Tughmartneroo Kocharee (Armenia)

Tughmartneroo Kocharee

Armenia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Tom Bozigian, who learned it at the Sayat Nova State Choreographic School in Yerevan. The dance is from the Daron/Taron region.

Music: GT 2002
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Lines of about 10 men, With L hand in small of back and R hand in neighbors L (behind their back)
Introduction: 4 bars, no action

Part 1

Bar 1: Jump onto both feet, L foot forward, R foot back (1), bounce twice (2, &),
Bar 2: Jump onto both feet, L foot forward, R foot back (1),  Put weight on L, lift R up behind L (2)
Bar 3: Step on ball of R to R (1), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3
Bar 5: Run R (1), L (2) in LOD
Bar 6: Run R (1) , jump on both feet with L forward, and R foot straight back (2)
Bar 7: Bounce in straddle position (1), hop on L and kick R forward (2)
Bar 8: Jump on both feet with L forward (1), Hop on L and Kick R forward (2)
Bars 9-12: repeat bars 1-4
Bar 13: Step back on R (1), hop on R, lifting L knee high (2)
Bar 14: Jump on both feet in a squat (1), straighten up with weight on L (2)
Bars 15-28: repeat bars 1-14
Bars 29-34: Repeat bars 9-14

Part 2: Transition

Bar 1-4: Put hands on waist, and do 4 Hop step steps to form a closed circle. (Hop on L, with R next to it (1), Step on R (&), Step on L (2)). End in Shoulder Hold.

Part 3: Sways

Bar 1: Sway on R to R (1), bounce on R presenting L heel to L (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 3: Hop on L, twisting R knee across L (1), Step on R to R (&), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3
Bar 5: Leap on R to R (1), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 6: Repeat bar 5
Bar 7: Squat on both feet (1), Straighten onto L and present R heel to LOD (2)
Bar 8: Turn to face RLOD, Extend L forward, Stepping on R. Clap hands above head [Note Bozigian's notes say to face out (1) Leap on L turning to face center (2)
Bars 9-16: Repeat bars 1-8

Part 4: Partners

Bars 1-6: Repeat the footwork of part 2 and add 2 more bars (i.e., 6 hop step steps) to end in two lines facing each other.
Bars 7-8: do two more hop step steps to approach partner.
Bar 9: Step back on R, Swinging arms backwards, and up over the head (1), pause (2)
Bar 10: Switch weight to the L and clasp hands above head with opposite (1), pause (2)
Bar 11-14: In each couple, the M facing center is the leader, let go of Leader's R hand, follower's left, but retain other hand. Leader do 4 hop step steps in LOD, follower do same footwork but are pulled into the main circle behind the leader, join hands in the circle. Hands drop down to V position on the 4th hop-step-step

Part 5: Faster Music

Bar 1: Facing center, Leap onto R, presenting L heel forward  (1),  hop on R touching R forward again. [Note Bozigian's original notes have this as a hop on L, followed by another hop, the the rest of the step is done on the opposite footwork to what is described here]
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork
Bar 3: Leap on R, presenting L forward (1), Leap on L presenting R forward (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3
Bars 5-8: Repeat bars 1-4
Bars 9-10: Repeat bars 1-2
Bar 11: Leap onto both feet, R forward and L back and shout "Hey" (1), pause (2)

Other Notes on the web

• Page 173 of (1974) Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• http://vitrifolk.fr/descriptions/descriptions-armenie-TUGHMARTNEROO%20A%20---%20Tughmartneroo%20Kochari-Anglais.pdf

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Also spelled: Köçeri, Kótchari, Kotsari, Kotchari, tughamarteneroo

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Papakhnerov Par - Պապախներով Պար (Armenia)

Papakhnerov Par
 Պապախներով Պար

Armenia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Dance originally taught in the US by Tom Bozigian, who learned it in Yerevan in 1973 from Vanoush Khanamiryan, who was the director of Armenian State Dance Ensemble.

Music: GT2002; Composed by Khachatur Avetisyan.
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Closed circle, shoulder hold
Introduction: 6 bars + pause, no action

Part 1: Travel

Bar 1: Moving in LOD, Hop on L (ah) Step on R (1), hop on R (ah), Step on L (2)
Bars 2-4: repeat bar 1, three more times.
Bar 5: Moving in LOD, Leap onto R, kicking L back (1), Hop on R, kicking L forward low (2)
Bar 6: Repeat bar 5 with opposite footwork
Bar 7: Run forward R (1), L (2), kicking free foot up behind on each step
Bar 8: repeat bar 7
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Part 2: Facing center

Bar 1: Facing center, hop on L foot, swinging R around to front (1), Step on R across in front of L (&), pause (2), Chug back on R (&)
Bar 2: Leap backwards onto L, (1), Leap on R to R, lifting L in front and shout "hey" (2)
Bar 3: Step on L to L (1), cross R over L (&), Step on L in place (2)
Bar 4: Jump on both feet together, knees bent (1), Leap onto L, kicking R foot back (bent at the knee)  (2)
Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4, three more times.

