Petit Riense

This dance is for three people of any gender combination (often one man and two women or vice versa). The dancers are numbered 1, 2, and 3, starting from the left.

Measures Steps
16 16 pive together, alternating left and right. Person 1 leads the set.
4 2 and 3 stop while Person 1 does 4 more pive wherever he chooses.
4 Person 2 catches up with 4 pive.
4 Person 3 catches up with 4 pive.
2 Person 1 does a doppio wherever he chooses.
2 Person 2 catches up with a doppio.
2 Person 3 catches up with a doppio.
2 Person 1 and Person 2 riverenza to each other.
2 Person 2 and Person 3 riverenza to each other.
2 All riverenza to each other.
2 All do a doppio backward away from the set.
2 All do a doppio forward to bring the set back together.
2 Ripresa left, ripresa right.
2 Volatonda over the left shoulder.
The dance repeats until the music ends, usually 4 times with most recordings.

Step Descriptions

Piva (pl. pive)

The piva is a quick, syncopated double. The second step is shorter than the other two, coming up next to or just ahead of the lead foot. This results in a skipping (or step-ball-change) sort of step. Staying on the balls of your feet will help keep your steps light and fast.

Doppio (pl. doppii)

This is a simple double: three steps and close.

Riverenza (pl. riverenze)

A bow or curtsy. To do a “riverenza left”, move your left foot slightly forward, then sweep it around behind the right foot. Bend both knees, keeping your torso vertical. Rise back up onto your toes, then lower both feet to the floor as you bring them back together. Rarely, this will be done moving the right foot instead.

Ripresa (pl. riprese)

This is a sideways step, usually done as a double. It can be done either to the left or the right, starting with the appropriate foot. In this dance, it is usually done as a single step because of the quick tempo, though it is possible to do it as a double if you take small light steps.

Voltatonda

This is a turn all the way around with a double. A “volatonda left” starts with the left foot and goes counterclockwise over the left shoulder, while a “voltatonda right” does the opposite.