Valle E Dardhës (Moreau Version)

Albania

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught in US by Yves Moreau, who learned it from the Tirana Folk Ensemble. The dance was also taught by Steve Kotansky. On the web, there are a couple of videos of very different dances by this name.

Music: Heritage Folklore Workshop Tape 1997
Meter: 2/4 (Kotansky notates it as 4/4)
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, hold kerchief in R hand.
Introduction: 2 bars.

Part 1

Bar 1: facing slightly in LOD, Čukče on L foot (&), Step on R (1), L (&), R (2) in LOD
Bar 2: repeat bar 1, with opposite footwork
Bar 3: Turn to face slightly RLOD and step backwards on the R, in LOD (1), Step on L backwards in LOD, slightly backing away from center (2)
Bar 4: Turn to face center, step R to R (1), Close L next to R with weight (2)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4.

Part 2

Bar 1: Facing center, drop hands with neighbors, put left hand behind back and R hand (with the kerchief forward, bend both knees, swinging R hand down across in front of body (1), Straighten knees, and bring kerchief up and out to the R (2), The kerchief essentially does a figure 8 in these two counts.
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Take hands in W position, Step on R to R (1), Touch L toe forward into the center of the circle (2)
Bar 4: Step on L to L (1), Close R, no weight (2)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4

repeat dance from the beginning until the end of the music.

Tucson Video

Other Notes on the Web

Other Videos on the Web

Also spelled: Vallja, Dardhes

Vallja E Gajdës

Albania

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. The name of the dance translates as "Bagpipe Dance". There are actually many different Valle E Gajdës dance types, some which are effectively what would be called a Teskoto in Macedonian. This comes from Steve and Susan Kotansky, who learned it from Bardhi Pojani in Korçë.

Music:

• https://youtu.be/w5nPb3HEmjE
• https://youtu.be/qYS_XjlXZrQ

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle, hand in W position. Leads to the R.
Introduction: Start at the beginning of any musical phrase.

Bar 1: Step R (1), L (&), R (2) in LOD, Touch L toe back (or kick L foot back)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork.
Bar 3: Facing center step back on R, twizzling L heel in (leave L toe touching floor (1), Step back on L, twizzling R (&), Step back on R, twizzling L (2), Step back on L, twizzling R (&)
Bar 4: Still facing center, step on R back and to the R (1). Lift L, with a slight bounce on R (&). Step on L to L (2). Lift R knee, with a slight bounce on L (&).

repeat until the end of the music

Tucson Video

Other notes on the web

Ani Mori Nuse (Otterholt Version)

Albania

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Introduced by Lee Otterholt. There are other dances done to this same music. See the "see also below"

Music:

• Xenos. Fire in the Feet: https://youtu.be/JiecTT30mF0
• Gothart: https://youtu.be/m8XjXx_eApg
• Çavolli: https://youtu.be/iv0Vm7A8oRY
• Balkan Sounds: https://youtu.be/uFUYwbsC8VA
• Çenturk: https://youtu.be/ekSbdY5hppg
• Osmanollaj: https://youtu.be/zLJAz4zuKLQ
• Goran Vratnice: https://youtu.be/CkncVL0fL3Y
• Merita Halili: https://youtu.be/7Lc58DXgXy8
• Pagarusha: https://youtu.be/z8OAz1HpBpg
• Fejza: https://youtu.be/D0jwpUJ36NM
• Jashanica: https://youtu.be/CHlinC1v0Zo
• Muçiqi: https://youtu.be/hzX63makKz4

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, leads R
Introduction: 8 bars, no action, start with singing

Part 1: Singing

Bar 1: Touch R toe forward, with a čukče on L (1), Step onto R in LOD (&), Touch L toe forward with a čukče on R (2), step onto L in LOD (&)
Bar 2: Facing center, čukče on L (1), Step on R to R (&), Step on L behind R (2), Step on R across L (&)
Bar 3: repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork and direction
Bars 4-15: repeat bars 1-3, 4 more times (5 in total)
Bar 16: repeat bar 1

Part 2: Instrumental

Usually 8 bars. Use the footwork of part 1, bar 1, and improvise dancing solo around the room. Other foot work may be used as well.