Part 3: Travel

Repeat part 1

Part 4: facing center

Repeat part 2

Part 5 - Transition

Women:
Bar 1: Facing center, drop hands and step R to R (1), close L to L with weight (2), hands roll inwards leading with the fingers.
Bar 2: Step R to R (1), pause (2), hands continue circle inward and then out to present palms to the R
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork, traveling to the L. Hands present to the L.

Men:
Bars 1-4: Men take 8 walking steps forward into the center, up on the balls of the feet. Clap on first beat, then put arms up as if in a shoulder hold. End the walking in a closed circle in the center in shoulder hold

Part 6: men in the center

Women:
Bars 1-16: women continue doing the footwork and arm work of the transition figure above.

Men:
Bar 1: Squat on both feet (1), land on L foot, kicking R forward (2)
Bar 2: Step on R to R (1). Cross L over R (2)
Bar 3: Jump on both feet together with a slight bend of the knees (1), Jump up kicking both legs back, bent at the knee (2), land on both with bent knees (&)
Bar 4: Pause (1),  Jump up kicking both legs back, bent at the knee (&), Land on both, with bent knees (2), pause (&)
Bar 5: Leap on L to L, kicking R forward (1), Cross R over L (2)
Bars 6-8: repeat bar 5, three more times.
Bars 9-12: repeat bars 1-4
Bar 13: Leap on L foot forward, leaving R foot back, clap hands (1). Pause (2)
Bar 14: Pivot CW to face out, with weight on R foot (1), Step on L (2)
Bars 15-16: take 4 walking steps R (1), L (2), R (1), L (2) to rejoin the women in the outer circle, curve CCW to face LOD in shoulder hold with women.

Part 7: Travel

Repeat part 1

Part 8: Facing center

Repeat part 2

Part 9: Travel 

Repeat part 1

Part 10: Facing center

Repeat part 2

Other Notes on the Web

• Page 163 of Stockton Folk Dance Camp Syllabus (1974)
• http://wikiwiki.jp/tofdc/?Armenia%2FPapakhneroo%20Par (in Japanese)

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other sources

• Fitz, John (1974) Stepnotes. Volume 1: Line Circle and Couple Dances. Self published.

Also spelled: Bar, Babaghnerov

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Loorke - Լորկե (Armenia)

Loorke (1 figure version) 

Լորկե

Armenia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Tom Bozigian, who learned it from members of the Armenian Diaspora in California.  The dance originates in the town of Kharpert in Taron. Tom taught a longer more complicated version of this dance later.

Music: Songs and Dances of the Armenian People. GT 3001LP
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle, hands in V position, pinky fingers held. Leader is on the R
Introduction: 4 bars, no action

Bar 1: Hop on L, presenting R heel forward in LOD (1), Step on R in LOD (&), step on L forward on L (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Jump on both feet, with L foot forward into the center (1). Bounce on both feet (2), bounce again (&)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3
Bar 5: Jump on both feet, with L foot forward into the center (1), Step on L, turning to face RLOD, bring arms up to W position (2)
Bar 6: Touch R across L (1) Step on R across L (2)
Bar 7: Facing center hop on R and touch L to L (1), Hop on R again (&), Cross L over R (2), arms swing down to V position

Repeat dance until the end of the music

Other notes on the web

• Page 60 of (2002) Camp Hess Kramer (this is the longer more complicated version of the dance)
• Page 10 of (1976) Santa Barbara Dance Symposium
• Page 70 of (1977) Santa Barbara Dance Symposium
• http://archives.mvfolkdancers.com/0_Other%20Items%20of%20Interest/0_Dance%20Instructions/loorke%201.pdf

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Also spelled: Lourke, Lorke, Lourkey, Lorkay

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Elloo Yar - Էլու Յար (Armenia)

Elloo Yar
Էլու Յար

Armenia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught in the US by Tom Bozigian. He learned it in the Armenian State Song and Dance Ensemble in 1974. Thanks to Martha Awdziewicz for corrections to the notes.

