clair003

Silistrenski Opas Силистренски Опас Bulgaria These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. The dance was originally taught by Baj Ivan, Petur Iliev and Michael Ginsburg. Opas means a belt hold dance. Music : Petur Iliev Bulgarski Narodni Tanci Balkan Beauties, Michael Ginsburg Meter : 2/4 Formation : Short lines in Belt Hold, L over R. Leads R Introduction : 8 bars Part 1 Bar 1: Facing center, Step on R on R (1), Step on L behind R (2) Bar 2: Step on R to R (1), Swing L around in front of R (2) Bar 3: Step on L into center (1), Draw R foot through forward (2) Bar 4: Touch R toe forward (1), Raise R foot up (2) Bar 5: Step on R into center (1), Draw L foot through forward (2) Bar 6: Step on L into center (1), Stamp R slightly forward of L, no weight (2) Bar 7: Step R (1), L (2) backing out of center Bar 8: Step on R in place (ah), Step on L slightly in front of R (1), Step on R in place (ah), stamp L next to R (2) Bar 9: Step on L to L (1), Stamp R next to L, with bent knees (2) repeat bars 1-9, th...

Bela Kawe Creole - Afro-Caribbean Island of Carriacou These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. The dance is an arrangement of traditional "Highlife" figures put together by Mary Joyce Strahlendorf. Also taught by Norma Huff, and Phyllis Weikert. Music : Sanna Longden Dances of the 7 continents Volume 1 CD#3 Rhythmically Moving 3. AR36 Meter : 2/4 Formation : Solo dance, either in a circle or lines of people facing the same direction. Also possible are two concentric circles, with the inside circle facing out, and the outside circle facing in. Introduction : Wait thru drums and start with flute, starting after a 1 beat pickup. Part 1: Shuffle Women are holding skirts and men have hands on backs. Bar 1:  Step forward on R into the center (1), Rock back o L (&), Rock forward on R (2) Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork still moving into the center. Bars 3-8: Repeat bars 1-2, three more times. Part 2: Heel Steps Bar 1: Touch R heel to diagonal R, while reaching both hands up ...

Joc În Trei Romania These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu. The dance is made up of two bits a Brâul (Briul) and a De Doi. The dance is from Banat. Music : Romanian Realm #6. Sonia and Cristian Workshop CD Meter : Brâul 7/16 counted as SQQ; De Doi: 2/4 Formation : Trios, traditionally one man with 2 women. Start in a small circle. Holding hands in V position. Introduction : 8 bars, start with panflute Dance # 1: Brâul (Brîul) Part 1: Bar 1: Step R to R (S), Close L next to R with weight (QQ) Bar 2: Step R to R (S), Touch L next to R, no weight (QQ) Bars 3-4: Repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction Bar 5: Turning to face LOD, Step on R in LOD (S), touch L next to R (QQ) Bar 6: Step L in LOD  (S), Touch R next to L (QQ) Bars 7-8: Step R (S), L (QQ), R (S), in LOD, and face center and touch (QQ) [Sonia and Cristian's notes say to repeat bars 1-2] Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8 with opposite footwork and direction Part 2 Bar 1: ...

Paul Jones USA These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. This is a traditional mixer from the American South East from the beginning of the 20th century.  It's characterized by calling the change of figures with a whistle. There are several different versions. I notate two of them below. The dance is named after an American Revolutionary Naval War hero. For more on the name see here:  http://www.kickery.com/2014/08/paul-jones-survey.html Music : Various, any 2/4 tune will do Meter : 2/4 Formation : Couples in a circle in ballroom position Introduction : As called by the caller Version 1: One-step, Circle Right, Grand R&L Part 1:  Using simple walking steps, the M walks forward in LOD (CCW), while tbe woman backs up. (One step) Part 2: Upon the call (typically a whistle), the couple opens up and circles to the right. Part 3. Upon the call, the couple faces each other and begin a grand right and left, M progressing CCW and W progressing CW. Upon the next signal take a new partn...

