Katuše Mome – Macedonia [Dick Crum*]
A simple, yet active dance to a beautiful song. You have to pay attention enough to count how many lefts and rights you do before traveling. There are versions of the song Što mi e milo done to the same QSQQ rhythm (not very many) that can also be used. Katuše Mome is part of a family of Macedonian Krsteno (crossing) dances.
When you have mastered this dance, you will have mastered the ubiquitous Bulgarian-Macedonian-Balkan čukče (CHOOK-cheh) step, which is a step without stepping, but with a beat count. The čukče consists of a lift of the heel up to the ball or toe, depending on the level of emphasis, and then coming back down to count off one beat. This is handy when you need to mark time without changing feet or full on hopping.
There is a crossing section and a traveling section, and it matters not with which one begins.
Native dancers hesitate touching down the foot on count 2 (S), milking the čukče rise and fall of count 1. This is referred to as sinkops (syncopation).
Trivia Note: Fatiše Kolo introduced by Dick Crum is similar to Katuše Mome. In Fort Collins, we do the Fatiše Kolo introduced by Anatol Joukowsky, and it’s nothing like either.
/ Katuše, pusto Katuše šo ti bilo crno pisano / / baš pijanica da zemiš, toj Nikola ot kocareta. / / Site momčinja na gurbet, tvojto momče na mejana. / / Oj lele, lele, Katuše, izgorev, jagne, za tebe. / / Site momčinja na bazar, tvojto momče kraj bočki. / / Oj lele, lele, Katuše, izgorev, jagne, za tebe. / / U robeta nizi florini, u kocareta lele nizi piperki. / / Oj lele, lele, Katuše, izgorev, jagne, za tebe. /
Katuše, beautiful Katuše, look what was fated for you— to marry the biggest drunkard of all, that Nikola the bum. All the men have gone away to earn a living, your man’s gone to the tavern. Oh, Katuše, I’m burning up for you, dearie. All the men have gone to the market, your man has gone to the wine-barrels. Oh, Katuše, I’m burning up for you, dearie. The ones that have gone away to work have strings of florins, the bums have strings of peppers. Oh, Katuše, I’m burning up for you, dearie.
Teaching & Dancing Examples
Music Examples
Kitka has a recording on Bandcamp (not available for streaming for some reason).