Slavjanka - Славјанка (Serbia/Croatia)

Slavjanka

Славјанка

Serbia/Croatia

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught to the international folkdance community by Dick Crum and Al Bahr in the 1950s. It was also taught by John Filcich, Michael Herman, Dennis Boxell, Dick Oakes and Michael Ginsberg. There is some dispute as to where it's from. Some people say it's a city ballroom kolo from Belgrade in Serbia, others say it comes from Vojvodina (a multi-ethnic region between Croatia and Serbia) and others call it Croatian. As for many dances of the Balkans, I think we can safely assume that there is some legitimacy to all of those claims of origin.

Music:

• National 454B; 
• Ostali Muzikasi; 
• RCA Victor 3025.
• Starogradske Pesme
• Tamburaški ansambl Tajna
• Narakord (a little fast)

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Closed circle, shoulder hold (or W position in some notes)
Introduction: None, start right away.

Part 1

Bar 1: Step on R to R (1), close L next to right and bounce on both feet (2), bounce again (&)
Bars 2-8: repeat bar 1, seven more times
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8, with opposite footwork and direction

Part 2

Bar 1: Rock forward into the center on R (1), Rock back onto L (2)
Bar 2: Step on R next to L (1), Hop on R, lifting L foot up next to R (2)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork.
Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4, three more times (four times in total)

Alternate the steps until the end of the music.

Tucson Video

Other instructions on the web

• http://www.phantomranch.net/folkdanc/dances/slavjank.htm
• page 15  of  (1992) Idyllwild Folkdance Camp
• http://www.socalfolkdance.com/dances/S/Slavjanka.pdf
• Page 53 of (1977) Santa Barbara Folk Dance Symposium 
• (1992) Santa Barbara Folk Dance Symposium 
• Page 60 of Stockton Folk Dance Camp Syllabus (1959) 
• Wolff et al (1968) 11th Folklore Village Christmas

Lyrics

I think the original source for these is Dick Oakes, but I'm not sure. 

Slavjanka

/Haj, malo ja, malo ti, malo ja                             Hey, give a little and I will give

Pa ćemo se frajlice opet voljeti /                         We will love each other again

/Haj, uba, uba, uba, uba, ubava                           Hey, pretty

Uba, uba, ubava, curo garava!/                           Pretty dark haired girl

/Haj, grli me, ljubi me, grli me                           Hey, embrace me, kiss me, embrace me

I u baštu vodi me gse miriše cveće /                  Take me to the flower scented garden

/ Hey, neka, neka, neka, neka, nek se zna          Hey, let it be known

Neka, Neka, Nek se zna, da te ljubim ja /          Let it be known that I love you

/Haj, grli me, ljubi me, grli me                           Hey, embrace me, kiss me, embrace me

I u krevet baci me, pa radi šta znaš /                   Throw me in bed, do whatever you want

/Haj, uba, uba, uba, uba, ubava                          Hey, pretty

Uba, uba, ubava, curo garava!/                          Pretty dark haired girl

Sheet Music:

• Pixton (2004) The Pinewoods Collection 

Also spelled: Slavianka, Malo Ja Malo ti, Славянка

Read More

Tojčevo Kolo - Тојчево Коло (Serbia)

Tojčevo Kolo

Тојчево Коло

Serbia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Ciga Despotovič.

Music:

• Ciga Despotovič: 16 Yugoslavian Dances
• Ciga and Ivon volume 1

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle with hands down in V position
Introduction: None, start right away.

Part 1:

Bar 1: With feet together, twist heels to R (1), twist heels to L (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Twist heels to R (1). Twist heels to L (&). Twist heels to R (2). Twist heels to L (&)
Bar 4: Step on R to R (1), Step on L behind R (2), Cross R over L. with a bent knee (&)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4 with opposite footwork and direction.

Part 2:

Bar 1: Repeat bar 4 of Part 1
Bar 2: Repeat bar 4 of Part 1 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 3: Repeat bar 4 of Part 1
Bar 4: Close L next to R, straightening knees (1), bend knees (&), Straighten knees (2), bend knees (&)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4 with opposite footwork and direction.

Part 3:

Bar 1: Step on R to R, with a straight knee (1), close L next to R, with a bent knee (&), Step on R to R with a straight knee (2), Close L next to R, with a bent knee (&)
Bar 2: repeat bar 1 of part 3, except don't close L on the last count.
Bar 3: Čukče on R, lifting L knee (1), Step on L next to R (&), Čukče on L, lifting R knee (2). Step on R next to L (&)
Bar 4: repeat bar 4 of part 2
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4 with opposite footwork and direction.
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Part 4:

Bar 1: Switch hands to escort position, and turn to face slightly R of center. Step R, with a R knee, in LOD (1), close L with a bent knee (&), Step R, with a straight knee, in LOD (2), Close L with bent knee (&)
Bars 2-4: repeat bar 1, three more times.
Bars 5-7: turning to face L of center, continue step closes backing up in LOD
Bar 8: Step R (1), L (&), R (2) in place
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8 with opposite footwork and direction

Repeat dance from the beginning

Other Notes on the web

• Page 37 of (1994) Camp Hess Kramer
• Page 64 of (1978) Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• Page 58 of (1979) Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• (1979) Santa Barbara Folk Dance Symposium

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other Videos on the web

Also spelled: Toicevo, Toichevo, Toičevo, Tojchevo, Tojcevo

Read More

Stara Vranjanka - Стара Вранјанка (Serbia)

Stara Vranjanka

Стара Вранјанка

Serbia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Atanas Kolarovski. The first part of the dance is the dance Vranjanka, which is commonly done in International folk dance communities. The second part is a different variation, with only 4 bars taught by Atanas in the early 1980s.