Pembe - Bata Marčetić's "Gypsy Pembe" Пембе Serbia/Roma These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. This version of Pembe was taught by Miroslav Bata Marčetić, he says it is a "Gypsy" (i.e. Roma) version from Vranje and the Vranjsko Polje region. Music : Marčetić Serbian Folk Dance: http://www.folklorediscography.org/Marcetic-2.htm Meter : 4/4 Formation : When Bata taught this in the US, he typically taught it as an open circle with everyone facing the center, leading to the right. Some of his notes, however, have this as a circle of dancers, alternating M & W, with the W facing in and the M facing out (i.e. an inner circle of M and outer circle of W, holding hands across the circles). The notes here are for the single circle version.  Hands are in W position. Introduction : There's a very slight chord, then start right away. Part 1 Bar 1:Facing LOD, Kick R heel across in front of L shin (1), return R foot to neutral position (i.e. swing it to the R (2). Rock back...

Oro Vlaška - Otterholt Version Оро Влашка Serbia These notes ©2018 Andrew Carnie. Choreographed by Lee Otterholt, based on traditional steps he learned while dancing with various Vlach people in the 1970s. There is another dance called Vlaško Oro done to the same music, so this one is sometimes called Oro Vlaška II). The dance name means Vlach dance. Music : Folkraft 1568. Meter : 2/4 Formation : Short lines, belt hold or front basket hold. Leads to the R Introduction : 8 bars Part 1: Bar 1: Step on R to R, while pushing L shoulder forward (1), close L foot next to R, straightening shoulders back (&), Step on R to R with L shoulder forward (2), close L next to R, straightening shoulders Bar 2: Step on R to R, while pushing L shoulder forward (1), close L foot next to R, straightening shoulders back (&), Step on R to R, while pushing L shoulder forward (2) Stamp L foot next to R(&) Bar 3: Step on L into the center leading with L shoulder, so facing LOD (1) Stamp R next to L ...

Galjam Galjam Галям Галям Bulgaria These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Originally introduced to the US by Iliana Bozhanova. Also widely taught by Lee Otterholt. The dance is from Gela, in the Smolyan region in the Rhodopes mountains. Galjam Galjam is the name of the song. Music : Iliana Bozhanova and Todor Yankov Magic CD https://youtu.be/GXTx_pERV4E Meter : 2/4 Formation : Open circle. Hands in W position, leads to the right Introduction : start with singing Bar 1: Facing center, step on L crossing in front of R (1), čukče on L (2) Bar 2: Step R (1), L (2) backwards out of center (take small steps) Bar 3: Step on R next to L (1), Čukče on R (2) Bar 4: Step on L to L  (1), Cross R over L (2) Bar 5: Rock back in place on L (1), Čukče on L (2) Bar 6: Step on R to R (1), Step on L behind R (2) Bar 7: Step on R to R (1), Čukče on R (2) Repeat until the end of the music. The dance is only 7 bars long, so it doesn't square into 8 bar phrases.  Other notes on the web  http://socal...

Vodarki Oro (Atanas Kolarovski Version) Водарки Macedonia These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. This is a Medley of dances from Ovčepol that were put together by Atanas Kolarovski in the 1960s. Various Macedonian performance groups (e.g. Tanec) have their own choreographies by this name. This should not be confused with the closely related but distinct Atanas dance Vodarka.  The last dance in the medley is essentially identical to Ratevka.  Music : Festival Records FR 4013A Meter : 2/4 (Dances 1 & 2), 7/8 (Dance 3) Formation : Open circle, start with hands down in V position Introduction : Wait through the Kaval Taxim,  Atanas' notes say to wait another 8 counts, but I've never seen this.  Dance 1: (2/4 time) Part 1 Bar 1; Facing and traveling LOD, step R (1), L (2) Bar 2: Continuing in LOD, Step R (1), Čukče on R and lift L knee (2) Bar 3: Step L (1), R (2) in LOD Bar 4: Step L (1), R (&), L (2) in LOD Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4 three more times. Part 2: Bar 1: ...