Nitsa Nitsa Koukounítsa - Greece

Nitsa Nitsa Koukounítsa
Νίτσα Νίτσα Κουκουνίτσα

Siatista, Kozani Prefecture, Macedonia, Greece

Notes by Andrew Carnie, October 30, 2005, based on instruction by Elias Politis, Opa In the Desert Dance Symposium, Tucson, Arizona.

From Elias Politis commentary: “This is a satirical song of a carnival nature that is part of many parties the year around and is danced by like Skorpios dance or as a slow drawling dance.” (Σκωπτικό τραγούδι κυρίως αποκριάτικο που το συναντάμε όμως και στα διάφορα γλέντια. Χορεύεταισαν σκόρπιος ή και σαν συρτός)

Formation. Starts as a circle, no hands (use Greek “free arms”: women’s hands on hips, men’s hands up and out at shoulder level), eventually becomes free style dancing with others in the group (couples)

7/8 time (SQQ)

The Dance:

Bar 1 Lift on L (čukče) followed by a long step on R (S), step two smaller steps R, L (QQ). Direction of steps really doesn’t matter, but is usually going forward.

Bar 2 Repeat bar 1 opp. ftwk.