Pandalaš

PANDALAŠ
Bulgarian

PRONUNCIATION: PAHN-dah-lahsh

TRANSLATION: Flag bearer

SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Yves Moreau who learned it in 1969 from Dančo Ilijev, leader of a folk dance group in the village of Devnja in the Varna District of Bulgaria. The figures described below were chosen from among numerous variations popular in the southern part of Dobrudža.

BACKGROUND: Pandalaš, also called Kucata (KOO-tsah-tah), is a dance type found throughout Dobrudža in northeast Bulgaria. Although experts have found the meaning obscure, it is thought by Dick Crum, noted Balkan dance and language researcher, that the word "pandalaš" comes from a Romanian military term meaning "flag bearer" and Kucata refers to the "stamping" action common in the dance.

MUSIC: Balkanton (LP) BHA 734, side 2, band 1

FORMATION: Short lines of mixed M and W with hands joined and held close to shldrs in "W" pos (may also start in "V" pos).

METER/RHYTHM: 7/16. The rhythm is quick-quick-slow (2+2+3 = 7) and is counted in three dancer's beats below with the third being the longest.

STEPS/STYLE: Although the variations described may be danced in any sequence and with any number of repeats at the discretion of the leader (with the exception of the Introduction which is danced only once), most dancers dance 16 meas of each in the sequence given. All variations end with a step or stamp with the R ft, depending upon the next Fig danced.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

1-2 No action, or begin with the action of meas 3.

3 Facing slightly R and moving to R, low hop L as R heel is touched fwd to R with toe up (ct 1); take wt on R, bending knee (ct 2); step L across R (ct 3).

4-7 Repeat action of meas 9 four more times.

8 Still facing slightly R, stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 1); stamp L lightly, taking wt (ct 2); stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 3).

I. BASIC R, GRAPEVINE L

1 Facing slightly R, low hop R as hands are brought sharply down and back (ct 1); step L across R as hands begin fwd swing (ct 2); step R swd as hands complete low fwd swing (ct 3).

2-4 Repeat action of meas 1 three more times bringing hands fwd and up on ct 3 of meas 4.

5 Stamp L next to R without wt as hands are brought into "W" pos (ct 1); pause (cts 2-3).

6 Step L swd (cts 1-2); step R across L (ct 3).

7 Step L swd, bringing hands fwd and down (ct 1-2); step R across in back of L as hands swing bwd (ct 3).

8 Step L swd as hands are brought fwd and up (ct 1-2); stamp R next to L, taking wt as hands are brought into "W" pos (ct 3).

9-16 Repeat action of meas 1-8.

II. BASIC R, SCUFF L

1-5 Repeat action of Fig I, meas 1-5.

6 Turning to face slightly L, small leap L, raising R in back with R knee bent as elbows are raised up in back with wrists as the pivot points (ct 1); scuff R heel fwd next to L as hands are pushed down and fwd (ct 2); step R across L as hands are raised in a full extension of arms overhead (ct 3).

7-8 Turning to face ctr, repeat action of Fig I, meas 7-8.

9-16 Repeat action of meas 1-8 except on the final ct 3 of meas 16 do not take wt on the stamp.

III. TWD CTR, SCUFF L

1 Facing ctr with hands remaining in "W" pos, touch R toe diag out to R and bounce on L (ct 1); bounce again on L (ct 2); step R across L, bending R knee (ct 3).

2 Repeat action of meas 1 moving fwd with opp ftwk.

3-4 Repeat action of meas 1-2.

5 Leaning over slightly from hips, stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 1); stamp L lightly, taking wt (ct 2); stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 3).

6-8 Repeat action of Fig II, meas 14-16 (except no wt on last ct).

9-16 Repeat action of meas 1-8.

IV. LEAPING GRAPEVINE R, SCUFF L

1 Facing ctr with hands ramaining in "W" pos, leap R swd cts 1-2); leap L across R (ct 3).

2 Leap R swd (cts 1-2); leap L across in back of R (ct 3).

3-4 Repeat action of meas 1-2.

5 Jump to both ft about shldr-width apart (cts 1-2); jump to both ft together (ct 3).

6-8 Repeat action of Fig III, meas 6-8.

9-13 Repeat action of meas 1-5.

14-16 Repeat action of Fig II, meas 6-8 (taking wt on last ct).

V. BASIC (WITH PAUSE) R

1-2 Repeat action of Fig I, meas 1-2.

3 Low hop L as hands are swung back (ct 1); step L across R as hands begin fwd swing (ct 2); turning to face ctr, leap R swd, raising L in back with L knee bent (and somewhat fwd) as hands are raised in a full extension of arms overhead (ct 3).

NOTE: The legs in this position resemble a "4" or the pos in which a stork might stand on on ft.

4 Step L in back of R, sharing wt on balls of both ft as hands are brought into "W" pos (cts 1-2); step up onto R, raising L in back with L knee bent (and somewhat fwd) as hands are extended upward and outward and beg to be brought down (ct 3).

5-16 Repeat action of meas 1-4 three more times.

Repeat action of Fig I-V, holding on final ct 3 with arms extended overhead.

