BACKGROUND
Information: A dance.
Novo Zagorsko horo is a one-figure "military" dance from Nova Zagora in central Bulgaria. It is danced "na lesa," the Bulgarian term for a dance where dancers grasp each other's belts and execute their steps in a straight line. Novo Zagorsko horo is described by Boris Tsonev in "Bulgarian Horos and Râčenici," Science and Art Edition, Sofia, and was first presented by Jim Schlesinger at the San Francisco Kolo Festival.
Translation: Dance from Nova Zagora
Pronunciation: NO-vo za-GOR-sko ho-RO
Other name: Novozagorsko horo, Mûško na lesa
Region: Nova Zagora region, Thrace, Bulgaria
Meter: 4/4
Formation: Short lines of mixed M and W with hands holding belts of neighbors, L arm over neighbor's R, elbows relaxed.
DISCOGRAPHY
- Danssa (LP) 001 "Bulgarian Folklore Songs and Horos."
- Slavjani Folklore Society Records (LP) SLA 1000 "Mushko Na Lesa."
- XOPO (45rpm) XEP-308.
COMMENT
In the case of Novo Zagorsko horo (in the Bulgarian Collection), I happen to have three versions of the tune: two by traditional village bands that use "gudulka" (a traditional Bulgarian bowed string instrument) as lead instrument. Of these two, one rendition is slower, the other faster, but both are obviously the same tune; the third version uses a solo accordion, and the tune is a different one. This accordion version may have come from the Festival Records XOPO recording by Markus (Holt) Moskoff. The version I transcribed was the fast one that uses "gudulka" as melody instrument. I do not know the record sources for the two village band recordings.
–Richard Geisler
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1
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Facing ctr, step fwd L (ct 1); step fwd R (ct 3).
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2
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Jump to both ft apart in place (ct 1); jump to both ft together in place (ct &); Step bwd R (ct 2).
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3
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Step bwd L (ct 1); jump to both ft apart in place (ct 2); jump to both ft together in place (ct &).
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4
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Leap swd R to R (ct 1); momentarily take wt on ball of L ft in front of R (ct &); take wt on R in place (ct 2); leap swd L to L (ct 3); momentarily take wt on ball of R ft in front of L (ct &); take wt on L in place (ct 4).
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5
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Leap R in place raising L knee high with lower leg angled so that L ft is in front of R shin (ct 1); leap L in place raising R knee high with lower leg angled so that L ft is in front of R shin (ct 2); leap R in place raising L knee high with lower leg angled so that L ft is in front of R shin (ct 3); leap L in place raising R up to side and slightly back (ct 4).
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6
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Close R to L forcefully with a click (ct 1); change wt and raise L up to side and slightly back preparing to close (ct 2); close L to R forcefully with a click (ct 3); change wt and raise L up to side and slightly back preparing to close (ct 4);
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7
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Repat action of meas 6.
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8
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Stamp R next to and slightly fwd of L (ct 1); step back R behind and perpendicular to L heel and simultaneously lift L slightly without turning ft while twisting upper body to face R (ct 2); step L in place turning upper body to face fwd (ct 3); describe small CCW arc close to ground with R bringing it beside L calf (ct 4).
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9
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Stamp R next to L taking wt (ct 1), stamp L next to R taking wt (ct 2); stamp R next to L taking wt (ct 1); hold (ct 4).
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10
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Step swd L to L (ct 1), step R across in back of L (ct 2), step swd L to L (ct 3), step R across in back of L (ct 4),
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11
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Step swd L to L (ct 1), lift R knee in front of L (ct 3), step swd R to R (ct 3), step L across in back of R (ct 4),
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12
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Step swd R to R (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2); step swd R to R (ct 3); leaning slightly fwd, raise or flare L leg bwd (ct 4).
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Repeat entire dance from beginning.
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DOCUMENTS
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