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 videos on the web

John Chu

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