Moosh Sasoon - Մուշ Սասուն (Armenia)

Moosh Sasoon

Մուշ Սասուն

Armenia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. This is actually a medley of two very closely related dances: Moosh and Sasoon. Moosh was originally taught by Tom Bozigian who learned the dance from members of the Armenian Diaspora in Fresno. The dance is from the town of Moosh in the Daron region. Sasoon is also from Tom Bozigian, who learned it in the village of Sasnashen, which is also occupied by people from Daron.

Music:

• https://youtu.be/BI4ggE1ahRY
• Songs and Dances of the Armenia People 1 (Tom Bozigian)
• GT 6001

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, with a pinkie finger hold. Leads to the left!
Introduction: 8 bars no action. The beginning is a little hard to catch.

Part 1: Moosh

Note that this section is in 7 bar phrases, so it doesn't fit the phrasing of the music
Bar 1: Cross R over L, lifting L behind (1), Step back on L in place (2) [Bozigian's notes have the arms swinging down on count two here, but the video has them swinging down and back on count 1 of the next bar]
Bar 2: Step R to R, arms swing down and back [Bozigian's notes have the arms swinging forward] (1). Cross L over R, arms swing forward [Bozigian's notes have the arms swinging backwards]
Bar 3: Step on R to R, arms swing backwards [Bozigian's notes have the arms swinging up to W position] (1) Hop on R, lifting L behind R calf, arms swing up to W position.
Bar 4: Rock forward on L into the center (1), rock back on R out of center (2)
Bar 5: Turning to face RLOD, Step L in place swinging arms down to V position (1), step on R next to L (&), step on L in place next to R, Swinging arms back up to W position. (2)
Bar 6: Moving in RLOD (CW), Step R (1), L (&), R (2) (Armenian two step)
Bar 7: repeat bar 7 with opposite footwork

repeat until the music changes

Transition:

Two bars of drumming: no action, start part 2 immediately with the clarinet

Part 2: Sasson

Unlike part 1, this part has an 8 bar dance phrase
Bar 1: facing center, cross R over L, sharply swinging arms down (1), Step back in place on L, swinging arms forward, but not up (2)
Bar 2: Step on R to R, arms swing back (1), Cross L over R, swinging arms forward (2) Hop on L (&)
Bar 3: Step on R to R, arms swing back  (1), hop on R, lifting L behind, arms start to swing forward and up(2)
Bar 4: Jump onto both feet with L foot into the center, arms come up to W position (1), Bounce on both feet (2), bounce on both feet again (&)
Bar 5: Jump onto both feet with L foot into the center (1), leap onto R, kicking L foot forward (2)
Bar 6: Turning to face RLOD, Step L in place swinging arms down to V position (1), step on R next to L (&), step on L in place next to R, Swinging arms back up to W position. (2)
Bar 7: Moving in RLOD (CW), Hop on L, as R hits floor (1), Step on R in RLOD (&), step on L in RLOD (2) (Kertsee step)
Bar 8: Repeat bar 7

Other notes on the web

• Pages 16 and 26 of (1985) Camp Hess Kramer
• Page 76 of (1977) Santa Barbara Folk Dance Symposium

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other sources

• Typewritten dance notes from Tom Bozigian

Also called: Sasoonashentsee, Maeeloorke, Sassoon, Sassoun, Muş