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

Romsko Lesno

Ромско Лесно

Macedonian Roma

These Notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Michael Ginsburg, who learned it from the Roma community in the Bronx.


Music: Ginsburg's Balkan Beauties Tape
Meter: 7/8 counted as (123)(4567) or QS
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, leads to the R. (Traditionally the M would be in shoulder hold and the women in W position)
Introduction: start at the beginning of any musical phrase. The dance is leader called, but the steps are done in order with essentially a 3rd of the music done for each part.

Part 1

Bar 1: Facing center, čukče on L foot, lifting R knee (Q), turning to face slightly right of center, step on R in LOD (S)
Bar 2: Čukče on R, lifting L knee up (Q), Step on L in LOD (S)
Bar 3: Čukče on L, lifting R knee up (Q), Step on R in LOD turning to face center
Bar 4: Čukče on R, lifting L knee up in front (Q), flex R knee (S)
Bar 5: Čukče on R again, lifting L (Q), step on L to L (S)
Bar 6: Čukče on L, lifting R knee (Q), flex L knee (S)

repeat until the leader calls a change.

Part 2

Hands drop to V position
Bar 1: Facing center, čukče on L foot, lifting R knee (Q), turning to face slightly right of center, step on R in LOD (S)
Bar 2: Cross L over R in LOD (Q), Step on R in LOD (S)
Bar 3: Repeat bar 2
Bar 4: Cross L over R in LOD (Q), Rock back in place on R, ending facing center (S)
Bar 5: Čukče on R, lifting L knee (Q), step on L to L (S)
Bar 6: Repeat bar 4 with opposite footwork (cross R over L, then rock back in place on L)

repeat until leader calls a change.

Part 3

Bar 1: Facing center, čukče on L foot, lifting R knee (Q), turning to face slightly right of center, step on R in LOD (S)
Bar 2: Step on L in LOD (&), Step on R in LOD (Q), Step on L in LOD (S) (counts &Q are what are sometimes called a "bloo-bloop")
Bar 3: Repeat bar 2 with opposite footwork.
Bar 4: Cross L over R in LOD (Q), Rock back in place on R, ending facing center (S)
Bar 5: Čukče on R, lifting L knee (Q), step on L to L (S)
Bar 6: Repeat bar 4 with opposite footwork (cross R over L, then rock back in place on L)

repeat until the end of the music

Other notes on the web

• Page 10 of http://www.socalfolkdance.org/syllabi/syllabus_idyllwild_1992.pdf
• 1992 Santa Barbara Folk Dance symposium festival
• Page 16 of 1998 Laguna festival syllabus
• http://www.socalfolkdance.com/dances/R/Romsko_Lesno.pdf

John Chu's 1992 Tucson Video

Michael Ginsburg doing the dance

Tu Romnie

Roma

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie

This dance was choreographed by Bianca de Jong in the style of Romanian Roma (a.k.a. "Gypsy"). It was widely taught in the US by Roberto Bagnoli.

Music:

• Fanfare Ciocarlia 
• Mahala Rai Banda

Meter 2/4
Formation: Circle or open circle, start not holding hands, leads to the right
Introduction:

• Fanfare recording: 16 bars of slower music, no action or swing and sway your hips. Start when the up-beat music comes on. 
• Mahala Rai Banda Recording: Start when the main melody starts (8 bars after the drums start) During the introduction, the dancers, move freely around the room doing gypsy hip swings.

Part 1: Pas de Basques

Bar 1: Facing slightly L step R (1), L (&), R (2) in place,
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 3: Take two steps into the center R (1), L (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 1
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4, with opposite footwork and direction, back up on bar 7.
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Part 2:  Join hands, step touches (first time through this is done to the singing.

Join hands in a circle in W position.
Bar 1: Moving and facing LOD, step R (1), touch L next to R, with a hip bump (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork, still moving in LOD
Bar 3: Step R (1), L (2) forward in LOD. Step R next to L (&)
Bar 4: Step L forward in LOD (1), Step R next to L (&), Step forward on L in LOD (2)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4
Bars 9-16: repeat bars 1-8

Part 3: Turning

With hands out to the side. (In Tucson we raise the R hand up and put L on hip]
Bars 1-2: Make a complete CW turn with a Buzz Step (R in place  (1), L stepping slightly forward  (&), R in place (2), L forward (&), etc.)
Bar 3: Touch L toe forward and in, bump hip out twice [In Tucson we only do one slow bump]
Bar 4: repeat Bar 3
Bars 5-6: repeat bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction (turning CCW)
Bar 7: Step forward on R into the center (1), Step back in place on L (2)  in Tucson we cross our hands in front of us, parallel to the floor.  Shimmy shoulders
Bar 8: Rock back on R out of circle (1), rock back in place on L (2). In Tucson we open the arms to the side. Shimmy shoulders

Sequence:

Fanfare Recording:
Part 1, Part 3, Part 2, Part 3
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Part 1

Mahala Rai Recording
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Part 1, Part 2 done to the part 3 music, Part 3 done to the Part 3 music.
Part 1 done to the part 3 music
short stop in the music
Part 3

Other notes on the web:

• Page 12 of 2011 Stockton Folkdance Camp Syllabus
• https://lyridsfolkdancefestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Tu-Romnie-Romania-Lyrids-2016.pdf

Videos on the web

Athela Mou

Άθελά μου

Greek Roma

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie, based on Maurits van Geel's teaching at a workshop in Tucson AZ. These notes were created with Maurits' notes open in front of me, so they are heavily influenced by his notes. Maurits choreographed the dance based on traditional steps for a performance of his International Dance Theater.

