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Kukuvička

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BACKGROUND

Information: A dance.

Kukuvička is a horo from the Bulgarian Omurtag region. It is a Severnyaško horo mixer, danced to the song with the same name.

Tatiana Nikolova-Houston Translated by: Tatiana Nikolova-Houston from: Stefan Vûglarov, Bulgarski Narodni Hora I Tantsi, Sofia: Meditsina I Fizkultura, 1976, p.142, Kukuvichka.

Translation: Cuckoo

Pronunciation: koo-koo-VEECH-kah

Region: Bulgaria

Meter: 2/4 – simple two bars.

Rhythm: Counted as "raz," "dva."

Music: The melody consists of two parts: slow – on song; and fast – on the instrument accompaniment. There is a complete synchronization between the structure of the melody and the dance figures.

Formation: This dance is done in a semi-circle or in a line. Hand hold is with folded elbows, but the arms in some distinct moment swing while holding each other.

Steps:

Čukče – "hammer" (raise and lower heel).
Nabivne – "stamp" (hit hard).
Pribežka – "rush" (small run).
Pružinka – "spring" (into 6th position).
Svivka – "curl" (bend, as in bending the knee).

Note: See also Baldûzkinata.

BARS DESCRIPTION
  Initial position of the feet for all movements – 1st position. For the hands – 6th position.
 
MOV 1.   Walk to the right and "Nabivane"
1 (Walk to the right.) Step with the R to the right, stretching arms forward and upward and swinging behind-downward (raz); Crossed step with the L behind the R, swinging the arms forward-downward (dva).
2 (Walk to the right.) step with the R to the right, swinging of the arms behind-downward (raz); Crossed step with the L behind the R, swinging the arms forward-down (dva).
3 (Dobrudžansko "Nabivane" to the right.) Step with the R to the right with turning the body forward to the right and folding both arms into 6th position (raz); "Nabivane" with the L next to the R with squatting (dva).
4 ("Nabivane.") "Nabivane" with the L on place (raz); Pause (dva). In this movement, which is like a small combination, the steps when done in fast tempo, on "one" are substituted by a jump over. In this manner, instead of walk to the right dancers do semi-rush to the right in the 1st and 2nd bars.
 
MOV 2.   Walk to the left and "nabivane." Performed for four bars. The same movement 1 but starting with the L to the left.
1-4 The same as Movement 1 but starting with the L to the left.
 
MOV 3.   Walk forward with "čukče" and "svivka." Performed for four bars.
1 (Walk forward.) Step with the R forward (raz); Step with the L forward (dva).
2 (Step with "čukče" and "Svivka.") Step with the R forward (raz); "Čukče" with the R, a low "Svivka" with the L (dva).
3 (Walk forward, starting with the L.) Step with the L forward (raz); Step with the R forward (dva).
4 (Step with "čukče" and "svivka," starting with the L.) Step with L forward (raz); "Čukče" with the L, a low "Svivka" with the R (dva).

Note: The hands react to each element with a Pružinka (spring) into 6th position. During the performance of this movement, which also is like a small combination in fast tempo (in the second fast part), on the second time of the 2nd and 4th bar is done instead of "Čukče", a leap. Then, instead of step with "Čukče" and "Svivka" in these bars is made the movement called "Svištovka" (from the town of Svištov).
 
MOV 4.   Walk backward with "Čukče" and "Svivka." Performed for four bars.
1-4 Like from the 1st to 4th bar of the Movement 3, however backward.

DESCRIPTION OF THE HORO

BARS ACTION
  The dancers are in a semi-circle, circle or straight line with hand-hold with folded elbows.
 
  FIRST PART – First part – slow, after the song – 32 bars.

1.   16 bars.
1-4 Walk to the right and "Nabivane" (stamp).
5-8 Walk to the left and "Nabivane."
9-16 Repeat action of bars 1-8.
 
2.   16 bars.
1-4 Walk forward with "Čukče" (hammer) and "Svivka" (curl).
5-8 Walk backward with "Čukče" and "Svivka."
9-16 Repeat action of bars 1-8.
 
  SECOND PART – Fast, but after instrumental accompaniment – 32 bars.

3.   16 bars.
1-16 Repeat action of bars 1-16 of the First figure, however with semi-Pribežka (rushes).
 
4.   16 bars.
1-16 Repeat action of bars 1-16 of the Second figure, however with "Svištovki" ().

METHODICAL DIRECTIONS

For learning the dance, it is necessary to divide it at least into two parts.

1st part – the first and second movements in connection, in slow, and afterwards in fast tempo done many times. The covering between the melody and the movement makes the learning process easier. You should pay attention to the correct stylistic performance, especially in the "Nabivane."

2nd part – the other two parts are to be learned in connection, in slow, and afterwards in fast tempo, paying attention that "Čukče" and "Svivka" or "Svištovka" is done after three sequent steps. This part can be done many times in one and the same direction until its learned, and afterwards it can be combined with going backwards. During all steps, the hands make springs (Pružinki) into 6th position.

When the dancers study the movements of the feet from the first part, the hands are still in hands-hold with folded elbows. When the feet movements are well learned, they learn the hand movements, and afterwards the hand and feet movement simultaneously. The swinging of the arms has to be started from in-front, the elbows have to be stretched very well forward and afterwards without folding them more, to be swung backwards and then forward. At the moment of "Nabivane" they go back on the reverse motion unto the initial position.

LYRICS

Kukuvička kukuva
// V Jankinata gradinka //
Kukuvička kukuva
// Kukuva ošte hortuva. //

Čuvaš li, Janke, čuvaš li?
// Kukuvička kukuva. //
Kukuvička kukuva
// Kukuva ošte hortuva. //

&268;uvam ya, male čuvam ya
// Ala ne moga da izljaza.//
Kukuvička kukuva
// Kukuva ošte horutva. //

Platno, na stana me čaka
// Libe na češma me vika. //
Kukuvička kukuva
// Kukuva ošte hortuva. // 		      The cuckoo is cooing
in Janka’s garden.
The cuckoo is cooing.
Cooing, even more speaking.

Do you hear Janka, do you hear?
The cuckoo is cooing.
The cuckoo is cooing.
Cooing, even more speaking.

I can hear it mother, I can hear it
But I can’t come out.
The cuckoo is cooing.
Cooing, even more speaking.

The sheet is waiting for me on the loom.
The sweetheart is calling me at the well.
The cuckoo is cooing.
Cooing, even more speaking.

DOCUMENTS

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