Folk Folks,
I’m going to try something here. I had some kind of New Year’s resolution to learn a dance well enough to lead every week. I’m not sure how that stands with much chaos in learning and reviewing several dances at once, so I’ll have to chart that out to see if it pencils out to at least one a week. Anyhow, the reason so many dances have fallen out of the rotation is leader loss. Between COVID-19 and Deryl’s broke-down body, there have been many dance casualties. I could put the names on a memorial wall, but I’d rather learn to lead each of them and bring them back. I have no particular strategy for deciding which dance to work on other than happening to come across some music or information on the dance that rekindles interest. I know most of you don’t know the names of dances, but if you do think of one we haven’t done for a long time, let me know and I’ll give it a shot. I’m focusing on dances that are just lacking a leader rather than dances that would require teaching.
This week I am working on Bučimiš from Bulgaria, introduced by Dick Crum. There are several choreographies to the same tune, but the one TNFD does is the standard in recreational folk dance. I categorized this dance as “advanced,” but it’s not that complex; just fast. Part 5, aka “Reels” is a different animal, and that’s mostly what I need to perfect. The other parts follow a pattern that reverses footwork, but always begins with the same four step, step-behind, step, step-behind: QQQQ pattern. Cherie did a great teaching job over a year ago and gave a quick review a couple months ago.
I created a page: Bučimiš – Bulgaria [Dick Crum*]
I like the John Pappas video best. The Yukon Kolo video slows it down, but now there is a YouTube speed control setting, so you can slow down any video you want (play the video, click the Settings gear icon on the lower right, then select Playback speed and adjust as desired.)
Good Luck. We’ll go in hot Tuesday and see what happens.
-David