukrainian Hopak stage dance, or Prisyadka. Mastering it takes a bit of practice, but it's probably not as hard as you think. We're here to break it down for you, so give it a shot!
1. Crouch down in a low squat
Balance your weight on the balls of your feet. Priyanka is performed from squatting position, so the first thing you have to do balance comfortably in this position. Bend your knees and squat down until your butt touches your feet, keeping your heels off the ground. It can help keep your knees apart as you do this. Practice squatting like this until you can easily hold the position for few minutes [1].
Your heels, buttocks, and shoulders should all form a straight line as you squat.
If you find it difficult to balance in this position, you can keep one hand on the ground until you get used to the squat position.
You can also put your feet on the ground at first if needed. However, you need to keep your feet steady when you actually jump—this will make it easier to jump from a foot to a foot.
2. Push one foot out in front of you
Keep your heel on the ground to make it easier. Don't worry about kicking up just yet. Just straighten one of your legs so your foot is in front of you with your toes in the air.[2] It might be easiest to start by kicking out your non-dominant leg so you can balance on your dominant leg at first.
If you can, try to hold your foot up in the air—but if that's too hard at first, it's fine to rest your heel on the ground [3].
It might take a little practice to be able to balance in this position―keep trying until it's comfortable![4]
3. Practice alternating your kicks
Bring your leg straight in, then kick the other leg out. This can be a bit difficult—it takes a lot of force in the legs. You can start slowly if needed. You can even put one or both hands on the ground beside you to help you balance. Just do not lean forward or backward, as your back needs to be straight to jump.[5]
Do this until you can kick one leg out and bring the other in in a fairly smooth motion.[6]
Remember to take breaks when you need to—depending on the health of your calves, it may take days or even weeks to build enough strength to perform the dance to the full!.
4. Add a bounce as you alternate legs
Now it has time to put some energy into the dance. Start by holding one leg out in front of you. When you bring it back, push the other leg up slightly before pushing it out. A little bounce will make it easier to switch from a foot to a foot quickly, so you will be able to add some speed as you alternate your kicks.[7]
This move can make your legs tired—start by trying to do 6 reps in a row, then work your way up until you can keep a steady rhythm [8].
5. Increase the speed of your kicks
At full speed, you should almost be running in place. Try to hold yourself up at a steady height so your hips don't bounce up and down as you kick. That can make it easier to kick back and forth in a smooth, steady motion.[9]
As you get stronger, try lifting your foot so it's straight in front of you, rather than leaving your heel on the ground.[10]
6. Fold your arms in front of you
This is the finishing touch of the dance. Hold your arms so one is folded on top of the other at about shoulder height.[11] However, since you might need your arms to help you balance at first, wait to add this in until you're completely comfortable holding your body straight up and down as you alternate your kicks.[12]
7. Add in some freestyle to take it to the next level
Don't be afraid to improvise. In traditional Priyanka, dancers often dance on one foot, turn, clap, throw their arms in the air or even perform a split jump. There is no right or wrong, so have fun with it![13]
A popular variation of this dance is to lean back and kick one leg in the air before pushing back to the starting position [14].
To really get into the spirit, try ending your dance with a hearty shout of "Hey!"