DARONEE YERKER YEV BARER

 

Alternate Name:  AZGAGRAKAN

Origin:

Armenia

Source:

This is a medley of Armenian village songs and dances from the DARON region, ancient Western Armenia.  It was learned by Tom Bozigian in February, 1974 from Manook Manookyan, director - Wire and Binding Factory of Yerevan, where Tom Bozigian performed.  Its staged version is part of the repertoire of the Armenian State Song and Dance ensemble choreographed by Azat Gharibian.  It was introduced into the USA by Tom Bozigian in the mid to late 1970s.

Recordings:

"Tom Bozigian Presents Songs & Dances of the Armenian People" GT2001

"Tom Bozigian Presents Songs & Dances of the Armenian People Vol. 3" GT5001

Presentation:

These instructions represent the first and second parts of the six part medley.  Only these two parts were presented at the 2008 Door County Folk Festival by Leslie Hyll.  These two parts are approximately 3 minutes and 40 seconds of the 6 minute medley.

Formation:

Mixed lines, leader at R end

 

Measure

Count

Pattern

1-4

 

Introduction

Beginning Position – Face ctr, L hand on L waist, fingers fwd, R hand on R shoulder of dancer to R.  Leader’s R hand is at chest-level, palm down, with arm in a horizontal pos.

 

 

 

 

 

PART I, FIG I  -  Rhythm 5/4

1

1-2

Step R slightly (such that R ft is perpendicular to L ft) as body turns slightly to R (ct 1).  Pivot on ball of R ft to face ctr again (ct 2).

Arm movement for leader ONLY:  Sweep arm to R slowly turning palm up until arm is extended out to R (cts 1-2). 

 

3-5

Close L to R, bounce (ct 3), bounce (ct 4), hold (ct 5)

Arm movement for leader ONLY:  Sweep arm back to chest, turning palm down (cts 3-4), hold at chest (ct 5)

2-3

 

Repeat meas 1 two times

4

1-2

Repeat meas 1 ct 1.  Hold (ct 2).
Arm movement for leader ONLY:  same as meas 1 cts 1-2

 

3-5

Plié on L in front of R (ie. step onto L in front of R, leaving R in place, bend knees)   (ct 3).  Draw L quickly beside R, pivoting on ball of R ft to face ctr again (ct 4).  Hold (ct 5).

Arm movement for leader ONLY:  Bend R elbow raising arm to vertical position, palm facing out (ct 3).  Lower hand to chest, arm in original horizontal pos (ct 4).  Hold at chest (ct 5).

1-4

 

Repeat Part I, Fig I one more time

 

 

 

Measure

Count

Pattern

 

 

PART I, FIG II

1

1-5

Feet:      Step bkwd on R as L remains touching floor

Arms:     R hand drops to side and extends fwd to ctr, 45 degrees up, palm facing away;  L hand is placed behind neighbor's lower back

2

1-2

Feet:      Step where L was touching with Plié  (bend knee)

Arms:     R arm comes down in a CW circular motion to side

 

3-5

Feet:      Bring R beside L, bounce on both ft (ct 3), bounce (ct 4), hold (ct 5).

Arms:     R hand comes up to chin level palm facing in,
elbow down (ct 3).

3

1-2

Feet:      Moving RLOD step L to L twisting L heel to L and turning slightly R 

Arms:     R arm and hand change to horizontal pos palm down, turn head to R

 

3

Feet:      Close R to L, pivoting on ball of L ft to face ctr again

Arms:     R arm and hand change back to vertical position, turn head to ctr

 

4-5

Hold

4

 

Repeat meas 3

Arms:     R hand moves out to extended pos as in meas 1 without dropping to side

5-8

 

Repeat all of Part I, Fig I one more time

Arm transition to beginning of Part I, Fig I:  R hand comes up in a CW circular motion to rest on R shoulder of dancer to R

 

 

 

 

 

Repeat all of Part I three more times.

Join hands at shoulder level for Part II.

 

 

 

Measure

Count

PATTERN

 

 

PART II, FIG I -  Rhythm 6/8 

(Alternate count in parentheses is 2 cts per meas)

1-3

1-18 (1-6)

Beginning with R ft, 3 two-steps in LOD

4

1-3 (7)

Plié L over R as R lifts behind

 

4-6 (8)

Step bkwd on R as L raises and extends in front

5

1-3 (9)

Feet:      Facing ctr & moving RLOD step up on ball of L to L, heel raised, body leaning RLOD and R leg extends to LOD

Arms:     Arms are brought down to side & back 45 degrees

 

4-6 (10)

Feet:      R crosses over L with slight Plié

Arms:     Arms come fwd 45 degrees

6

1-6 (11-12)

Repeat meas 5

7

1-3 (13)

Feet:      Step L to diag L of ctr

Arms:     Arms come to shoulder height

 

4-6 (14)

Feet:      Step R in front of L in strong Plié  

Arms:     Arms draw down sharply to side

8

1-3 (15)

Feet:      Step bkwd on L

Arms:     Arms return to beginning pos

 

4-6 (16)

Stamp R beside L but do not take weight

 

 

 

 

 

PART II, FIG II

1-3

1-18 (1-6)

Feet:      Beginning with R ft, turn 360° in a small CW circle with 3 two-steps in LOD

Men’s Arms:  Release hands, Begin with R arm pointing to R, L arm bent at elbow to point R, with palms facing away do windshield wipers to R (meas 1), L (meas 2), R (meas 3).  Rejoin hands at shoulder height at end.

Women’s Arms:  Release hands, With hands at head level, palms facing out, the middle finger and thumb forming a slight “C”, rotate hands at wrist turning palm in, down, out (1 meas).  Repeat for each two-step.  Rejoin hands at shoulder height at end.

4-8

1-3 (7)

Repeat Part II, Fig I, meas 4-8

Arm change at meas 7, cts 4-6 (14):  let go of handhold and clap hands with a sharp downward/outward motion.  Regrasp handhold at shoulder height on meas 8.

 

 

 

 

 

Repeat all of PART II twice more

 

Presented at the 2008 Door County Folk Festival (Wisconsin) by Leslie Hyll (Dayton, Ohio)