Pembe - Пембе (Bata Marčetic Version) - Serbia

Pembe - Bata Marčetić's "Gypsy Pembe"

Пембе

Serbia/Roma

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. This version of Pembe was taught by Miroslav Bata Marčetić, he says it is a "Gypsy" (i.e. Roma) version from Vranje and the Vranjsko Polje region.

Music: Marčetić Serbian Folk Dance: http://www.folklorediscography.org/Marcetic-2.htm
Meter: 4/4
Formation: When Bata taught this in the US, he typically taught it as an open circle with everyone facing the center, leading to the right. Some of his notes, however, have this as a circle of dancers, alternating M & W, with the W facing in and the M facing out (i.e. an inner circle of M and outer circle of W, holding hands across the circles). The notes here are for the single circle version.  Hands are in W position.
Introduction: There's a very slight chord, then start right away.

Part 1

Bar 1:Facing LOD, Kick R heel across in front of L shin (1), return R foot to neutral position (i.e. swing it to the R (2). Rock backwards on R (3), Step forward in LOD on L (4)
Bar 2: Hop on L (1), Step on R in LOD (&), Hop on R (2), Step on L in LOD (&), Hop on L (3), Step on R in LOD (&), Hop on R (4), Step on L in LOD (&)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4

Part 2: 

Bar 1: Lift R up with a Čukče on L (1), Step R (1), L (2), R (3) in place
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork
Bar 3: Touch R toe forward, dropping handhold (but hands remain up) (1), step R (2), L (3), R (4) into the center. [If doing couple version pass partner by L shoulder exchanging places]
Bar 4: Touch L in place (1), Step L (2), R (3), L (4), in place turning CCW to face out [If doing couple version, you face the opposite direction from what you were facing in bar 1]
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4  [If doing the couple version, join into a single open circle facing in, at the end of bar 8]

Part 3

Bar 1: Facing and moving in LOD, Touch R toe forward (1), step on R in LOD (2),  Touch L forward (3), Step on L in LOD (4)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Repeat bar 1
Bar 4: Touch R toe forward (1), step on R backwards, out of circle (2), leap on L to L (3), Leap on R, crossing in front of L (4)
Bars 5-8: Repeat bars 1-4, with opposite footwork

Interlude (Drumming)

Bar 1 (6 beats):  Make a complete turn, using a paddle step (step on R to side, pushing R hip out, step on L flat in place acting as pivot point). R (1), L (&), R (2), L (&), R (3), L (&),  R (4), L (&), R (5), L (&), R (6), L (&), end facing LOD. Women "card the wool" with hands.

[Note if done as the couple variation, the Men do touch steps instead of the rocking step, women only do a 1/2 turn to end facing center]

Part 4

Bar 1: Facing center, touch L toe forward (1), pause [Bata's notes say to do a bounce] (2), Čukče on R, lifting R knee up high (3), step on L in place next to R (4)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork
Bar 3:  Touch or tap L foot in front of R (1), pause [Bata's notes say to do a bounce] (2), Čukče on R, lifting R knee up, and swing it around to back turning body to face RLOD (3), Step on L behind R (4)
Bar 4: Step on R facing center (1), cross L in front of R (2), lift R knee up in front (3), step on R next to L (4)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4, except end with a stomp on R on the final count of bar 8.

Sequence

Part 1, Part 2,
Part 1, Part 2

Part 3, Interlude
Part 3, Part 3 (the last time through do not step on L foot on last count),  Part 4
(Note Bata taught a different sequence at Stockton camp -- see those notes below for details)

Tucson Video 

Other Videos on the Web:

Other notes on the web

• Page 80 of the 2012 Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• 2014 Lyrids Festival

See Also

• Pembe - Macedonia

Also called: "Gypsy Pembe"