Peel the Banana!

"Peel the Banana!" Traditional Dances for Your Community

Collected & edited by Paul Rosenberg

Spiral-bound Book and CD

58 pages

Approx. 66 min.

For all ages, 3 and up 

19 traditional dances including jigs, reels, circle dances, contradances, square dances, singing games, polkas, and waltzes. The book is a step-by-step dance guide with easy-to-read melodies (with chord letters), lyrics, historical research, and anecdotes. Target age groups and the formation used are listed for each dance; two dances also give instructions for a simpler version. Helpful notes and information are included with the dance directions.

The liner notes for the included CD gives the best tracks to use for specific age groups, number of times a dance pattern repeats, the dance formation to use, and for most tracks the calls are included the first 2 times through. Some pieces have elementary-age children singing. The recording features fiddle, banjo, piano, guitar, clarinet, recorder, and mandolin. Great for schools, family reunions or dances, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and community celebrations. Also incudes a suggested reading list for elementary (grades K-2, 3-4, 5-6), middle school, and high school with description of each book. CD and liner notes are enclosed in the book.

Book contents:

DANCES:

• Circassian Circle (English)
• Zemer Atik (Israeli)
• Chimes of Dunkirk (Belgian)
• Kinderpolka (German)
• The Bridge of Athlone (Irish)
• Can't Jump Josie (American)
• 7 Jumps (Danish)
• Washing Day (American)
• Zodiac (African-American)
• Spring Morning Waltz (American)
• Heel & Toe Polka (English)
• Bob's Jig (American)
• Jump Jim Joe (American)
• Sweets of May (English)
• Marching Through Georgia (American)
• Sasha (Russian)
• Brandy Rump Bump (Quebecois)
• Dinah's Dead (African-American)
• Virginia Reel (American)
• Family or Oslo Waltz (Scandinavian)
• Zodiac (key of A version)

Glossary

Enrichment Activities for the Classroom

CD contents:

• Circassian Circle
• Zemer Atik
• Chimes of Dunkirk
• Kinderpolka
• Bridge of Athlone
• Can't Jump Josie
• 7 Jumps
• Zodiac
• Spring Morning Waltz
• Heel & Toe Polka
• Bob's Jig
• Jump Jim Joe
• Sweets of May
• Marching Through Georgia
• Sasha
• Brandy Rump Bump
• Dinah's Dead
• Virginia Reel
• Old Rosin the Beau