Oj na Hori Stoit Khata is a traditional Ukrainian circle dance from the Rusyn peoples in the far west. The story behind it is that dance was originally a women’s dance, but changed to mixed gender by the turn of the 19th century, and the dance was alive at least through the 1930s. Now, the original music identity and name of the dance have been lost, but the dance was revived at some point with a “recent vintage” song, “Oj na Hori Stoit Khata” (Ой, на горі стоїть хата), as titled from the first line of the song. The document this information comes from is not clear, nor is the source, Michael Protenic.
| Dance Name: | Oj na Hori Stoit Khata |
| Original Script: | Ой, на горі стоїть хата |
| Pronunciation: | Oy, na hori stoyitʹ khata |
| Translation: | A house stands on the hill |
| Aliases: | Oi na gori stoit’ khata |
| Country of Origin: | Ukraine |
| Region: | Rusyn peoples of far western Ukraine (Carpathian Ruthenia/Transcarpathia) |
| Choreographer: | Village Traditional |
| Presented in USA: | Michael Protenic, Boël Denne-Hinnov, Ira Weisburd (c. 2012) |
| Dance Type: | Non-partner: Circle/Chain/Line |
| Dance Category: | Village Traditional |
| Folk Status: | Living |
| Skill Level: | Easy |
| Energy Intensity: | Moderate |
| Song: | “Ой, на горі стоїть хата” (Oj na Hori Stoit Khata) “Гуцулка кохана” (Hutsulka kokhana) |
| Time Signature: | 2/4 |
| Dancer Formation: | Open Circle |
| Hand Hold: | Front Basket |
| Leads to: | R w/ R |
| Date Taught: | March 5, 2024 |
| Teacher: | David |
| Published: | March 4, 2024 |
| Updated: | July 26, 2024 |
The song is also known as “Hutsulka kokhana” (Гуцулка кохана) “Hutsulka Beloved.” Hutsuls are an East Slavic ethnic group spanning parts of western Ukraine and Romania. I don’t know the history of the song, but it is quite popular—very popular—as evidenced by pop releases and YouTube postings, even before the Russian “special military operation.” It is, of course, a tragic love song. Boy ditches girl for a greener pasture only to find out that “pasture” is already being grazed and his original field is now barren. Did you follow that mess I just constructed? Girl loves boy; boy chases other girl; other girl chases other guy; boy comes back to original girl; original girl says “get lost;” boy is alone and angry.
Dancing Examples
Music Examples of Oj na Hori Stoit Khata
Lyrics: Гуцулка кохана (Hutsulka kokhana) “Hutsulka Beloved”
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/гуцулко-kохана.htmlОй на горі стоїть хата, Під ней сидить дівка брата. Сидить сумно погладає, -- 2р. \ На гуцулика чекає \2р. А той гуцул забарався, Десь на другу задивився. Задивився десь на другу, -- 2р. \ Та й забув про свою любу. \2р. Любка сльози витирає, Та й у осені питає. Скажи мені, осінь мила, -- 2р. \ Де і в чому я схибила? \2р. Десь у полі вітер віє, Про дівчину гуцул мріє. А дівчина вже кохана, -- 2р. \ Певно з другим спарована! \2р. Хай він знає, хай повчиться, Кинув милу тепер злиться. Бо лишився зовсім самий, -- 2р. \ І ні з ким не спарований. \2р. Треба знати що робити, Зі всіх лиш одну любити! А дівчина варта того, - 2р. \ Щоби мати миленького! \2р.Oh, on the mountain there is a house, By it there sits my brother's maiden. Sits there looking oh so sadly,- 2x Waiting for her Hutsul boy. -2x And that Hutsul has gone away, To another he was looking. Somewhere he was looking at another,- 2x And has forgotten his true love. -2x His beloved wiping away her tears, and in the autumn does ask. Do tell me, dear autumn, - 2x Where and in what I have done wrong? - 2x. Somewhere in the field, the wind blows, About a girl, a Hutsul dreams. But the girl is already beloved, - 2r.x Surely with another now is paired! 2x Let him now know, let him learn, He threw away a girl friend and is now angry. For he is left alone completely, -2x And now he is paired with no one. - 2x You need to know what to do, Of all, to only love but one! And the girl is worth all that, - 2x So to have a true beloved! -2x