Bavno Oro

BAVNO ORO
Macedonian

PRONUNCIATION: BAHV-noh OH-roh

TRANSLATION: Slow dance

SOURCE: Dennis Boxell introduced this version of Bavno Oro under the original title of Makedonsko Bavno Oro. Anatol Joukowsky taught another version.

BACKGROUND: Boris Karlov recorded his arrangement of a Macedonian folk song, Snosti Sakav Da Ti Dojdam, in the early 1950s under the name Bavno Oro.

MUSIC: NAMA (LP) 1001;
XOPO (45rpm) X-301.
Geisler, Richard. "Bavno Oro" (sheet music), The Yugoslav Collection, The Village & Early Music Society, 15181 Ballantree Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949-7633.

FORMATION: Open line of M and W with the M at the front end of the line and the W at the other, hands joined at shldr level and held slightly fwd in "W" pos, end dancers' free hand on hips or flourishing a handkerchief. The last M and the first W hold a handkerchief between them.

METER/RHYTHM: 7/8, 7/16, counted below in three dancer's counts. The slow part of the dance is in 7/8 (slow-quick-quick) rhythm that changes to a 7/16 (quick-quick-slow) rhythm during the fast part after a 3/16 slow (1 bt) meas. These seven-count rhythms are known among Balkan music and dance specialists as the "Macedonian seven" (Madedonska sedmorka).

STEPS/STYLE: Macedonian M dance with high, light, proud movements, while W dance with more subdued steps.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

NAMA recording: Wait nine meas.
XOPO recording: Wait one meas.

I. SLOW PART (25 meas)

1 Facing slightly to the R, step R swd (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 4), pause (ct 6).

NOTE: In many areas of the United States, this step has been modified and resembles the traditional Lesnoto step: Step R swd (ct 1); slight bounce on R with L knee slightly raised in front (ct 4); step L across in front of R (ct 6).

2 Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); slight bounce on R, M raising bent L knee high in front of R with L ft in front of R leg, W raising L low in front of R (ct 4); slight bounce on R with L remaining in same pos as before (ct 6).

3 Reverse action of meas 2 to L with opp ftwk.

4-24 Repeat action of meas 1-3 seven more times.

25 Repeat action of meas 1.

II. HEEL TOUCH AND DIP (17 meas)

1 Facing ctr, small step R swd, slightly bending R knee (ct 1); lightly tap L heel fwd and slightly diag to L (ct 4); lightly tap L heel directly fwd (ct 6);

2 Step L next to R, slightly bending L knee (ct 1); lightly tap R heel fwd and slightly diag to R (ct 4); small step R swd (ct 6);

3 Facing slightly to R, step L across in front of R, bending L knee in a "dip" (ct 1); facing ctr, step R swd (ct 4); step L across in back of R (ct 6).

4-15 Repeat action of meas 1-3 four more times.

16 Repeat action of meas 1.

17 Facing ctr, step L in place, slightly bending L knee (ct 1); lightly tap R heel fwd and slightly diag to R (ct 4); lightly tap R heel directly fwd (ct 6).

III. SIDE-CROSS AND LIFT (24 meas)

1-24 Repeat action of Fig I, meas 1-24. Note that there is no meas 25 this time.

IV. HEEL TOUCH AND DIP (15 meas)

1-15 Repeat action of Fig II, meas 1-15.

NOTE: Fig IV is followed by a single beat corresponding to the first "slow" beat, or ct 1, on which dancers: Leap R swd, bending knee and thrusting L ft fwd as a transition into Fig V (ct 1).

V. SIDE-BEHIND AND THRUST (29 meas)

1 Facing ctr, step L swd (ct 1); step R across in back of L (ct 3); fall onto L swd, bending L knee and thrusting R fwd (ct 5);

2 Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 3); quick, light step R swd (ct 4); step L across in front of R, bending L knee in a "dip" (ct 5);

3 Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 3); fall onto R swd, bending R knee and thrusting L fwd (ct 5).

4-27 Repeat action of meas 1-3 nine more times.

28-29 Repeat action of meas 1-2.