Other notes on the web:

• Page 127 of (2009) Stockton Folk Dance Camp notes. 

Lyrics

from the stockton dance notes

Other sources

• Shannon, Laura (2001) Fire in the feet. Self published

See Also 

Also spelled: More,

Ani Mori Nuse (Weisburd  Version)

Albania/USA

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Choreographed by Ira Weisburd. Widely taught by Eric Bendix. There is a different dance done to this music that was taught by Lee Otterholt.

Music: There are many recordings of this tune. This choreography only fits this recording: Xenos. Fire in the Feet: https://youtu.be/JiecTT30mF0
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, leads R
Introduction: 8 bars, no action, start with singing

Part 1: Singing

Bar 1: Facing and walking in LOD, Walk R (1), L (2)
Bar 2: Step R forward in LOD (1), Lift L knee high up in front (2)
Bar 3: Bending R knee, Touch L toe to ground (1), straighten knee (2)
Bar 4: Step on L in RLOD (Back up) (1), swing R L around to hook behind R knee (2)
Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4 three times.

Part 2: Instrumental

Bar 1: Facing center, Cross R foot over L with a deep knee bend (1), straightening knee, touch L to L side (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork
Bar 3: Repeat bar 1
Bar 4: Cross L over R, with deep knee bend (1), straightening knee, hook R foot behind L knee (2)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4, except backing out of the center.

Part 3: Taxim

Sequence:

Part 1, Part 2
Part 1, Part 2
Part 1, Part 3, Part 2
Part 1

Other notes on the web:

• http://www.folkdancecamp.org/assets/Ani-Mori-Nuse-&-lyrics-2006SFDC-E.pdf

Other videos on the web

Lyrics

from the stockton dance notes

Other sources

• Shannon, Laura (2001) Fire in the feet. Self published

See Also 

Also spelled: More

S'ke Faj Ti Kam Faj Une 

Albania

These notes & choreography ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Choreography based on traditional Albanian steps. The title of the song translates roughly as "It's not your fault that I love you"

Music: Rexhep Sinaj "S'ke Faj Ti Kam Faj Une": https://youtu.be/yUNAVSZ9Bhk
Meter: 2/4, counted as SQQ
Formation: Open circle
Introduction: Start with singing

Part 1: Valle (singing)

Bar 1: Facing center: Step on R to R (1), Step on R behind L (2), Step on R to R (&)
Bar 2: Cross L over in front of R (1), Step on R to R (2), Cross L over in front of R (&)
Bar 3: Step on R to R (1), Lift L knee up in front of R (2)
Bar 4: Step on L to L (1), Lift R knee up in front of L (2)
Bars 5-16: repeat bars 1-4, three more times.

Transition:

Bar 1: Step on R to R (1), Step on L behind R (2)
Bar 2: Step on R to R (1), Close L next to R with weight (2)

Part 2: In and out (singing)

Bar 1: Moving into the center, Step R (1), L (2), R (&)
Bar 2: Continuing into the center, Step L (1), R (2), L (&)
Bar 3: With weight on both toes, Lift both heels up and to the R (1), lower heels back down straight (&), Lift both heels up to the R (2), lower heals to neutral position (&)
Bar 4: repeat bar 3
Bars 5-6: repeat bars 1-2 but backing out away from the center
Bars 7-8: repeat bars 3-4
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Part 3: In place (instrumental)

Bar 1: Step on R to R (1), Step on L behind R (2)
Bar 2: Step on R to R (1), Rock on L behind R (2), Cross R in front of L (&)
Bars 3-4: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork.
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Ending

Bar 1: Step on R to R (1), Step on L behind R (2)
Bar 2: Step R (1), L (&), R (2) in place

Sequence:

Part 1, transition, Part 2, Part 3
Part 1, transition, Part 2, Part 3
Part 1, transition, Part 2, Ending

Tucson Video

This video starts with part 3!