Trugnala Rumjana

TRŬGNALA RUMJANA
Bulgarian

PRONUNCIATION: TRUHG-nah-lah roo-MYAH-nah

TRANSLATION: The name of the dance comes from the first words to the song about a young woman named Rumjana: "Trŭgnala Rumjana za voda studena" -- Rumjana went out to fetch cold water.

SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Dick Crum learned this dance from Ilija Rizov, lead dancer of the Kutev Bulgarian State Folk Dance Ensemble.

BACKGROUND: As a folk song, Trŭgnala Rumjana (also Trâgnala Rumjana) is widely known in many variants in Macedonia, East Serbia, and Bulgaria. In many places it is danced as an ordinary 3-measure Pravo (Lesno). The Bulgarian version given here represents a 4-measure form known as "Pravo" or "Obiknoveno Horo" in south-central and southeast Bulgaria (Rhodopes and Strandža). It is a standard national dance taught to Bulgarian children as part of their elementary school physical education program.

MUSIC: XOPO (45rpm) 329 "Trgnala Rumjana"
Geisler, Richard. "Trâgnala Rumjana" (sheet music), The Bulgarian Collection, The Village & Early Music Society, 15181 Ballantree Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949-7633.

FORMATION: Open Cir of mixed M and W, arms on neighbors' shoulders in "T" pos or sometimes with hands joined at shldr level in "W" pos.

METER/RHYTHM: 7/8. The rhythm is slow-slower (3 + 4 = 7) and is counted here in two dancer's beats with the second being the longer.

STEPS/STYLE: Macedonians, or U.S. and Canadian folk dancers accustomed to Macedonian style, may have a tendency to add an extra bounce in meas 3 and 4, or raise active knee higher. Probably no Bulgarian would object to this, although it is not part of the standardized version taught in Bulgaria.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION - None.

THE DANCE

1 Facing slightly R, step R (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 2);

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

3 Still facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); touch L toe fwd or raise L leg across in front of R (ct 2);

4 Still facing ctr, step L swd (ct 1); touch R toe fwd or raise R leg across in front of L (ct 2).

Repeat entire dance from beg.

Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes

TRŬGNALA RUMJANA Bulgarian

PRONUNCIATION:	TRUHG-nah-lah roo-MYAH-nah

TRANSLATION:	The name of the dance comes from the first words to the song about a young woman named Rumjana: "Trŭgnala Rumjana za voda studena" -- Rumjana went out to fetch cold water.

SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance from Dick Crum learned this dance from Ilija Rizov, lead dancer of the Kutev Bulgarian State Folk Dance Ensemble.

BACKGROUND:	As a folk song, Trŭgnala Rumjana (also Trâgnala Rumjana) is widely known in many variants in Macedonia, East Serbia, and Bulgaria. In many places it is danced as an ordinary 3-measure Pravo (Lesno). The Bulgarian version given here represents a 4-measure form known as "Pravo" or "Obiknoveno Horo" in south-central and southeast Bulgaria (Rhodopes and Strandža). It is a standard national dance taught to Bulgarian children as part of their elementary school physical education program.

MUSIC:	XOPO (45rpm) 329 "Trgnala Rumjana" Geisler, Richard. "Trâgnala Rumjana" (sheet music), The Bulgarian Collection, The Village & Early Music Society, 15181 Ballantree Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949-7633.

FORMATION:	Open Cir of mixed M and W, arms on neighbors' shoulders in "T" pos or sometimes with hands joined at shldr level in "W" pos.

METER/RHYTHM:	7/8. The rhythm is slow-slower (3 + 4 = 7) and is counted here in two dancer's beats with the second being the longer.

STEPS/STYLE:	Macedonians, or U.S. and Canadian folk dancers accustomed to Macedonian style, may have a tendency to add an extra bounce in meas 3 and 4, or raise active knee higher. Probably no Bulgarian would object to this, although it is not part of the standardized version taught in Bulgaria.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION - None.

	THE DANCE

1	Facing slightly R, step R (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 2);
2	Turning to face ctr, step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2);
3	Still facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); touch L toe fwd or raise L leg across in front of R (ct 2);
4	Still facing ctr, step L swd (ct 1); touch R toe fwd or raise R leg across in front of L (ct 2).

	Repeat entire dance from beg.

Copyright © 2004 by Dick Oakes