In a word, the Vlachs are the perfect Balkan citizens, able to preserve their culture without resorting to war or politics, violence, or dishonesty. (source unknown)
Today's post features different versions of the Bulgarian folk dance Izruchana, also known as Izruchanka. It is of Vlach origin from northwestern Bulgaria.
Video #1 shows the version of Izruchana most popular with folk dancers in North America, performed by a group from China.
According to the notes, this is a men's dance. In the video, there are both men and women in the line.
Video #2 uses the same music as Video #1. This is a different choreography in the Vlach style (the name Izruchana is not mentioned in the title). The group is Severnyatsite from the city of Pleven. The costumes are predominantly red and white, typical for northern Bulgaria.
Video #3 is another version of Izruchana, performed to different music. If you're a frequent reader of The Alien Diaries, you'll recognize the dancers. The Dunav group from Jerusalem, Israel has many teaching videos, both on their website and on YouTube.
“Variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour.”
William Cowper
What I find discouraging sometimes during the Friday and Sunday night dances is that most people request the same dances week after week. What's lacking sometimes is variety in the repertoire. That can be due to a number of factors: aging dancers (it is difficult to do certain dances if you have arthritis in the knees or hips); people leaving the group for whatever reason (relocations, graduations or retirement) and the dance gets lost when that person leaves. If you don't use it, you lose it and many dances are forgotten simply by not practicing.
Oftentimes leaders of dance groups bring home new dances from workshops. Some of them "take" and some of them don't.
Here is an example of a dance that was taught to the Sunday night group a number of years ago. I hope to revive it when I get proficient enough to teach it. It "fell through the cracks" and although it's on the master list, no one has requested it in years.
Video #1 is Celebinkso Horo from Bulgaria, Trakia region. It's not difficult; the trickiest part is the rhythm which is in 9/8. The Daichovoand the Devetorka are also in nine, but Celebinsko Horo has the accent on beat two. Daichovo has the accent on the first beat, and Devetorka on beat four.
You can sing along to this as well, the lyrics are on the bottom of the screen. I couldn't find a translation.
Video #2 is of a really challenging dance I found on YouTube recently, Gergebunarsko Horo. I couldn't find notes for it anywhere. Fortunately a lady named Sonia Efron posted this dance because she had an interest in its preservation. Unfortunately, many dancers have aged and would probably have a problem with the steps, which are intricate, fast, and athletic.That is why we need more young people to come to folk dances!
At the beginning of the video, there's a performance with George, Sonia and Jeff, then an explanation and a teach by Sonia, and then the actual dance. By the way, this is one of the many variations of Pravo Horo.
Video #3 isIzruchana. I don't recall ever doing this at a dance group or a workshop, but it's popular on YouTube. There are a number of versions of this dance that can be found there with North Americans, Israelis, Bulgarians, and Chinese performing. Somehow our group never "got the memo." I would classify it as moderately difficult.
Izruchana is a Vlach dance from Northwestern Bulgaria.
This week The Alien Diaries has reached its 250th post and will go into its 6th year!
The I's have it, since today's dances begin with the letter "I".
The first is Izruchana, a moderately difficult Vlach dance from northwestern Bulgaria. Vlach dances have much in common with those from southern Romania. They are fast and accented with stamps and shouts.
In case you're wondering who the Vlachs are, they are people of Romanian ancestry who live outside Romania. Many of them were sheep herders and wandered from place to place to find good pastures. There are Vlach villages on the Bulgarian side of the Danube, River of Many Names.
This group of dancers is from Hong Kong. For some reason the Chinese love Balkan music and there are many Chinese folk dance videos on YouTube.I have also met a number of Chinese people at my folk dance group, including my daughter's high school home room teacher.
If you are a regular reader, you have seen this "Bonding Folkdance Class" from China. Here they perform the danceImate li Vino. The English translation of the song is "Do you have wine?" Since February is the month of Trifon Zarezan, the patron saint of vintners, I included it this week. The dance is a lesnoto variation in 7/8 rhythm (pineapple-apple-apple). Lesnoto is a popular dance in southwestern Bulgaria (Pirin) and in the Republic of Macedonia.
According to the lyrics, you can bring wine, money and young women, but no old ladies! I sense some age discrimination here.... For some reason the end of of the video was cut off. Someone needs to teach the Chinese some video editing skills :)
Although it's a little early, I'd like to wish my Chinese readers a Happy New Year, with health and happiness!
The bonus video for this week is a waltz by the Bulgarian composer Diko Iliev whose birthday falls on February 15. He is best known for the dance piece Dunavsko Horo. In keeping with the "I" theme (Iliev) and the wine theme, the name of this piece is In the Vineyards Over Ribine.
Are you looking forward to spring? It has been a long, hard winter here with plenty of cold and snow. Chase away the winter blues with some springtime music by Diko Iliev.
If you love Balkan music and dance you have come to the right place! The Alien Diaries began in February 2010 and is updated at least twice a month.
This blog is dedicated to the memory of my cat Fatso (see avatar), who passed away on April 9, 2011 from congestive heart failure. He was the inspiration for several of my early posts.
Don't forget to check out my second blog, Light and Shadow, for some humor, satire, photos and poetry!