Music: Yiannas Seleas, Songs of Greece's Gypsies https://youtu.be/BiFzUGXpXFg
Meter: 4/4
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, leads R
Introduction: 8 Bars

Bar 1: Turning to face slightly RLOD, Step on R to R (1), Step on L behind R (2), Step on R to R (3), Touch Left foot next to R, with a slight hip bump
Bar 2: Still moving in LOD, cross L over R (1), Step on R to R (2), Cross L over R again (3), Touch R next to L, with a slight hip bump (4)
Bar 3: Step on R to R (1), Touch L next to R with a slight hip bump (2), Step on L to L (3), Touch R next to L with a slight hip bump
Bar 4: Cross R in front of L (1), Rock back on L (2), Step on R in LOD (3), Step on L in LOD (4)

repeat until the end of the music

Optional variation: you can make a complete CW turn on the steps R, L (3-4) of bar 4, as indicated by the leader

Tucson Video

Other Videos on the Web

• https://www.facebook.com/laronderouen/videos/1522885617728660/

Lyrics:

From Maurits' type written notes.

Chef

Romanian Roma

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu. The name is pronounced "Keff" and the dance comes from the Roma (Gypsy) population of Transylvania.

Music: Romanian Realm 6
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Open circle of individuals not holding hands
Introduction: 16 bars (32 counts) no action (or general faffing and noodling around in time to the music.

Basic step: Pas ca la uşa cortului ("Step like on the threshold of a tent")

Bar 1: Step on R in place, or slightly to R (1), Step on L next to R (&), Step on R in place (2), stamp L next to R (&)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork

Part 1

Bars 1-4: Do 2 Pas Ca La Uşa Cortului (PCLUC) steps (RLRstamp, LRLstamp, RLRstamp, LRLstamp). Don't stamp on the last count of bar 4. Dancers may do these facing center or may make a complete CCW turn in place.
Bar 5: Lift R foot up in front, bent at knee, slapping R calf with R hand (1), Step forward into the center on R (&), close L behind R (2), Lift R foot up with a slap on the calf (&)
Bar 6: Step R into the center (1), close L next to R (&), Lift R foot up bent at knee, and slap R calf with R hand (2), pause (&)
Bar 7: Step on R back out of the center (1), Clap (&), Step L back out of center (2), clap while bending at the waist (&)
Bar 8: Step back on R out of the center (1), Clap (&), Step on L next to R, clap (2), pause (&)
Bar 9: Lift R foot up in front, bent at knee, slapping R calf with R hand (1), Step forward  into the center on R (&), close L behind R (2), Lift R foot up, heel out to R with a slap on the outside of R ankle (&)
Bar 10: Step R into the center (1), close L next to R (&), Lift R foot up bent at knee, and slap R calf with R hand (2), pause (&)
Bar 11; Jump on both feet together (1) clap (&), clap (2), Jump on both feet together, chugging slightly forward (&)
Bar 12: Clap (1), Clap (&), Jump on both feet together (2), clap (&)
Bar 13: Cross R over L (1), snap fingers out to the side (&), Touch L toe to L (2), Snap fingers (&)
Bar 14: repeat bar 13 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 15: Cross R over L (1), step on L to L (2)
Bar 16: Step backwards out o the center on R (1), cross L over R (2)
Bars 17-30: repeat bars 1-14, backing out slightly on the PCLUC steps
Bars 31-32: jump onto both feet with R foot crossed in front of L. Push up on R foot to make a complete CCW turn to end facing center again.

Bridge

Part 2

Bars 1-4: Do 2 Pas Ca La Uşa Cortului (PCLUC) steps. Don't stamp on the last count of bar 4
Bar 5: Jump on both feet a shoulder width with heels turned out (1) snap heels together closed (2)
Bar 6: Čukče on L (1), Step on R heel next to L (&), Step on L in place (2) pause (&)
Bars 7-8: repeat bars 5-6 with opposite footwork
Bar 9: Step on L heel across in front of R, twisting L toe to R (1), Step on R to R (&) Step on L behind R (2), Step on R to R (&)
Bar 10: Step on L heel across in front of R, twisting L toe to R (1), Step on R to R (&) Step on L behind R (2), pause (&)
Bars 11-12: repeat bars 9-10 with opposite footwork and direction
Bars 13-16: repeat bars 5-8 with opposite footwork
Bars 17-32: repeat bars 1-16

Part 3

Bars 1-4: Do 2 Pas Ca La Uşa Cortului (PCLUC) steps. Don't stamp on the last count of bar 4.
Bar 5: Hop on L, lifting R up (1), Step on R heel forward (&), Step on L in place (2), pause (&)
Bar 6: Hop on L, lifting R up (1), step on R backwards (&), step on L in place (2), pause (&)
Bar 7: Moving to the R, but facing center, Hop on L, lifting R (1), Step on R heel to R, with toe pointed to L (&), Step on L behind R, keeping weight on R heel, twisting the R toe to the R (2), pause
Bar 8: Repeat bar 7
Bars 9-14: repeat bars 1-6
Bar 15:  clap hands together (1), Kick R foot forward and Slap calf with R hand (&) Step on R next to L, while clapping hands (2). Slap L thigh with L hand (&)
Bar 16: Kick L leg forward straight. Slap L leg on inside of calf with Left hand (1), step on L next to R (2).

Sequence

(part 1, bridge, part 2, part 3) x 3

Other instructions on the web

Other videos on the web