Strandzansko Horo

STRANDŽANSKO HORO
Bulgarian

PRONUNCIATION: STRAHN-dzhahn-skoh hoh-ROH

TRANSLATION: Dance from Strandža

SOURCE: Marcus (Holt) Moskoff learned this dance from the Strandža Folklore Ensemble in the town of Burgas on the Black Sea during the summer of 1978.

BACKGROUND: The music of Strandža has connection with the folklore of Thrace but it also has its own local color. The old-time ritual melodies are richer in their asymmetric measures. Young women's spring songs that accompany their calm dances during the long Lent period when the big horo dances are not allowed, are especially beautiful. The ancient ritual "fire dancing" on live coals during St. Constantin and Elena celebration has been preserved in Strandža.

MUSIC: XOPO (LP) X-LP-5, side B, band 1

FORMATION: Lines of mixed M and W holding neighbors' belts in "X" pos, R arm under.

METER/RHYTHM: 2/4

STEPS/STYLE: The "low hop" is a raising and lowering of the heel only.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

1-16 No action during instrumental music.

I. FIGURE ONE (vocal)

1 Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2);

2 Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2);

3 Step swd R (ct 1); low hop R, raising L in place (ct 2).

4 Repeat acton of meas 3 to L with opp ftwk.

5 Repeat action of meas 3.

6-10 Repeat action of meas 1-5 to L with opp ftwk.

II. FIGURE TWO (instrumental)

1 Facing diag R and moving CW in LOD, step R, bending knee slightly (ct 1); low hop R, raising L slightly (ct 2);

2 Continuing in same dir, step L, bending knee slightly (ct 1); low hop L, turning to face ctr and swinging R around in a low arc (ct 2);

3 Step R twd ctr (ct 1); step L twd ctr (ct 2);

4 Step R twd ctr (ct 1); low hop R, swinging L fwd (ct 2);

5 Turning to face diag R, jump to both ft together but with L somewhat fwd (ct 1); turning to face ctr, jump to both ft apart with L slightly fwd (ct 2);

6 Low hop R, raising L up in front (ct 1); step L bwd (ct 2);

7 Step R bwd (ct 1); low hop R (ct 2);

8 Step L bwd (ct 1); low hop L (ct 2);

9-16 Repeat action of meas 1-8.

Repeat entire dance from beg.

Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes

STRANDŽANSKO HORO Bulgarian

PRONUNCIATION:	STRAHN-dzhahn-skoh hoh-ROH

TRANSLATION:	Dance from Strandža

SOURCE:	Marcus (Holt) Moskoff learned this dance from the Strandža Folklore Ensemble in the town of Burgas on the Black Sea during the summer of 1978.

BACKGROUND:	The music of Strandža has connection with the folklore of Thrace but it also has its own local color. The old-time ritual melodies are richer in their asymmetric measures. Young women's spring songs that accompany their calm dances during the long Lent period when the big horo dances are not allowed, are especially beautiful. The ancient ritual "fire dancing" on live coals during St. Constantin and Elena celebration has been preserved in Strandža.

MUSIC:	XOPO (LP) X-LP-5, side B, band 1

FORMATION:	Lines of mixed M and W holding neighbors' belts in "X" pos, R arm under.

METER/RHYTHM:	2/4

STEPS/STYLE:	The "low hop" is a raising and lowering of the heel only.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

1-16	No action during instrumental music.

I.	FIGURE ONE (vocal)
1	Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2);
2	Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2);
3	Step swd R (ct 1); low hop R, raising L in place (ct 2).
4	Repeat acton of meas 3 to L with opp ftwk.
5	Repeat action of meas 3.

6-10	Repeat action of meas 1-5 to L with opp ftwk.

II.	FIGURE TWO (instrumental)
1	Facing diag R and moving CW in LOD, step R, bending knee slightly (ct 1); low hop R, raising L slightly (ct 2);
2	Continuing in same dir, step L, bending knee slightly (ct 1); low hop L, turning to face ctr and swinging R around in a low arc (ct 2);
3	Step R twd ctr (ct 1); step L twd ctr (ct 2);
4	Step R twd ctr (ct 1); low hop R, swinging L fwd (ct 2);
5	Turning to face diag R, jump to both ft together but with L somewhat fwd (ct 1); turning to face ctr, jump to both ft apart with L slightly fwd (ct 2);
6	Low hop R, raising L up in front (ct 1); step L bwd (ct 2);
7	Step R bwd (ct 1); low hop R (ct 2);
8	Step L bwd (ct 1); low hop L (ct 2);

9-16	Repeat action of meas 1-8.

	Repeat entire dance from beg.

Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes