Tuvak (Turkey)

Tuvak

Turkey

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Bora Özkök, who learned it from Mustafa Hamzaoglu in 1982. The dance was brought to Turkey by people from Crimea. The name is probably a variant of the word duvak 'veil'.

Music: Solen '83, Bora Özkök and the Sultans
Meter: 6/8,  (123)(456), counted as two beats (1)(2) here.
Formation: Start in lines of no more than seven couples. M stand on the R of the W. Arms start down in close V position (Gluglu)
Introduction: 2 bars, start with the zurna.

Part 1:

Bar 1: Facing center step on ball of R to R (1), fall on flat of L crossed in front of L (2)
Bars 2-20: repeat bar 1, nineteen more times (20 in total)

Part 2:

Bars 1-14: using the footwork of part 1, continue moving to the R facing center, but leader takes a bigger step to the R and swings his L hand forward and up over partner's head to land on her shoulder, her free hand comes up to his L shoulder. Then the first woman repeats this, then the next man, etc. down the line. Each person takes 1 bar to get into shoulder hold.

Part 3:

Bar 1: Men (or odd numbered dancers), step into the center on R foot, turning 1/2 way CW to face out (1), step on L to L (2). Form a staggered line with men on the inside facing out, W on the outside, hands are up in Y position.  W continue the step from part 1.
Bars 2-6: W continue the footwork from part 1, Men step on R behind L (1), step on L to L (2), i.e. continue in LOD.
Bar 7: M step out on R foot turning CW to face in, W step in on R foot turning 1/2 way clockwise to face out (i.e. exchange positions). You're still in a wavy line (1). M steps behind on L, W step on on L to L (2)
Bars 8-12: repeat bars 2-6, except with W doing the behind step on the R and M stepping on R to R to start.

Part 4:

Bar 1: M continue with step of part 1, W turn CW out to face center, end with all facing center, hands up in Y position.
Bars 2-12: repeat footwork of part 1, slowly lowering arms down to close V position.

Part 5:

repeat part 2

Part 6:

Repeat part 3, except women go in first, then men go in second

Part 7:

Repeat part 4

Parts 8-10

repeat parts 2-4

Part 11 (faster music)

Bar 1: Step R to R, arms swing backwards (1), Cross L over R, arms swing forward (2)
Bar 2: Step on R to R, arms swing back (1), Kick L forward low, arms swing forward (2)
Bar 3: repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction
Bars 4-6: repeat bars 1-3
Bars 7-12: repeat bars 1-6

Part 12 (faster music)

Bar 1: Leap on R to R, arms swing backwards (1), Leap on L crossing over R, arms swing forward (2)
Bar 2: Leap on both feet slightly to R, arms swing back (1), Kick L forward low, arms swing forward (2)
Bar 3: repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction
Bars 4-6: repeat bars 1-3
Bars 7-12: repeat bars 1-6

Part 13 (faster music)

Bar 1: Leap R to R, arms swing backwards (1), Leap on  L crossing over R, arms swing forward (2)
Bar 2: Leap on both feet, arms swing back (1), kick R backwards low, arms swing forward (2)
Bars 3-14: repeat bars 1-2, six more times.
Bar 15: repeat bar 1
Bar 16: Jump onto both feet (1), hold (2)

Other Notes on the web

• Page 17 of http://www.socalfolkdance.com/syllabi/syllabus_idyllwild_1987.pdf
• http://www.socalfolkdance.com/dances/T/Tuvak.pdf

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other Sources

• Özkok, Bora (1985) Turkish Folk Dance Workshop, Edmonton, Syllabus

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