Music: AK007
Meter: 7/8, SQQ (123)(12)(12)
Formation: Open Circle, hands in W position
Introduction: Start with main melody

Part 1: Vranjanka (Šano Dušo)

Bar 1: Step on R in LOD (S), Čukče on R (Q), Cross L over R (Q)
Bar 2: Step on R to R, facing center, leaving L foot in place (S), Point L to L (Q), Čukče on R (Q)
Bar 3: Step on L to L, facing center, leaving R foot in place (S), Point R to R (Q), Čukče on L (Q)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 2
Bar 5: Step on L to L (S), Step on R behind L (Q), Cross L over R (Q)

repeat until the music changes to drum

Transition:

Done during drums
Repeat bars 1-3 of Part 1

Part 2: Stara Vranjanka

Bar 1: Step on R in LOD (S), Čukče on R (Q), Cross L over R (Q)
Bar 2: With a big bend of R knee, step on R in LOD (S), Straighten up facing center, with L foot behind R calf (QQ)
Bar 3: Bring L foot around in front of L shin (S), Bring L foot back around behind R calf (QQ)
Bar 4: Step back on L foot (S), Step on R next to L (Q), Cross L over R (Q)

repeat until the end of the music

Other Notes on the web

• (1980) Santa Barbara Symposium
• (1980) Laguna Festival
• Page 103 of (1980) Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• Page 57 of (1982) Stockton Folk Dance Camp

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Sorry, youtube muted the audio on this video because of a copyright issue with the music. I put in muted portions of the video so that it wouldn't be blocked. But you will find versions of both steps with music in this video.

See Also: Vranjanka

Also spelled: Vranyanka

Read More

Vlaško Kolo - Влашко Коло - Atanas Version (Serbia)

Vlaško Kolo (Atanas Version)

Влашко Коло

Serbia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Atanas Kolarovski. The dance is from Zaječar in Eastern Serbia. Vlaško means "of the Vlach People". The Vlach were historically Romanian speaking sheepherders. The dance is not to be confused with the Bulgarian dance Vlaško Horo.

Music: AK007
Meter: 6/8 but counted as two dancers beats (123)(456) or (1) (2)
Formation: Short lines in a belt hold, L over R. Leads to the Right
Introduction: Start at the beginning of any musical phrase

Part 1:

Bar 1-4. Take 4 walking steps in LOD, R (1,2), L (1,2), R (1,2), L (1,2). [One step per bar]
Bar 5: Facing center, hop on L (1), Step on R to R (&), Step on L next to R (2)
Bar 6: Step on R to R (1), Hop on R (2)
Bars 7-8: Repeat bars 5-6 with opposite footwork and direction

repeat until the leader calls a change. 

Part 2:

Bar 1: Facing LOD, hop on L (1), Step on R in LOD (&) Step on L forward in LOD (2).
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Step on R in LOD (1) hop on R (2)
Bar 4: Step on L in LOD (1), hop on L (2)
Bar 5: Facing center, hop on L (1), Step on R to R (&), Step on L next to R (2)
Bar 6: Step on R to R (1), Hop on R (2)
Bars 7-8: Repeat bars 5-6 with opposite footwork and direction

repeat until the leader calls a change. 

Other Notes on the web

• (1980) Santa Barbara Folk Dance Symposium
• Page 108 of Stockton Folk Dance Camp Syllabus (1980)

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Also spelled: Vlashko, Vlasko

Read More

Zaječarka - Зајечарка (Serbia)

Zaječarka

Зајечарка

Serbia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Taught in the USA by Dick Crum, who learned it from members of the Banat Orchestra. Also taught by Dennis Boxell and Rickey Holden.  The dance is from the town of Zaječar. This is one of many of dances in the U Šest Koračka Family. Others include Kolo from Ripanj, Čuješ Mala, Žikino Kolo and others.

Music:

• Folk Dancer MH1013
• Folkraft 1532x45
• https://youtu.be/AV2LF8-oPvY
• https://youtu.be/BiaOZwqWbUY

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle, hands down in V position, leads to the R
Introduction:

Part 1: High Music

Bar 1: Run R (1), L (2) in LOD
Bar 2: Face center and step R to R (1), Step on L next to R (&), Step on R in place (2)
Bar 3: Repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 4: Repeat bar 2
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4 with opposite footwork and direction

Part 2: Low Music

Hands come up to W position.
Bar 1: Facing center, Step R to R (1), Close R Next to L (2)
Bar 2: Step on R to R (1), Touch L toe to L (2)
Bar 3: Repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 4: Repeat bar 2
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4 with opposite footwork and direction.

Other Notes on the web

• (1981) Dennis Boxell Workshop, Miami Valley FDC
• (2004) Statewide Festival
• (1979) Holiday Camp
• Page 52 of (1958) Santa Barbara Folk Dance Conference
• http://www.folkdance.com/LDNotations/Zajecarka1960LD.pdf
• Teme Kernerman's collection
• Page 28 of (1958) Stockton Folk Dance Camp

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other Sources

• Folk Dances of Serbia Vol 1. Dances of Central Serbia  (2006). Center for the Teaching of the Folk dances of Serbia. (DVD)
• Houston (1993)
• Lidster and  Tamurini (1965) Folk Dance Progressions

See also: U Šest, Žikino Kolo, Kolo from Ripanj, Čuješ Mala

Also spelled: Zajecharka, Zajecarka, Zajačarka, Zajacharka, Zajacarka

Read More