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Ovčepolsko (oro)

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BACKGROUND

Pece Atanasovski Information: A dance.

Information: Ovčepolsko, from Michael Kuharski.

Translation: The dance from Ovčepole.

Pronunciation: OV-cheh-POL-sko (OH-roh)

Source: Pece Atanasovski, Institute at Oteševo.

Region: Macedonia

Meter: 11/16

Rhythm: 2+2+3+2+2 (q-q-S-q-q – q = quick; S = slow)

Music: LP AMAN-103

Formation: Mixed line, hands held down in W pos.

MEAS ACTION
1.   Step I
1 Step right on R (q); Cross L over, no wt (q); Step L (S); Lift on L (q); Step R to side (q).
2 Lift on R (q); Step L over (q); Push with R in front but do not step (S); Lift on L (q); Step back on R (q).
3 Step back on L (q); Step R fwd (q); Push with L as in meas 2 (S); Lift on R (q); Step back on L (q).
 
2.   Step II
1 Step right on R (q); Step L together (q); Step right on R (S); Hop on R (q); Cross L over (q).
2 Slight leap R to right (q); Cross L over (q); Push R in front (q); Lift on L (q); Step back R (q).
3 Repeat action of meas 3 of Step I.
 
3.   Step III
1-2 Repeat action of meas 1-2 of Step II.
3 Step back on L (q); Cross R over (q); Hop on R (S); Hop on R (q); Step L to left side (q).
4 Lift on L (q); Cross R over (q); Push L in front (S); Lift on R (q); Step back L (q).
 
4.   Step IV
1 Repeat action of meas. 1 of Step II.
2 Slight leap R to right (q); Cross L over (q); Hop on L (S); Hop on L (q); Turning CCW, step R (q).
3-4 Repeat action of meas 3-4 of Step III.

Information: By Bob Leibman, for Pece's first tour.

Location: From the area around Sv. Nikole and Kratovo in nortern Ovčepole.

Meter: 11/16

Rhythm: 2+2+3+2+2. 5 dance beats 1 2 3 4 5 = q q s q q (q = quick; S = slow).

Formation: Open circle. Hands joined and held down. Face RLOD

BARS ACTION
1.   Figure I
1 Step forward on R. Slight delay in shifting weight (ct 1); Finish shifting weight on R (ct 2); Step L in front of R (moving RLOD) (ct 3); Lift on L. Free R is raised forward, bent at knee (ct 4); Step forward on R (moving RLOD) (ct 5).
2 Lift on R. Free L is raised forward, bent at knee (ct 1); Step forward on L (ct 2); Pivot on L (with slight lift) to face center, push R foot forward. (Pivot comes before the beat. Free R is bent at knee and raised low forward. It moves slowly into position as you pivot, so that on the beat you are facing center with foot extended.) Motion is not a kick (ct 3); Lift on L. Free R begins to move back (ct 4); Step slightly back on R (out of circle) (ct 5).
3 Step L by R (ct 1); Step R forward (into circle) (ct 2); Lift on R. Free L is raised low forward, bent a knee (ct 3); Lift on R (ct 4); Step L by R. Begin to turn to face RLOD (ct 5).

Note – end of meas II and beg of measure III is done while facing center. Leg extension forward on ct. 3 of both measures is into center – not to the side (right in II and left in III) as it is now performed by most Americans.

P.S. – I have never seen a village group or villagers perform this dance (nor have I spent time in that region of Macedonia) so Pece was the only source and model for the dance.

2.   Figure II
1 Step forward on R. (moving RLOD) (ct 1); Step fwd on L (ct 2); Step forward on R (ct 3); Low hop on R forward, L knee is bent and forward, and L is raised somewhat behind (ct 4); Step forward on L (ct 5).
2 Step fwd on R (ct 1); Repeat action of cts 3-5 of Figure I (cts 3-5).
3 Repeat action of meas 3 of Figure I.
 
3.   Figure III
1-2 Repeat action of meas 1-2 of Figure I.
3 Step L by R (turn to face left of center) (ct 1); Step R forward (moving almost RLOD) (ct 2); Hop on R slightly fwd. Free L is raised low forward, bent at knee (ct 3); Hop on R slightly fwd (ct 4); Step fwd on L (ct 5).
4 Hop slightly fwd on L. Free R is raised low fwd., bent at knee (ct 1); Step fwd on R (ct 2); Hop on R. Pivot CW to face almost RLOD as the free L foot is pushed low foward, bent at knee (ct 3); Hop slightly backwards on R (moving LLOD) (ct 4); Step back on L (moving LLOD) (ct 5).
 
4.   Figure IV
1 Repeat action of meas 1 of Figure I.
2 Step forward on R (RLOD) (ct 1); Step forward on L (RLOD). L is placed so as to begin CCW turn (ct 2); Hop on L in place. Pivot almost 180 deg CCW, R knee is forward and bent, R is raised behind (ct 3); Hop on L, continue CCW pivot (ct 3); Step R by L, finish complete CCW turn (ct 5).
3-4 Repeat action of meas 3-4 of Figure III.

Personal comment: I believe that it is unlikely that an entire line of dancers – especially including women – would have performed figure IV. More likely, the leader might have let go of the second dancer and did this sol – then rejoined. However, it was taught by Pece that way.

Figure V is an acknowledged "stage" figure for exiting the stage. (Note: I am not even fond of figure IV for everyone as noted earlier.)

5 Repeat action of meas 1-2 same as I-II of figure IV.
Repeat action of meas 3 of figure I (esentially a turning figure with the rightward movement of figure I) . . .

DOCUMENTS

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