Information: A dance.

Translation: Towel or kerchief that a dance leader flourishes.

Pronunciation: BOO-chee-mish or BOO-chee-meesh

Location: This dance is from the area around the town of Pazardžik in western Thrace, Bulgaria, so Bučimiš might be a Šop dance borrowed from Thracians or it might be a Thracian dance borrowed from the Šop. Who cares? Instead of nine or more possible steps we could describe, here are the four most common, in the order usually done in the United States. The first two are "folk," meaning no one will tell us their origins, and the second two are "exhibition-type elaborations." Bučimiš was overlooked from the mid-1960s until the acoustically dynamic United States recording hit the market.

The association between the horo Bučimiš and the poisonous Hemlock plant is not accurate although there is a similarity of the names.

Region: Bulgaria

Meter: 4/4

Rhythm: 7: 1 (quick), 2 (quick), 3 (quick), 4 (quick), 5 (Slow), 6 (quick), 7 (quick) [q-q-q-S-q-q].

Formation: Originally done in a line: women in the middle and men on the ends; all using belt hold. More recently, done in short mixed lines with front basket hold because many dancers forget to bring belts. Tuck thumbs of free hands in belts or wave kerchiefs.

	Introduction.

1-2	Like the natives, listen to the drums and become restless.

1.

Stamps.

1

Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), step behind R ft onto L ft (ct 2), repeat (cts 3,4), step to R onto R ft (ct 5), hop on R ft, lifting L knee in a CW arc so that L upper leg is parallel to floor, L ft and lower leg hanging freely (women use smaller movements), bend upper body forward to counterbalance the leg lift (ct 6), conclude arc to stamp slightly forward with L ft, no weight, as you straighten up (ct 7).

2	Repeat action of bar 1 with opposite footwork and direction.

3-4	Repeat action of bars 1-2.

2.

Heels.

1	Repeat action of step 1, cts 1-4. Then bend forward slightly and touch R heel: diagonally forward to R, directly forward (cts 5,6), straighten, and step by L ft onto R ft (ct 7).

2	Repeat action of bar 1 with opposite footwork and direction.

3-4	Repeat action of bars 1-2.

Note:

Note: touch heels with straight touching knee & bent supporting knee.

3.	Double heels.

1	Repeat action of ct 1 of step 2.

2	Touch L heel directly forward (ct 1), step beside R ft onto L ft (ct 2), touch R heel directly forward (ct 3), step beside L ft onto R ft (ct 4), touch L heel: diagonally forward to L, directly forward (cts 5,6), hold (ct 7).

3-4	Repeat action of bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction.

5-8	Repeat action of bars 1-4.

4.	Hop behind.

1

Hop on L ft, raising R ft (ct 1), step behind L ft onto R ft (ct 2), repeat with opposite footwork (cts 3,4), jump backward onto both feet, bending forward slightly (ct 5), hop forward on L ft, raising R knee so that R upper leg is parallel to floor and R ft and lower leg hang freely (women use smaller movements) (ct 6), straighten up as you stamp slightly forward with R ft, no weight (ct 7).

2	With R ft slightly forward, step onto: R ft, L ft, R ft, L ft (cts 1,2,3,4), stamp slightly forward with R ft, no weight (ct 5), step beside L ft onto R ft (ct 6), stamp slightly forward with L ft, no weight (ct 7).

3-4	Repeat action of bars 1-2 with opposite footwork and direction.

5-8	Repeat action of bars 1-4.

Normal sequence: repeat 2 bars of step 1, 2 bars of step 2, 4 bars of step 3, and step 4.

Easier sequence: repeat step 1, step 2, 4 bars of step 3, and 4 bars of step 4.