Beejo (Armenia)

Beejo 

Armenia

These notes ©2016 Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Tom Bozigian, who learned it from Arsend Anoushian. In other notes Mrs. Margaret Tellalian Kyrkostas of Queens, N.Y.C. is cited as a source.

Music:

• Tom Bozigian.  Songs & Dance of the Armenian People Volume 5
• Armenian Party Time

Meter: 6/8, counted in two beats (123)(456). Notated here as (1)(2)
Formation: Closed or open circle, pinky finger hold

Introduction: 

Bars 1-8: swing arms in (1) and out (2) on each bar
Bar 9: walk R (1), L (2) in LOD, arms continue swinging
Bars 10-16: repeat bar 9, 7 more times
Bars 17-40: repeat bars 9-16, 3 more times

Part 1 "Basic"

Arms continue swinging as in the introduction throughout
Bar 1: Facing center step R to R (1), Cross L over R  (2)
Bar 2: Step R to R (1), close L next to R (&), Step R to R (2)
Bar 3: Stamp L next to R (1,2)
Bars 4-5: repeat bars 2-3, with opposite footwork and direction

repeat until melody changes

Part 2 "Claps" "Tserker Mechkeen"

Put hands on hips, repeat the footwork of Part 1, except clap twice on bar 3 (but no claps on bar 5), repeat until music changes

Part 3: Turns "Budooeet"

Repeat part 2 including claps, except make a complete CW turn on bar 1. repeat until music changes

Part 4: Hora "Yerek Meg"

Retake hands in V position and swing as in part 1 (forward on count 1, back on count 2)
Bar 1: Step R to R (1), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 2: Step on R to R (1), Kick L forward (2) [Bozigian's notes have the kick simultaneously with count 1, and has just the arms moving back on count 2,]
Bar 3: repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork

repeat until music changes again

Part 5: Slides

Arms swing as in part 1.
Bars 1-3: repeat bars 1-3 of part 1
Bar 4: Take a big step to the L on L (1), close R to R (&), Take another big step to the L (2)
Bar 5: Stamp R (1), Hop on L, lifting R up (2)

repeat until the end of the music. Raise hands into W position on last count. 

Other notes on the web

• http://www.socalfolkdance.com/syllabi/syllabus_santa_barbara_symposium_1980.pdf
• http://www.socalfolkdance.com/syllabi/syllabus_santa_barbara_symposium_1991.pdf
• http://archives.mvfolkdancers.com/0_Other%20Items%20of%20Interest/0_Dance%20Instructions/beejo.pdf
• Page 5 of (2010) Laguna Folk Dance Festival 

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other Videos on the Web

Also Spelled: Bijo, Bijou, Bejo