                               BATUTA
                   Vidin District - N.W. Bulgaria

Source:     Learned by Yves Moreau, in the fall of 1971 from village 
            dance group in Rabrovo, Vidin district, N.W. Bulgaria.
            In Romanian, Batuta refers to stamping dances. This Batuta
            is popular among the Vlachs who originally came to N.W.
            Bulgaria from Romania. The Vlachs were for a long time
            nomadic people who settled primarily in northern Greece,
            Macedonia, N.E. Serbia, and along the Bulgarian Danube.
            Their language and folklore are a mixture of Romanian
            and local elements.

Rhythm:     2/4

Recording:  Worldtone 45rpm WT-YM 001, Side A (1972)

Formation:  Short mixed or segregated lines - about 8 people. 
            Belt hold, L over R. Often the men at the line ends
            hold wooden canes in their free hands.

Style:      Knees bent slightly, a sharp rather bouncy feeling, but
            not airy or light. A solid heavy quality. Steps are small
            and energetic.

Note:       There is no set sequence for the dance. The leader calls
            figures at will by shouting "hopa" or "hopsha" for a new
            figure, or "batuta" specifically for the 2nd figure. The
            dance can start on any musical phrase.

========================================================================

Meas  Ct    BASIC Step often referred to as "Vlajna"
----  ----  ------------------------------------------------------------

            Start with weight on L foot

1     1     Facing center and moving R, Step to R on R
      2     Slide L next to R, almost displacing R
2     1     Step to R on R
      2     Slide L next to R, almost displacing R
3     1     Step diagonally forward to R on R
      2     Hold
4     1     Step diagonally forward to center on L
      2     Hold
5     1     Step slightly forward on R crossing in front of L
      2     Hold
6     1     Moving away from center, Step slightly backward L on L
      2     Slide R foot back and next to L
7     1     Moving straight backward, small Step on L
      2     Still moving backward, small Step on R
8     1     Still moving backward, small Step on L
      2     Hold

            BATUTA - Stamping Step
            ------------------------------------------------------------

1-2         Repeat Measures 1-2 of the Basic Step above.
3     1     Step on R, facing slightly R
      2     Small Hop on R in place
         &  Facing center, small Stamp with L - no weight
4     1     Facing center, small Leap onto L
         &  Sharp Stamp with R slightly forward - no weight
      2     Small Hop on L in place
         &  Sharp Stamp with R slightly forward - no weight
5     1     Facing slightly R, small sharp Stamp on R with weight
      2     Small Hop on R simultaneously bringing L knee up next to R
6     1     Facing center, small Step sideward L with L
      2     Step on R next to L almost displacing L, bending knees
               very sharply
7     1     Small Step to L with L
      2     Close R to L 
               Note: sometimes meas. 7 is sharper like meas. 6
8     1     Small Step to L with L, raising R slightly across L
      2     Hold

Dance Notes by Yves Moreau

Presented by Tom Deering
