Dance: Fais Do Do
Song: Fais Do Do
Artist: Charlie Daniels
Album: Fiddle Fire: 25 Years
Choreography & copyright: Michelle Chandonnet; 4/2000;
          http://pages.infinit.net/counboot/ (French)
Level: Beginner
Walls: 4
Count: 64
Bridge/restart: no
Dance Beat: 189 b/m
Start: Feet together, weight on left foot

Side, slide, cross & stomp, hold, side, slide, cross & stomp, hold:
 1- 4 Step RIGHT to RIGHT, slide LEFT next to RIGHT (weight onto LEFT),
      cross RIGHT in front of LEFT & stomp, hold,
 5- 8 Step LEFT to LEFT, slide RIGHT next to LEFT (weight onto RIGHT),
      cross LEFT in front of RIGHT & stomp, hold,

* Step, lock, step, hold, step, lock, step, hold:
 9-12 Step RIGHT diagonally forward, lock LEFT behind RIGHT,
      step RIGHT diagonally forward, hold,
13-16 Step LEFT diagonally forward, lock RIGHT behind LEFT,
      step LEFT diagonally forward, hold,

* Kick, cross, kick, cross, kick, cross, kick, cross:
    (Option: Join your hands behind your back for these 8 counts)
17-20 Kick RIGHT forward, cross RIGHT behind LEFT,
      kick LEFT forward, cross LEFT behind RIGHT,
21-24 Kick RIGHT forward, cross RIGHT behind LEFT,
      kick LEFT forward, cross LEFT behind RIGHT,

* Rock fwd, recover, rock fwd, hold, rock fwd, recover, rock fwd, hold:
25-28 Rock RIGHT forward, recover weight onto LEFT,
      rock RIGHT forward, hold,
29-32 Rock LEFT forward, recover weight onto RIGHT,
      rock LEFT forward, hold,

* Vine & touch, heel, hitch, heel, hold:
33-36 Step RIGHT to RIGHT, cross LEFT behind RIGHT,
      step RIGHT to RIGHT, touch LEFT next to RIGHT,
37-40 Touch LEFT heel forward, hitch LEFT knee,
      touch LEFT heel forward & yell "Yee Ha", hold,
       (Option: Interlace fingers with palms downward over left knee.
        Lift up hands as knee hitches up & lower hands as knee drops).

* Vine & touch, heel, hitch, heel, hold:
41-44 Step LEFT to LEFT, cross RIGHT behind LEFT,
      step LEFT to LEFT, touch RIGHT next to LEFT,
45-48 Touch RIGHT heel forward, hitch RIGHT knee,
      touch RIGHT heel forward & yell "Yee Ha", hold,
       (Option: Interlace fingers with palms downward over left knee.
        Lift up hands as knee hitches up & lower hands as knee drops).

* Rocking Horse, step, 1/2 turn & hitch, 1/4 turn, hitch:
49-52 Rock RIGHT forward, recover weight onto LEFT,
      rock RIGHT back, recover weight onto LEFT,
53-54 Step RIGHT forward,
      1/2 turn LEFT on ball of RIGHT & hitch LEFT knee,
55-56 Step LEFT to LEFT & 1/4 turn LEFT, hitch RIGHT knee,

Vine & hitch, vine & hitch:
57-60 Step RIGHT to RIGHT, cross LEFT behind RIGHT,
      step RIGHT to RIGHT, hitch LEFT knee,
61-64 Step LEFT to LEFT, cross RIGHT behind LEFT,
      step LEFT to LEFT, hitch RIGHT knee.

Repeat
******


Choreographer's Note: "Fais Do Do" (rhymes with PLAY-DOH DOH) literally
translates from French into "Go to sleep". But for Louisiana's Cajun
population, it means much more. A Fais Do Do is an all-night dance
party, usually held in someone's home. In the wee hours, the young
children, sitting under the kitchen table, out of the way of the
dancing feet, are fighting their eyelids to stay awake, not wanting to
miss any of the fun. Mawmaw encourages them to relax and go to sleep
with a gentle "Fais do do, mon bébé" ("Go to sleep, my baby"). The
grownups continue to party until the morning light. Mary Chapin
Carpenter mentions such a party in Down At The Twist And Shout ("You
learned to love at the Fais Do Do when you heard a little Jolie Blon").
Scooter Lee also mentions it in Jai du Boogie ("They got music and
dancing southern style, called a Fais Do Do, let's go for a while").
By the way, Jolie Blon is the title of a beautiful waltz that is
intricately tied into the Cajun culture. Many Cajun couples have fallen
in love to the beautiful, sad lyrics and haunting melody. It is
practically the official Cajun Anthem.

Transcribed: David Powell, 14th December, 2001.
http://xenon.triode.net.au/~dragon/ldance