Information: A dance.

Translation: Dajčo's dance

Pronunciation: DAI-choh-voh hoh-ROH

Other names: Dajchovo, Daičovo horo, Daichovo horo, Zizaj Nane

Region: Western Bulgaria (Šop, Graovska, and Nišava regions) and Eastern Serbia

Meter: 9/16

Rhythm: 2 + 2 + 2 + 3 = quick-quick-quick-Slow = qqqS

Formation: Straight line with leader at right end of the line. Alternatively, segregated lines of Men & Women. Lines should preferably be kept to moderate length.

Hold: Belt-hold: left arm over, right under. Yes, you can use some other hold, but that will change the dance dynamics. Hold is firm, but not rigid – arms may bounce a bit. Leader may flourish a scarf in the right hand.

Description: Michael Kuharski, 1998.

The dance is built on phrases of 4 measures.

The dance consists of alternating BASIC-R and BASIC-L measures, repeated in phrases of 4 until the Leader calls a Variation. The Leader begins the call at the beginning of a BASIC-R. The calls all have the following one-phrase antiphonal form, with each line shouted in the Dajčovo rhythm: meas action. vocalization.

Example:

Following this step-call dialog, the Variation is done ONCE ONLY, then the basic step alternation (BASIC-R, BASIC-L) resumes. The Leader may repeat the Variation by shouting "OSHTE!" before the Variation is completed (for example, on the final 2 beats of the Variation). In this case, there are no basic steps or calling sequence between the two repetitions of the Variation.

Call: "ČUKAJ NANE!" ("stamp, guys!) or "CHUKNI NANE!"
Response: "ČUKAM ČUKAM!" ("let's stamp!") "ČUKNAM ČUKNAM"

1     STAMP-R

2     BASIC-R

1     STAMP-L

2     BASIC-L

Call: "RITNI NANE!" ("kick, guys!")
Response: "RITNAM RITNAM!" ("let's kick!")

1            1      Hop on L, raising R knee & turning to face diagonally L.
              2      Sharp stamp with R directly in front of L.
              3-4   Repeat counts 1-2

2     BASIC-R

3-4   Repeat meas. 1-2 with opposite footwork & directions

Call: "ZIZAJ NANE!" ("shake, guys!")
Response: "ZIZAM ZIZAM!" ("let's shake!")

1            1      Hop on L, raising R knee.
              2      Swing R foot forward & slightly left, almost brushing the ground in front of the L foot.
              3-4   Repeat counts 1-2

2     BASIC-R

3-4   Repeat meas. 1-2 with opposite footwork and directions

NOTE: Dancers shout "ZI--ZAJ!" on cts. 2 and 4 of measures 1 and 3.

Call: "ZVURLI NANE!" ("shake, guys!")
Response: "ZVURLAM ZVURLAM!" ("let's shake!")

1            1      Step on R in place, kicking L forward low. scissors
              2      Step on L in place, kicking R forward low.
              3      Step on R in place, kicking L forward low.
              4      Slap L foot directly forward. R knee is bent. L knee is straight. The slap is flat-footed.

2     Repeat measure 1 with opposite footwork

3-4   Repeat measures 1-2

Call: "NAPRED NANE!" ("forward, guys!")
Response: "NAPRED NAPRED!" ("forward, forward!")

1            1      Step forward on R heel, bending forward from the waist.
              2      Close L to R. L foot remains slightly behind R.
              3-4   Repeat counts 1-2

2-3   Repeat measure 1 two more times

4     Stamp-R.

5-8   Resume basic step, moving backward to original place.

Call: "TRI PÛT NAPRED!" ("three times forward")
Response: "NAPRED NAPRED!" ("forward, forward!")

1-4        1-4 same as measures 1-4 of NAPRED step

5     BASIC-R, traveling backward.

6     STAMP-L.

7     BASIC-L, traveling backward.

8     STAMP-R.

Call: "SEČI NANE!" ("cut, brothers!")
Response: "SEČAM SEČAM!" ("let's cut!")

1            1      Cross R in front of L, stepping on R heel.
              2      Close L to R. L foot is directly behind R.
              3-4   Repeat counts 1-2.

2-3   Repeat measure 1 two more times.

4     BASIC-R.

5-8   Repeat meas. 1-4 with opposite footwork & directions

Call: "NAPRED SEČ!" ("forward, cut!")
Response: "SEČAM SEČAM!" ("cut, cut!")

1-4   Repeat measure 1 of NAPRED 4 times

5-12   Do the entire SECHI step

13-16 Resume basic step, moving backward to original place.

Call: "KRSTI NANE!" ("cross, brothers!")
Response: "KRSTAM KRSTAM!" ("let's cross!")

1            1      Step R across in front of L.
              2      Step L sideward left.
              3      Step R across behind L.
              4      Step L sideward left.

2-3   Repeat measure 1 two more times

4     BASIC-R.

5-8   Repeat meas. 1-4 with opposite footwork & directions

Call: "ZAD KOLENO!" ("behind the knee!")
Response: "S DESNA NOGA!" ("with the right leg!")

1            1      Hooking R foot behind L knee, hop on L while wrenching R knee backward.
              2-4   Hold

2     BASIC-R.

3-4   Repeat measures 1-2 with opposite footwork

Call: "PRED KOLENO!" ("in front of the knee!")
Response: "S DESNA NOGA!" ("with the right leg!")

1            1      Placing outside of R ankle on L knee, hop on L while wrenching R knee backward.
              2-4   Hold

2     BASIC-R.

3-4   Repeat measures 1-2 with opposite footwork

Call: "LJULJAJ NANE!" ("swing, brothers!")
Response: "LJULJAM LJULJAM!" ("let's swing!")

1-4                 With basic footwork (BASIC-R, BASIC-L,...), traverse clockwise a circular path, a quarter-circle per measure.

Call: "BEGAJ NANE!" ("run, brothers!")
Response: "BEGAM BEGAM!" ("let's run!")

1-4                 Face & move in LOD with basic footwork (BASIC-R, BASIC-L, BASIC-R, BASIC-L).

Continue until Leader calls for a new step.

The above are just a few of the variations that can be used.