Music: Music for Dances GT2002
Meter: 6/8 but counted as 2 counts: (123)(456)
Formation: Couples, start in a circle facing in, M on the right, hands down in V position
Introduction: 12 bars no action

Part 1 Chorus

Preparatory count (&): Hop on L, swing arms back 
Bar 1: Step on R in LOD, arms swing forward (1), Cross L over R, arms start to swing back (2)
Bar 2: Jump onto both feet, Arms are back (1), Jump onto R, and kick L forward L, arms swing forward (2)
Bar 3: repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork, add extra hop on L on final & count as in the preparatory count above
Bars 4-12: repeat bars 1-3, three more times (4 times in total)

Part 2: 

Facing LOD, with W on the inside, M on the outside. Don't hold hands. Both have L hand extended to L. M's L is behind W's head. Man has R hand raised above head. W has R hand in front of body with bent R elbow extending to R
Bar 1: Step R(1) L (&) R (2) forward in LOD (Armenian 2 step); Throughout the two step stay up on the balls of your feet.
Bar 2: Step L (1) R (&), L (2) forward in LOD
Bars 3-6: repeat bars 1-2, two more times (three in total or 6 two-steps)
Bar 7: Still facing LOD, Step on R to R (1), close L next to R (&), step on R to R, while kicking L forward Low (2)
Bar 8: repeat bar 7 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 9: repeat bar 7
Bars 10-12: W repeat bars 8, 7, and then 8 again. Men use 3 Armenian two-steps (LRL, RLR, LRL), to dance in front of partner, under her extended L arm, and around behind her to end back to her R, ready to start the chorus step. The final & count of bar 12 is the preparatory hop for the chorus.

Part 3: Chorus

repeat the chorus described in part 1

Part 4: 

Men's Part:
Hands are in the same position as part 2
Bar 1: Dance 1 Armenian two step turning CW away from partner
Bar 2: Step L (1), R (2), completing turn
Bar 3: Jump onto both feet, L in front of R, knee slightly bent. R leg extended straight back, clap both hands (1) pause (2)
Bar 4: Clap hands in front of body (1), pause (2)
Bar 5: repeat bar 4
Bar 6: repeat bar 4
Bars 7-9: do three Armenian Two steps, moving very slightly forward into the center towards partner (RLR, LRL, RLR)
Bar 10: Vot Nazark Step: Hop on R, touching L next to R(1),  kick L forward (&), Leap onto L, kicking R forward (2)
Bar 11: repeat bar 10, with opposite footwork
Bar 12: repeat bar 10
Tom Bozigian's notes have Bars 10-12 turning CCW, but says the turn is optional. 

Women's Part:
Bars 1-2: use 2 Armenian two steps (RLR, LRL) to make a 1/2 CCW turn. Arms curl in in front of chest and then push out to R on bar 1, and out to L on bar 2
Bar 3: Cross R over L (1), push on R pivoting to face partner (2),  arms cross in front of body
Bar 4: Step on L to L, arms cross in front of body (1), step behind on R (&), Step on L in place, arms push up to L high above head, look at hands (2)
Bar 5: repeat bar 4 with opposite footwork
Bar 6: repeat bar 4
Bars 7-9: using three two steps (RLR, LRL, RLR) move forwards towards partner and slightly back into original position, arms slowly lower, palms are facing up.
Bar 10:  Hop on R, touching L heel slightly forward (1), Hop on R again, touching L heel again (&), Step on L next to R (2), throughout this bar,  twist hands in and down at the wrist.
Bar 11; repeat bar 10, with opposite footwork
Bar 12: repeat bar 10

repeat dance from the beginning

Other Notes on the web

• (1975) Santa Barbara Symposium
• (1979) Santa Barbara Symposium
• (1987) Santa Barbara Symposium
• (1988) Santa Barbara Symposium

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Lyrics

Taken From Tom Bozigian's Printed dance notes. 

// Kanach artu-hats tara – elloo yar //

// Yarees tesa-het tara – telloo yar //

// Yela saru – sar tesa – elloo yar //

// Seeptak mazov – yar tesa – telloo yar //

// Mera baghu – kunalen – elloo yar //

// Jureroo hed – khaghalen – telloo yar //

// Kanach artu-hats tara – elloo yar //

// Yarees tesa-het tara – telloo yar //

 Seeing my sweetheart in a green field, I took

her some bread and brought her back with me.

And having climbed the mountain, I saw my

Sweetheart with white hair.

I love to see the grapevines climbing up

as they play games with the water, my sweetheart.

Also Spelled: Eloo, Elu

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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

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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

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