Sa Gjijile (Xhixhile) is a variation of the čoček traditional chain folk dance from Albania in Romani style, danced to the folksong “Xhixhile e Malit.” It is danced in a sort of continuous grapevine motion.
| Dance Name: | Sa Gjijile/Sa Xhixhile |
| Pronunciation: | SAW GEE-jee-lay |
| Translation: | dance to the song “Xhixhile” Xhixhile is a term of endearment |
| Aliases: | Gjigjile, Xhixhileja |
| Related To/See Also: | Sa from Bujanovac |
| Country of Origin: | Albania |
| Ethnicity: | Romani |
| Music Genre: | Albanian čoček/folksong |
| Dance Type: | Non-Partner | Circle/Chain |
| Dance Category: | Village Traditional |
| Folk Status: | Living |
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Energy Intensity: | Moderate |
| Song: | “Xhixhile e Malit” or any Albanian čoček w/ Xhixhile feel-y |
| Time Signature: | 2/4 |
| Pattern: | SS QQS SS SS QQS čoček with a grapevine, danced in a circle |
| Dancer Formation: | Open Circle |
| Hand Hold: | W-pos |
| Leads to: | R w/R back in LOD |
| Date Taught: | 11/14/2023 |
| Teacher: | David |
| Published: | November 13, 2023 |
| Updated: | April 10, 2025 |
Here we have yet another variation čoček; this time based on the Albanian version of the Sa (3 bars). Like Sa from Bujanovac, this dance sticks a 2-bar grapevine in after the first 2 bars of Sa, after which the final bar of Sa is done for a 5-bar complete figure. However, this dance further strays from a “normal” čoček by keeping all steps in LOD in what feels like a continuous grapevine figure. The backing up from center steps are now done moving LOD on the same path as the grapevine, and can be thought of as half a grapevine. If that’s not enough divergence, the SQQ in bars 2 & 5 is reversed to QQS in order to match the rhythm of the music better.
Sa:(SS SQQ SQQ) + Grapevine:(SS SS)
= SS QQS (SS SS) QQS
RL RLR LR LR LRL
bar 1 2 3 4 5| Bar | Rhy | Step |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SS | Half Grapevine: R to R (1), L behind R (2) |
| 2 | QQS | Cha-cha-cha/chassé: R to R (1), L closing to R (&), R (2) |
| 3-4 | SS SS | Full Grapevine: L over R (1), R to R (2), L behind R (3), R to R (4) |
| 5 | QQS | Cha-cha-cha/chassé: L over R (1), R closing behind L (&), L (2) |
Think of the dance as half a grapevine, chassé, full grapevine, chassé (chassé is a step-together-step, aka cha-cha-cha, aka triple-step). CAUTION: This dance is a 5-bar phrase, whereas the music is 8, so not every cha-cha-cha in the music is going to match the dance, so you do have to pay attention to the dance pattern and not let yourself fall into a music trance.
I can’t find much info on the dance. I learned it from the below Dunav video. I knew the song before the dance. Diane turned me on to the band Taraf de Locos, and they just happen to have the song “Xhixhile” on their eponymous album (Taraf de Locos), along with another danceable tune for Sa Xhixhile, “Dardha Rrumbullake.” Taraf de Locos is/was a diverse group of four young musicians formed in 2014 in San Francisco, but they have now gone on to separate projects and only reunite for a gig upon rare circumstances.
Two versions of lyrics appear after the music videos. The “traditional” version is from Dunav and the second is from the Albanian pop singer Altin Sulku. The chorus of our other favorite Albanian čoček-type dance, Jarnana, shares some lyrics. It’s a love song with some “sweetheart” names that don’t translate well by machine.
Dancing & Teaching Examples of Sa Gjijile (Xhixhile)
He does cross step in front instead of grapevine. Copyright cops got his music…
Music Examples
Lyrics to the Traditional “Xhixhile e Malit”
Lyrics by Dunav, very bad translation by GoogleXhixhile, moj, Xhixhile, Xhixhile e malit-e. Xhixhile, moj, Xhixhile, Xhixhile e malit-e. Kam sevda, moj, kam sevda, Kam sevdan'e djalit-e. Kam sevda, moj, kam sevda, Kam sevdan'e djalit-e. Jarnana, jarnane, Jarnana moj te" keqen-e. Jarnana, jarnane, Jarnana moj te" keqen-e. O Xhixhile, Xhixhile, Xhixhile e fushe"s-e. O Xhixhile, Xhixhile, Xhixhile e fushe"s-e. O kam sevda, moj, kam sevda, Kam sevdan'e c,upe"se. O kam sevda, moj, kam sevda, Kam sevdan'e c,upe"se. Jarnana, jarnane, Jarnana moj te" keqen-e. Jarnana, jarnane, Jarnana moj te" keqen-e.Gummy, my, Gummy, Mountain gum. Gummy, my, Gummy, Mountain gum. I have love, my, I have love, I love my son. I have love, my, I have love, I love my son. Jarnana, jarnana, Jarnana my evil. Jarnana, jarnana, Jarnana my evil. O Jijile, Jijile, Field gum. O Jijile, Jijile, Field gum. O I have love, my, I have love, I love c,upe'se. O I have love, my, I have love, I love c,upe'se. Jarnana, jarnana, Jarnana my evil. Jarnana, jarnana, Jarnana my evil.
Lyrics to “Xhixhileja” Sung by Altin Sulku
teksteshqip, bad translation by Google/ xhixhile moj xhixhile xhixhile e mallite / kam sevda kam sevda kam sevdaen e djalite epo kam sevda moj kam sevda kam sevda e djalite / jarinani na jarnane jarnana moj te kecene / / xhixhile moj xhixhile xhixhile e fushese / kam sevda kam sevda kam sevda e gocese epo kam sevda moj kam sevda kam sevda e gocese / jarinani na jarnane jarnana moj te kecene / / xhixhile moj xhixhile xhixhile e fushese / kam sevda kam sevda kam sevda e gocese epo kam sevda moj kam sevda kam sevda e gocese // jarinani na jarnane jarnana moj te kecene /// My jijile jijile jijile you missed me /
I love, I love, I love the boy
Well, I have my love, I have my love
I love the boy
/ Jarinani na jarnane jarnana my little girl /
/ My jijile jijile jijile of the field /
I love you, I love you, I love you, girl
Well, I have my love, I have my love
I love you, girl
/ Jarinani na jarnane jarnana my little girl /
/ My jijile jijile jijile of the field /
I love you, I love you, I love you, girl
Well, I have my love, I have my love
I love you, girl
// jarinani na jarnane jarnana my little girl //