Lyrics - Romanian
(Folk song from Romania)
Alunelu, alunelu, hai la joc,
să ne fie, să ne fie cu noroc!
(repeat)
Refrain
Cine-n horă o să joace
mare, mare se va face.
Cine no juca de fel
Să rămână mititel
Alunelu, alunelu, sus săltați
Și la stânga și la dreapta, haideți frați
(repeat)
Refrain
English Translation - Little hazelnut, or John's Dance*
Hazelnut, hazelnut (or John’s Dance)*, let’s play,
may it be good for us, may it be good for us!
(repeat)
Refrain
Whoever plays in the choir
will become great.
Whoever doesn’t play in the choir
will remain small
Hazelnut, hazelnut, jump up
And to the left and to the right, come on brothers
(repeat)
Refrain
Dance
Version 1
- Formation: Students stand in a circle or line holding hands.
- Verse – Take 4 steps forward, 4 steps back (4x)
- Refrain – Continue the same footwork, raise hands up in the air.
- Verse 2 – 4 beats: Step to the right, tap left foot next to right, then step to the left, tape right foot next to left. (4x)
- Refrain – Continue the same footwork, raise hands up in the air.
Version 2
- Formation: Students stand in a circle holding hands.
- Verse – Turn body to the right slightly and circle right: right step, bounce knees, left step, bounce knees, stomp in place R, stomp L, stomp R. Continue circling right, same as before, starting on left foot first. (2x)
- Refrain – Face center and move toward the center: right step, bounce, left step, bounce, stomp in place R, stomp L, stomp R. Move back out, same as before, starting on the left foot first. (2x)
Version 3
- Formation: Students stand in a circle holding hands.
- Verse 2 – Going to the right, step right, left foot step behind right foot, step right, left foot step behind right foot, step right, two left stomps. Repeat going the opposite direction with opposite feet. (2x)
- Refrain
- Going to the right, step right, left foot step behind right foot, step right, left foot stomp once. Repeat going the opposite direction with opposite feet. (2x)
- Step to the right, left stomp, step left, right stomp, step right, left stomp twice. Repeat with opposite feet.
Version 4 (faster)
- Formation: Students stand in a circle facing left next to partner, holding hands.
- Verse – Step right, hop on right foot, step left, hop on left foot, jog 4 steps. (4x)
- Refrain – Facing center, moving right, right step steps to the right, left foot steps to meet it, right step, left step, stomp right foot in place 3 times. (4x)
See also
- Country: Romania
- Activity: folk dance
- Meter: 2
- Rhythm:

YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody