The Society of Folk Dance Historians

Arap

Other information about Arap

a dance

Translated by Tatiana Nikolova-Houston from Tantsova samodeynost, #1, 1958

The dance Arap is danced in Petrich region and around the valley of the river Struma. A mixed dance. Hold of hands with folded in elbows arms. The dance is done in two parts: slow and fast, the slow one is more smooth, and the faster one contains leap steps. Done with zurna and tupan accompanying it in measure 2/4. The women dance more restrained manner with low steps. The recorded variant is made with the help of refugees come from the village of Spatovo, Ser region (Aegean Macedonia).

	*1. Chukche and step (stupka).* Initial position of the feet – 1^st.
1	chukche with the L, low svivka with the R (ct 1), step with the R to the right, the L is taken in position of low svivka (ct 2).

	*2. Lost with chukche (lever, rod with a hammer).* Initial position of the feet – 1^st.
1	chukche with the R, low svivka with the L foot.
2	low lost (lever) with the L foot and a slight spring with the R.

	*3. Walk backwards with feet coming back.* Initial position of the feet – 1^st.
1	step with the L foot behind the R, as the R lifts up from the ground.
2	the R foot comes back next to the L in 1^st position.

	*Mov.4 – Chukche with both feet.* Initial position of the feet – 1^st position.
1	chukche with both feet.
2	pause.

	*Mov.5 – lyush (swing) and backward svivka.* Initial position of the feet – 1^st.
1	step with the R foot forward, backward svivka with the L.
2	step with the L backwards, low inside svivka with the R.

	*Mov.6 – Crossed steps.* Initial position, front svivka with the R foot.
1	step with the R behind the L to the left, low svivka with the L, and the body turns to the right.
2	step with the L in front of the R to the right, a low svivka with the R.

	The slow part – 48 bars.
1	Mov.1 – Chuckche and step.
2	Mov.1 – Chukche and step with the other foot.
3	Mov.1 – Chukche and step.
4	Mov.2 – Lost (lever) with chukche.
5	Mov.3 – Walk backwards with feet coming back.
6	Mov.4 – Chukche with both feet.
7	Mov.5 – Lyush (swing) and backward svivka.
8	Mov.6 – Crossed steps.
9-48	th bars – repeating 1-8 bars.
	The fast part – 48 bars.
	Done are the slow movement part, as instead of the chuckche is done a leaping step.