Bela Rada

BELA RADA
Serbian

PRONUNCIATION: BEL-lah RAH-dah.

TRANSLATION: Pretty Rada.

SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Dick Crum, noted dance researcher, who introduced this Čačak-type dance in 1955 to folk dancers in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Bela Rada belongs to the Čačak family of dances. Music, song and dance are fundamental components in any village get-together in Yugoslavia, with dancing taking place in the central square, in the churchyard, or at any level crossroads or meadow. The Serbian people have formed a strong patriarchal way of life in a society where the group is more important than the individual. In Serbia it is customary for a man who wishes to lead a dance to pay the Gypsy violinist or accordionist, and then to name the dance he wishes to lead. Accompanied by this musician, he then gathers a line of dancers, often only other men, to his left. Later on, the women may individually join in after a nod from a man in the line or circle.

MUSIC: Festival (45rpm) KF-EP-109
Folkdancer (45rpm) MH 45-3023
Folkraft (45rpm) 1532x45
Sheet Music: Vancouver International Folk Dancers Music Book, Vol. 2., Deborah Jones, 1982.

FORMATION: Cir or open cir of mixed M and W with joined hands held down at sides in "V" pos.

METER/RHYTHM: 2/4

STEPS/STYLE: Bela Rada is a dance in 5 meas. Because the music is in 8-meas phrases, the dance is "non-concordant" with the music. Dance on the balls of the feet with the heels, which seldom touch down, just off the floor. The knees are flexed, or "soft." Take tiny steps with the feet close together (or as Mr. Crum would say, "hugging each other.")

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

Festival recording: 1 meas.
Folkdancer recording: 4 meas (8 chords).
Folkraft recording: 4 meas

THE DANCE

1 Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); step L in back of R (ct &); step R swd (ct 2); step L in back of R (ct &).

2 Step R slightly swd (ct 1); small hop on R moving slightly fwd and bringing L around in back in a reel-like motion (ct &); step L around in back of R (ct 2); small hop on L moving slightly fwd and bringing R around in back in a reel-like motion (ct &).

3 Step R around in back of L (ct 1); small hop on R moving slightly fwd and extending L low fwd (ct &); step L next to R extending R low fwd in a scissor-kick (ct 2); step R next to L extending L low fwd in a scissor-kick (ct &).

4 Step L around in back of R (ct 1); small hop on L moving slightly fwd bringing R around in back in a reel-like motion (ct &); step R around in back of L (ct 2); small hop on R moving slightly fwd and extending L low fwd (ct &).

5 Step L next to R extending R low fwd in a scissor kick (ct 1); step R next to L extending L low fwd in a scissor-kick (ct &); close L to R lowering heels to floor together (ct 2); pause (ct &).

Repeat entire dance from beg.

DANCE SEQUENCE

4 swd steps
3 step-hops
2 scissor-kicks
2 step-hops
2 scissor-kicks
1 together

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes

BELA RADA Serbian

PRONUNCIATION:	BEL-lah RAH-dah.

TRANSLATION:	Pretty Rada.

SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance from Dick Crum, noted dance researcher, who introduced this Čačak-type dance in 1955 to folk dancers in the United States.

BACKGROUND:	Bela Rada belongs to the Čačak family of dances. Music, song and dance are fundamental components in any village get-together in Yugoslavia, with dancing taking place in the central square, in the churchyard, or at any level crossroads or meadow. The Serbian people have formed a strong patriarchal way of life in a society where the group is more important than the individual. In Serbia it is customary for a man who wishes to lead a dance to pay the Gypsy violinist or accordionist, and then to name the dance he wishes to lead. Accompanied by this musician, he then gathers a line of dancers, often only other men, to his left. Later on, the women may individually join in after a nod from a man in the line or circle.

MUSIC:	Festival (45rpm) KF-EP-109 Folkdancer (45rpm) MH 45-3023 Folkraft (45rpm) 1532x45 Sheet Music: Vancouver International Folk Dancers Music Book, Vol. 2., Deborah Jones, 1982.
FORMATION:	Cir or open cir of mixed M and W with joined hands held down at sides in "V" pos.

METER/RHYTHM:	2/4

STEPS/STYLE:	Bela Rada is a dance in 5 meas. Because the music is in 8-meas phrases, the dance is "non-concordant" with the music. Dance on the balls of the feet with the heels, which seldom touch down, just off the floor. The knees are flexed, or "soft." Take tiny steps with the feet close together (or as Mr. Crum would say, "hugging each other.")


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

	Festival recording: 1 meas. Folkdancer recording: 4 meas (8 chords). Folkraft recording: 4 meas

	THE DANCE

1	Facing ctr, step R swd (ct 1); step L in back of R (ct &); step R swd (ct 2); step L in back of R (ct &).

2	Step R slightly swd (ct 1); small hop on R moving slightly fwd and bringing L around in back in a reel-like motion (ct &); step L around in back of R (ct 2); small hop on L moving slightly fwd and bringing R around in back in a reel-like motion (ct &).

3	Step R around in back of L (ct 1); small hop on R moving slightly fwd and extending L low fwd (ct &); step L next to R extending R low fwd in a scissor-kick (ct 2); step R next to L extending L low fwd in a scissor-kick (ct &).

4	Step L around in back of R (ct 1); small hop on L moving slightly fwd bringing R around in back in a reel-like motion (ct &); step R around in back of L (ct 2); small hop on R moving slightly fwd and extending L low fwd (ct &).

5	Step L next to R extending R low fwd in a scissor kick (ct 1); step R next to L extending L low fwd in a scissor-kick (ct &); close L to R lowering heels to floor together (ct 2); pause (ct &).

	Repeat entire dance from beg.

	DANCE SEQUENCE

	4 swd steps 3 step-hops 2 scissor-kicks 2 step-hops 2 scissor-kicks 1 together
Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes