SOPSKA RACENICA - OBLUK
              Sofia District (Sop Region), Western Bulgaria

Source:     As learned by Dennis Boxell from dancers in Bulgaria. 
            This dance is an arrangement of the typical line Racenica 
            found in the Sofia district, often referred to as 
            Kyustendilska Racenica.

Pronounced: SHOPE-skah RUH-chen-ee-tsa - OH-bluhk

Rhythm:     7/16 (Racenica) counted:
               1, 2, 3  or  Q, Q, S  (1-2, 1-2 1-2-3)

Music:      Any fast Sop Racenica.

Formation:  Mixed or segregated lines of men and women. 
            Belt hold, L over R.

            The dance travels to the right, with the leader on the 
            right end. At the beginning of each dance pattern, the 
            dancers will be facing left and moving right (backwards). 

            Note that the second figure is 2 measures longer than 
            the first figure. This makes it incompatible with dancers 
            doing figure one or other "versions" of the typical Sop 
            Racenica. The leader should make the changes from one 
            figure to the other very clear.

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

Meas  Ct    Figure One - "Obluk"
----  ----  -----------------------------------------------------

            Start with weight on L foot, facing L ready to move R

1     1     Facing L leaning slightly from the waist, Hop on L 
               trailing R foot
      2     Step back onto L
      3     Step back onto R
2           REPEAT measure 1
3     1     Turn to face slightly R (line of dance), Step on R
      2     Step on L slightly in front of R
      3     Step on forward on R, bending R knee slightly
4           REPEAT measure 3 with opposite footwork
5     1-2   Turn to face center, Leap onto R raising L knee
      3     Hop on R trusting and straightening L leg across in 
               front of R leg
6     1     Hop on R again
      2     Facing slightly L, a small Step sideward on L
      3     Step on R in front of L
7     1     Facing center, Hop on R
      2     Step sideward L on L
      3     Step on R behind L
8     1     Step sideward L on L
      2-3   Describing a large CCw arc, Circle R leg waist high to 
               cross in front of and to L of L leg
9     1     Touch R toe just L of L foot
      2     Hold
      3     Step on R to L of L foot
10    1     Touch L next to R, (pigeoned toed)
      2     Hold
      3     Step on L across in front of R, ready to sharply 
               pivot on L & begin again

            Figure Two - "Sitno Napred" ("Small Forward")
            -----------------------------------------------------

1-7         Same as Figure One
8     1-2   Facing center, Step sideward L on L
      3     Hop on L turning slightly L, bending & raising R knee; 
               bending forward at the waist
9-10        Four "mincing" steps forward on cts 1 & 3 of each 
               measure (R,L,R,L)
11    1-2   Gentile Touch forward with R toe
      3     Small Leap forward on R
12    1-2   Gentile Touch forward with L toe
      3     Small Leap forward on L

A suggested pattern is to repeat each figure four times.

Dance Description by Tom Deering