Copyright © 2003 by Dick Oakes

BAVNO ORO Macedonian

PRONUNCIATION:	BAHV-noh OH-roh

TRANSLATION:	Slow dance

SOURCE:	Dennis Boxell introduced this version of Bavno Oro under the original title of Makedonsko Bavno Oro. Anatol Joukowsky taught another version.

BACKGROUND:	Boris Karlov recorded his arrangement of a Macedonian folk song, Snosti Sakav Da Ti Dojdam, in the early 1950s under the name Bavno Oro.

MUSIC:	NAMA (LP) 1001; XOPO (45rpm) X-301. Geisler, Richard. "Bavno Oro" (sheet music), The Yugoslav Collection, The Village & Early Music Society, 15181 Ballantree Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949-7633.

FORMATION:	Open line of M and W with the M at the front end of the line and the W at the other, hands joined at shldr level and held slightly fwd in "W" pos, end dancers' free hand on hips or flourishing a handkerchief. The last M and the first W hold a handkerchief between them.

METER/RHYTHM:	7/8, 7/16, counted below in three dancer's counts. The slow part of the dance is in 7/8 (slow-quick-quick) rhythm that changes to a 7/16 (quick-quick-slow) rhythm during the fast part after a 3/16 slow (1 bt) meas. These seven-count rhythms are known among Balkan music and dance specialists as the "Macedonian seven" (Madedonska sedmorka).

STEPS/STYLE:	Macedonian M dance with high, light, proud movements, while W dance with more subdued steps.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

	NAMA recording: Wait nine meas. XOPO recording: Wait one meas.

I.	SLOW PART (25 meas)

1	Facing slightly to the R, step R swd (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 4), pause (ct 6).

	NOTE: In many areas of the United States, this step has been modified and resembles the traditional Lesnoto step: Step R swd (ct 1); slight bounce on R with L knee slightly raised in front (ct 4); step L across in front of R (ct 6).

2	Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); slight bounce on R, M raising bent L knee high in front of R with L ft in front of R leg, W raising L low in front of R (ct 4); slight bounce on R with L remaining in same pos as before (ct 6).

3	Reverse action of meas 2 to L with opp ftwk.

4-24	Repeat action of meas 1-3 seven more times.

25	Repeat action of meas 1.

II.	HEEL TOUCH AND DIP (17 meas)

1	Facing ctr, small step R swd, slightly bending R knee (ct 1); lightly tap L heel fwd and slightly diag to L (ct 4); lightly tap L heel directly fwd (ct 6);

2	Step L next to R, slightly bending L knee (ct 1); lightly tap R heel fwd and slightly diag to R (ct 4); small step R swd (ct 6);

3	Facing slightly to R, step L across in front of R, bending L knee in a "dip" (ct 1); facing ctr, step R swd (ct 4); step L across in back of R (ct 6).

4-15	Repeat action of meas 1-3 four more times.

16	Repeat action of meas 1.

17	Facing ctr, step L in place, slightly bending L knee (ct 1); lightly tap R heel fwd and slightly diag to R (ct 4); lightly tap R heel directly fwd (ct 6).

III.	SIDE-CROSS AND LIFT (24 meas)

1-24	Repeat action of Fig I, meas 1-24. Note that there is no meas 25 this time.

IV.	HEEL TOUCH AND DIP (15 meas)

1-15	Repeat action of Fig II, meas 1-15.

	NOTE: Fig IV is followed by a single beat corresponding to the first "slow" beat, or ct 1, on which dancers: Leap R swd, bending knee and thrusting L ft fwd as a transition into Fig V (ct 1).

V.	SIDE-BEHIND AND THRUST (29 meas)

1	Facing ctr, step L swd (ct 1); step R across in back of L (ct 3); fall onto L swd, bending L knee and thrusting R fwd (ct 5);

2	Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 3); quick, light step R swd (ct 4); step L across in front of R, bending L knee in a "dip" (ct 5);

3	Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 3); fall onto R swd, bending R knee and thrusting L fwd (ct 5).

4-27	Repeat action of meas 1-3 nine more times.

28-29	Repeat action of meas 1-2.

Copyright © 2003 by Dick Oakes