Sâbrali sa se, Sâbrali – Bulgaria/Western Rhodopes [Yves Moreau*]
Sâbrali sa se, Sâbrali is a beautiful dance choreographed to the beautiful Bulgarian folk song of that name. It comes from the western Rhodopes region of Bulgaria and is a women’s singing dance (horovodna) often danced in the small courtyards or balconies (na cardak). Neda Voda Nalivala is another such dance. The dance movements are not complex, but the rhythm may be challenging for the Western ear. Immerse yourself in the resonance of the harmonies and just feel it…
| Dance Name: | Sâbrali sa se, Sâbrali |
| Country of Origin: | Bulgaria |
| Region: | Western Rhodopes |
| Ethnicity: | Bulgarian Moslem |
| Dance Type: | Circle/Chain/Line: non-partner Women’s singing dance |
| Dance Category: | Modern RIFD |
| Folk Status: | Arranged Folklore |
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Energy Intensity: | Gentle |
| Original Script: | Събрали са се, събрали |
| Pronunciation: | Suh-BRAH-lee sah seh, suh-BRAH-lee |
| Translation: | They gathered, gathered |
| Aliases: | Sabrale, Sâbrale, Subrali |
| Related To: | Neda Voda Nalivala |
| Presented in USA: | Yves Moreau |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Song: | Sâbrali sa se, Sâbrali |
| Time Signature: | 16/8 = 7/8 + 9/8 |
| Dance Rhythm: | SQQ + QSL (L= same length as Q+Q) (3+2+2) + (2+3+4) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Recordings: | Rhodopea Kaba Trio (Gega New, GD 183; Yves Moreau, Bulgarian Folk Dances, Vol 4.) Kitka (The Vine) |
| Dancer Formation: | Open Circle |
| Hand Hold: | W-position |
| Leads to: | R w/ R |
| Date Taught: | 3/7/2023 |
| Teacher: | David |
| Published: | April 4, 2023 |
| Updated: | July 7, 2024 |
Not at all surprising of Bulgarian music, the meter is mixed: 7/8 + 9/8. In this case, it is counted in six dance pulses as SQQ + QSL, where L is a stretched out S such that is is time equivalent to Q+Q.
This was one of my early pages, and I have now updated it with proper lyrics from Let’s Dance! November 2023. There seems to be two separate songs going by the same name, Събрали са се, събрали. See: tousauxbalkans.net for more lyrics and sheet music.
Събрали са се събрали Малки не моми среднине Попрели колко, попрели, Легнали, та са заспали. Спали са колко поспали, Първа са мома разбуди, Първа са мома разбуди И си на дружки викаше. Станите, дружки, да видим, мари, кому какво е липсало – 2 р. Мене е дружки липсало На бела шийка герданче (2 р.) Втора моминка викаше, мари, мене е дружки липсало, Мене е дружки липсало, мари, на тьонко корстче коланче. Трета моминка викаше Мене е дружки липсало (2 р.) Мене е дружки липсало, мари, на тьонко снажка сукманче – 4 р.pesni.guru
Dancing Examples
Teaching Examples
Music for Dancing
Music for Listening
Lyrics
Let’s Dance! November 2023Sâbrali sa se, sâbrali, malkine momi srednine. Popreli kolko, popreli, legnali da se zaspali. Spali sa, kolko pospali, porvasa moma razbudi. Porvasa moma razbudi i si na družki vikaše. /Stanite, družki, da vidim, mari, komu kakvo e lipsalo./ /Mene e, družki, lipsalo na bela šijka gerdanče./ Vtora mominka vikaše, mari, mene e, družki, lipsalo. Mene e, družki, lipsalo, mari, na tjonko krošče kolanče. /Treta mominka vikaše, mene e, družki, lipsalo./ /Mene e, družki, lipsalo, mari, na tjonka snažka sukmanče./They gathered, gathered, the school-aged girls. They lay down, lay down to sleep. They were asleep, how sleepy they were. The first girl woke up and called out to her friends. /Get up, friends, let’s see who is missing what./ /Friends, I am missing, from my white neck, a necklace./ The second girl called out, my friends, I’m missing, from my waist, a little belt. /The third girl called out, I’m missing, friends/ /From my slender body, my sukmanče (dress)./