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Bavno oro

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BACKGROUND

Dennis Boxell Information: A dance.

Boris Karlov, the famous Bulgarian accordionist, recorded this Macedonian tune in the early 1950s. Anatol Joukowsky learned a dance to Bavno in Macedonia, 1930-1940, and taught it in the United States in 1955. Our version was learned by Dennis Boxell in London in 1961 and taught by him to the United States folk dancer in 1962.

Translation: Slow dance

Pronunciation: BAV-noh OH-roh

Other names: Makedonsko Bavno horo, Snošti Sakav (Da Ti Dojdam).

Region: Macedonia

Meter: 7/8

Rhythm: Counted 1 (slow), 2 (quick), 3 (quick) in the first 2 parts, and 1 (quick), 2 (quick), 3 (slow) in the last part.

Formation: Line, leader at R end followed by other men, seperated from (yet joined to) women by a kerchief. Hands joined at shoulder height. Free hands on hips or waving kerchiefs.

Anecdote: Bavno originally was danced as a Lesnoto, without the second step for the slow melody.

BARS ACTION
  Introduction.
  Some Ethno-Musico-Choreo-Balkanologists say to start immediately, and some say to wait 1 bar. Waiting does seem artificial.
 
1.   Rhythm for this part is: slow, quick, quick.
1 Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), step to R across R ft onto L ft (ct 2), HOLD! (ct 3).
2 Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), raise and lower R heel while lifting L knee so that L upper leg is parallel to floor and L lower leg hangs freely before R leg, but women raising L ft lowly (ct 2), raise and lower R heel (ct 3).
3 Repeat action of bar 2 with opposite footwork.
4-25 Repeat action of bars 1-3, as many times as you can.
 
2.   Part 2.
1 Step slightly to R onto R ft (ct 1), touch L heel with straight L leg to L of R toe twice (cts 2,3).
2 Step slightly to L onto L ft (ct 1), touch R heel with straight R leg to R of L big toe once (ct 2), step to R onto R ft (ct 3).
3 Step to R across R ft onto L ft with flexed L knee (ct 1), step to R onto R ft (ct 2), step behind R ft onto L ft (ct 3).
4-16 Repeat action of bars 1-3, 5 1/3 times in all.
17 Repeat action of bar 1 with opposite footwork.
 
  Repeat 24 bars of part 1. Repeat 15 bars of part 2.
 
3.   Rhythm for this part is: quick, quick, slow.
1 ct Leap to R onto R ft with flexed R knee and L ft kicked forward (ct 1). (No cts 2 or 3 in this bar.)
1 Step to L onto L ft (ct 1), step behind L ft onto R ft (ct 2), leap to L onto L ft with flexed L knee and R ft kicked forward (ct 3).
2 Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), step behind R ft onto L ft (ct 2), step to R onto R ft (ct 3), step to R across R ft onto L ft (ct &).
3 Repeat action of bar 1 with opposite footwork.
4-31 Repeat action of bars 1-3, 10 1/3 times in all.
32 Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), step behind R ft onto L ft (ct 2), leap to R onto R ft, lifting L leg as in step 1 for a flashy stage finish.

LYRICS

// Snošti sakav da ti dojdam. //
// Sitna rosa zarosi, sitna rosa zarosi, zato ne dojdof. //

// Napraiv ubava večera kokoška pečena, //
// Suvo grozje polneto, suvo grozje polneto, a bre, budalo! //

// Kakav junak ti kje bideš //
Od rosa da se uplašiš, od rosa da se uplašiš, a bre, budalo.
      Last night I wanted to come to you.
A small dew fell, so I did not come.

A truly beautiful evening, roasted chicken,
a half-liter of wine, you fool!

What kind of hero are you,
of dew to be frightened, you fool.

NOTE: The second verse is not on the recording.

REFERENCE

DOCUMENTS

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