KucanoКуцаноSouthern Macedonia |
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| Source: | As learned by Thomas Deering from Pece Atanasovski at his Macedonian Folkdance Institute, Oteševo, Macedonia, July 1976. | ||
| Pronounced: | Koo-tsah-no | ||
| Rhythm: | 12/8 counted: Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow, Quick (3 2 2 3 2) This rhythm is commonly known as "Beranče rhythm." | ||
| Recording: | RTB 1394 (Pece Atanasovski Orchestra) Folklorist 45rpm #F-104-45 (Dennis Boxell) AMAN LP 103 | ||
| Formation: | Originally a women's dance, danced now in mixed lines. Hands are held up and slightly forward ("W" position) except during the travelling introduction and the faster step. | ||
| Step Note: | Čukče: Lift the heel of the supporting foot slightly before the beat, bringing it down on the beat. The ball of the foot does not leave the floor. When a lift is involved, usually the lifted leg is already up and in place when the Čukče is executed. | ||
| Meas | Ct | INTRODUCTION (arms down) | |
| Begin the dance at the beginning of a musical phrase. | |||
| 1 | 1 | Facing and moving R (LOD), Step forward on R | |
| 2 | Čukče on R with L foot behing R calf | ||
| 3 | Step forward onto L | ||
| 4 | Step forward onto R | ||
| 5 | Step forward onto L | ||
| 2-(6) | REPEAT meas 1 as many times as desired | ||
| (7) | 1 | REPEAT meas 1 count 1 (Step R) | |
| 2 | REPEAT meas 1 count 2 (Čukče on R) | ||
| 3 | REPEAT meas 1 count 3, turning slightly to center (Step L) | ||
| 4 | Turning to face center and Raising hands to "W" position, Step on R slightly towards center*. | ||
| 5 | Step onto L in place, taking full weight but leaving the R foot in place in front | ||
| * | This step into the center embodies much of the essence of the dance. It is initiated with a dip on the supporting leg by bending the supporting knee then standing upright just as the extended foot makes contact with the ground. | ||
| SLOWER STEP (arms up) | |||
| 1 | 1 | Facing Center, Lift R foot with Čukče on L in place | |
| 2 | Place R foot slightly to R without taking weight | ||
| 3 | Take Weight on R, bending R knee | ||
| 4 | Step onto L slightly towards center*. | ||
| 5 | Step back onto R in place, taking full weight but leaving the L foot in place in front | ||
| 2 | REPEAT meas 1 with opposite footwork | ||
| 3 | 1 | Lift R foot with Čukče on L in place (1) | |
| Turning slightly and moving R, Step to R onto R (1 & ah) | |||
| 2 | Step on L beside R foot | ||
| 3 | Step forward (LOD) on R, bringing L foot to close behind R | ||
| 4 | Step on L beside R. | ||
| 5 | Step forward (LOD) onto R | ||
| 4 | 1 | Lift L leg beside R with Čukče on R in place (1) | |
| Step onto L beside R (1 & ah) | |||
| 2 | Step forward (LOD) onto R | ||
| 3 | Step forward (LOD) on L, turning slightly to center | ||
| 4 | Turning to face center, Step on R slightly towards center*. | ||
| 5 | Step on L in place, taking full weight, leaving R foot in place in front | ||
| FASTER STEP (arms down) | |||
| When the music speeds up, the "in place" steps take on the character of the of the "travelling" steps above. Hands are lowered at the beginning of measure 3 of the previous step. | |||
| 1 | 1 | Facing Center, Lift R foot with Čukče on L in place (1) | |
| Step onto R in place (1 & ah) | |||
| 2 | Step on L beside R foot | ||
| 3 | Step on R in place | ||
| 4 | Step onto L slightly towards center*. | ||
| 5 | Step back onto R in place, taking full weight but leaving the L foot in place in front | ||
| 2 | REPEAT meas 1 with opposite footwork | ||
| 3-4 | REPEAT measures 1 & 2 | ||
| 5-6 | REPEAT measures 3-4 of the slower step | ||
| Dancers can return to the slower step as the music allows. The leader signals this by bringing her arms up to the "W" position on count 4 of the fourth measure--just before the "travelling" steps begin. | |||
| Dance Description by Tom Deering | |||