Ciganskoto horo (Đipaj) is a modern chain folk dance from Bulgaria fashioned from the traditional Čičovoto (Chichovoto) horo with modern styling. Reportedly, it was choreographed by the Bulgarian folk dance club “Slivnenci” (Сливненци). The music used is the lively composition “Đipaj/Kermes” by Serbian musician and composer Sanja Ilić (1951-2021) performed with his Balkans folkloric music ensemble “Balkanika” on the 2009 album Ceeepaj (Gooo). The song “Đipaj” is a redux of “Kermes” from their first album, released in 2000, Balkan 2000. A version with lyrics performed by Serbian rapper Cvija appears on the 2011 album The Best of Balkanika and with those lyrics sans Cvija in 2020 as “New Đipaj” on Stand Up.
| Dance Name: | Ciganskoto horo (Đipaj) |
| Original Script: | Циганско хоро (Ђипај) |
| Pronunciation: | SEE-gan-skoh-toh HOH-roh (DJEE-pie) |
| Translation: | The [Roma] dance (Skip!) |
| Aliases: | Cigansko horo, Djipaj |
| Related To: | Čičovoto (Chichovoto) horo |
| Country of Origin: | Bulgaria |
| Music Genre: | Serbian Balkan Brass Folktronica |
| Choreographer: | ? Bulgarian dance club “Slivnenci”(Сливненци) |
| Taught in USA by: | Steve Kotansky, YouTube |
| Year: | ≥ 2009 (maybe 2011?) |
| Dance Type: | Non-Partner | Circle/Chain |
| Dance Category: | Modern RIFD |
| Folk Status: | Neo-Traditional |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate (Easy, but fast) |
| Energy Intensity: | Lively |
| Song: | “Đipaj/Kermes” (Djpaj) |
| Recording: | Sanja Ilić & Balkanika, Ceeepaj (2009) |
| Time Signature: | 2/4 |
| Dancer Formation: | Open Circle |
| Hand Hold: | V-pos or Belt hold |
| Leads to: | R w/ R |
| Styling: | Light & Lively; Prancing |
| Date Taught: | 11/11/2025 |
| Teacher: | David |
| Published: | May 7, 2025 |
| Updated: | May 8, 2025 |
Dance & Music Tidbits
- Ciganskoto horo (Đipaj) is actually an easy dance, but it’s fast. Remember that you can slow down YouTube playback by clicking the gear icon and selecting Playback speed in the popup menu.
- User @bibicoool comments on the YouTube video Циганско хоро (стъпки) that the dance was choreographed by the “Bulgarian dance club ‘Slivnenci.'” (Това хоро е измислено от български клуб по танци ”Сливненци”.)
- Why is the dance called “The Gypsy Dance?” While use of the “G” word is troubling—even it some may embrace it—this is a dance that is all Bulgarian. Perhaps it’s because of the Balkan Brass music, Truba, to those in-the-know, and Gypsy Brass to some, which Romani musicians have embraced and indeed dominated in numbers and talent. Sanja Ilić’s Balkanika was an experiment with different Balkan ethnic music collaborators mixed with pop elements. Although based in the home of Balkan Brass, Serbia, the ensemble wouldn’t come to mind when thinking of a typical Romani Balkan Brass ensemble. Balkanika represented Serbia in Eurovision Song Contest 2018, so pop music runs in the blood.
- Sanja Ilić died on 7 March 2021 at the age of 69 from health complications suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dancing Examples
Teaching Examples
The Music of Ciganskoto horo: “Đipaj/Kermes” by Sanja Ilić & Balkanika
Music With Rap Lyrics: “New Đipaj” by Sanja Ilić & Balkanika & “Đipaj feat. Cvija”
“Đipaj” – Sanja Ilić i Balkanik feat. Cvija (OFFICIAL VIDEO, 2011)
Lyrics
You can find the rap lyrics at LyricsTranslate and on Don’s Folkdance Footnotes. The original lyrics that the women sing was posted in YouTube comments. It appears to be something from an old folksong. This is from people listening to the audio rather than published lyrics, so it’s kind of messy…
LyricsTranslate - "This is what the girls are singing:"
Sto su djerdan nade ranadez dala I ostavi I na voda kaj napada dole na djimdjiri Ih djurdjideli dana ranadi kade I ako treba nijedna pesma bez dogovora drle dajko peva Ih najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit sto su djerdan nade ranadez dala I ostavi I na voda kaj napada dole na djimdjiri sto su djerdan nade ranadez dala I ostavi I na voda kaj napada dole na djimdjiri sto su djerdan nade ranadez dala I ostavi I na voda kaj napada dole na djimdjiri sto su djerdan nade ranadez dala I ostavi I na voda kaj napada dole na djimdjiri IhAnd if you need a song without an agreement, I'll find it on the bottom, I'll leave it to my mother's house, I'll leave it to my mother's house, I'll leave it to my mother's house, I'll leave it to my mother's house, I'll leave it to our mother's house, I'll leave it to our mother's house, I'll leave it to our mother's house, I'll leave it to our mother's house, I'll leave it to my mother's house, I'll leave it to our mother's house, I'll leave it to our mother's house, I'll leave it to our mother's house. I'm going to leave it to my mother's house, I'm going to leave it to my mother's house, I'm going to leave it to my mother's house, I'm going to leave it to my mother's house, I'm going to leave it to the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to give it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to leave it to you, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to give you the water, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to give you the water, I'- or -
Sto su djerdan nade ranadez dala I ostavi I na voda kaj napada dole na djimdjiri Ih djurdjideli dana ranadi kade I ako treba nijedna pesma bez dogovora drle dajko peva Ih najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit najma ga nadjoh na dole muska nadjoh osta na majku nam kucu ostavit IhAnd if you don't need a song without an agreement, I'm going to sing I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to our mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it to my mother, I'm going to leave it, I'm going to leave it, Ifrom comments on LyricsTranslate and YouTube (original YouTube poster account terminated by copyright cops). Translation by Microsoft of Latinized SerbianAnother YouTube comment:
Sto sum djevla nataj ramagec kalaj postoj vini I na voda kalaj namana dole na djimdjiri Ih djimdjibeli zdravac zabeli kateli kako teva nijedna pesma ce dogovora cele gajko peva Iii juuu najma ga dadjo na dole muska nadjo ostara malko na kucu ostavi Ih sto sum djevla nataj ramagec kalaj postoj vini I na voda kalaj namana dole na djimdjiri IhI'm going to tell you that I'm going to have to go down to the Garden of Eden, I'm going to have to go down to the Garden of Eden, I'm going to go down to the Garden of Eden, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the house, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, I'm going to go down to the Jews, T