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes

PANDALAŠ Bulgarian

PRONUNCIATION:	PAHN-dah-lahsh

TRANSLATION:	Flag bearer

SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance from Yves Moreau who learned it in 1969 from Dančo Ilijev, leader of a folk dance group in the village of Devnja in the Varna District of Bulgaria. The figures described below were chosen from among numerous variations popular in the southern part of Dobrudža.

BACKGROUND:	Pandalaš, also called Kucata (KOO-tsah-tah), is a dance type found throughout Dobrudža in northeast Bulgaria. Although experts have found the meaning obscure, it is thought by Dick Crum, noted Balkan dance and language researcher, that the word "pandalaš" comes from a Romanian military term meaning "flag bearer" and Kucata refers to the "stamping" action common in the dance.

MUSIC:	Balkanton (LP) BHA 734, side 2, band 1

FORMATION:	Short lines of mixed M and W with hands joined and held close to shldrs in "W" pos (may also start in "V" pos).

METER/RHYTHM:	7/16. The rhythm is quick-quick-slow (2+2+3 = 7) and is counted in three dancer's beats below with the third being the longest.

STEPS/STYLE:	Although the variations described may be danced in any sequence and with any number of repeats at the discretion of the leader (with the exception of the Introduction which is danced only once), most dancers dance 16 meas of each in the sequence given. All variations end with a step or stamp with the R ft, depending upon the next Fig danced.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

1-2	No action, or begin with the action of meas 3.
3	Facing slightly R and moving to R, low hop L as R heel is touched fwd to R with toe up (ct 1); take wt on R, bending knee (ct 2); step L across R (ct 3).
4-7	Repeat action of meas 9 four more times.
8	Still facing slightly R, stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 1); stamp L lightly, taking wt (ct 2); stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 3).

I.	BASIC R, GRAPEVINE L

1	Facing slightly R, low hop R as hands are brought sharply down and back (ct 1); step L across R as hands begin fwd swing (ct 2); step R swd as hands complete low fwd swing (ct 3).
2-4	Repeat action of meas 1 three more times bringing hands fwd and up on ct 3 of meas 4.
5	Stamp L next to R without wt as hands are brought into "W" pos (ct 1); pause (cts 2-3).

6	Step L swd (cts 1-2); step R across L (ct 3).
7	Step L swd, bringing hands fwd and down (ct 1-2); step R across in back of L as hands swing bwd (ct 3).
8	Step L swd as hands are brought fwd and up (ct 1-2); stamp R next to L, taking wt as hands are brought into "W" pos (ct 3).

9-16	Repeat action of meas 1-8.

II.	BASIC R, SCUFF L

1-5	Repeat action of Fig I, meas 1-5.

6	Turning to face slightly L, small leap L, raising R in back with R knee bent as elbows are raised up in back with wrists as the pivot points (ct 1); scuff R heel fwd next to L as hands are pushed down and fwd (ct 2); step R across L as hands are raised in a full extension of arms overhead (ct 3).
7-8	Turning to face ctr, repeat action of Fig I, meas 7-8.

9-16	Repeat action of meas 1-8 except on the final ct 3 of meas 16 do not take wt on the stamp.

III.	TWD CTR, SCUFF L

1	Facing ctr with hands remaining in "W" pos, touch R toe diag out to R and bounce on L (ct 1); bounce again on L (ct 2); step R across L, bending R knee (ct 3).
2	Repeat action of meas 1 moving fwd with opp ftwk.
3-4	Repeat action of meas 1-2.
5	Leaning over slightly from hips, stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 1); stamp L lightly, taking wt (ct 2); stamp R lightly, taking wt (ct 3).

6-8	Repeat action of Fig II, meas 14-16 (except no wt on last ct).

9-16	Repeat action of meas 1-8.

IV.	LEAPING GRAPEVINE R, SCUFF L

1	Facing ctr with hands ramaining in "W" pos, leap R swd cts 1-2); leap L across R (ct 3).
2	Leap R swd (cts 1-2); leap L across in back of R (ct 3).
3-4	Repeat action of meas 1-2.
5	Jump to both ft about shldr-width apart (cts 1-2); jump to both ft together (ct 3).

6-8	Repeat action of Fig III, meas 6-8.

9-13	Repeat action of meas 1-5.
14-16	Repeat action of Fig II, meas 6-8 (taking wt on last ct).

V.	BASIC (WITH PAUSE) R

1-2	Repeat action of Fig I, meas 1-2.
3	Low hop L as hands are swung back (ct 1); step L across R as hands begin fwd swing (ct 2); turning to face ctr, leap R swd, raising L in back with L knee bent (and somewhat fwd) as hands are raised in a full extension of arms overhead (ct 3).

	NOTE: The legs in this position resemble a "4" or the pos in which a stork might stand on on ft.

4	Step L in back of R, sharing wt on balls of both ft as hands are brought into "W" pos (cts 1-2); step up onto R, raising L in back with L knee bent (and somewhat fwd) as hands are extended upward and outward and beg to be brought down (ct 3).

5-16	Repeat action of meas 1-4 three more times.

	Repeat action of Fig I-V, holding on final ct 3 with arms extended overhead.
Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes