The Society of Folk Dance Historians
Bavno Oro
OtherBavno Oro documents
a dance
From: Ron Houston. Folk Dance Problem Solver (1987). Austin, Texas: Society of Folk Dance Historians, 1987.
(BAV-no O-ro) = slow dance
OTHER NAMES:
Makedonsko Bavno Horo. Snoshti Sakav (Da Ti Dojdam).
BACKGROUND:
Boris Karlov, the famous Bulgarian accordionist, recorded this Macedonian tune in the early 1950's. Anatol Joukowsky learned a dance to Bavno in Macedonia, 1930-1940, and taught it in the US in 1955. Our version was learned by Dennis Boxell in London in 1961 and taught by him to the US in 1962. The meter is 7/8, counted 1 (slow), 2 (quick), 3 (quick) in the first 2 parts, and 1 (quick), 2 (quick), 3 (slow) in the last part.
FORMATION:
Line, leader at R end followed by other men, seperated from (yet joined to) women by a kerchief. Hands joined at shoulder height. Free hands on hips or waving kerchiefs.
| BARS | ACTION |
| 7/8 | Introduction. Some Ethno-Musico-Choreo-Balkanologists say to start immediately, and some say to wait 1 bar. Waiting does seem artificial. |
| Part 1. Rhythm for this part is: slow, quick, quick. | |
| 1 | Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), step to R across R ft onto L ft (ct 2), HOLD! (ct 3). |
| 2 | Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), raise and lower R heel while lifting L knee so that L upper leg is parallel to floor and L lower leg hangs freely before R leg, but women raising L ft lowly (ct 2), raise and lower R heel (ct 3). |
| 3 | = 2 with opposite footwork. |
| 4-25 | = 1-3, as many times as you can. |
| Part 2. | |
| 1 | Step slightly to R onto R ft (ct 1), touch L heel with straight L leg to L of R toe twice (cts 2,3). |
| 2 | Step slightly to L onto L ft (ct 1), touch R heel with straight R leg to R of L big toe once (ct 2), step to R onto R ft (ct 3). |
| 3 | Step to R across R ft onto L ft with flexed L knee (ct 1), step to R onto R ft (ct 2), step behind R ft onto L ft (ct 3). |
| 4-16 | =1-3, 5 1/3 times in all. |
| 17 | = 1 with opposite footwork. |
| Repeat 24 bars of part 1. Repeat 15 bars of part 2. | |
| Part 3. Rhythm for this part is: quick, quick, slow. | |
| 1 ct | leap to R onto R ft with flexed R knee and L ft kicked forward (ct 1). (No cts 2 or 3 in this bar.) |
| 1 | Step to L onto L ft (ct 1), step behind L ft onto R ft (ct 2), leap to L onto L ft with flexed L knee and R ft kicked forward (ct 3). |
| 2 | Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), step behind R ft onto L ft (ct 2), step to R onto R ft (ct 3), step to R across R ft onto L ft (ct &). |
| 3 | = 1 with opposite footwork. |
| 4-31 | = 1-3, 10 1/3 times in all. |
| 32 | Step to R onto R ft (ct 1), step behind R ft onto L ft (ct 2), leap to R onto R ft, lifting L leg as in step 1 for a flashy stage finish. |
| Here are the words: | Which mean: |
| Snoshti sakav da ti dojdam. 2X | Last night I wanted to come to you. |
| Sitna rosa zarosi, sitna rosa zarosi, zato ne dojdof. 2X | A small dew fell, so I did not come. |
| *Napraiv ubava vechera kokoshka pechena, 2X | A truly beautiful evening, roasted chicken, |
| suvo grozje polneto, suvo grozje polneto, a bre, budalo! 2X | a half-liter of wine, you fool! |
| Kakav junak ti kje bidesh 2X | What kind of hero are you, |
| od rosa da se uplashish, od rosa da se uplashish, a bre, budalo. | of dew to be frightened, you fool. |
*Note: this verse is not on our recording.
End of BAVNO ORO.