Svrljiški Čačak

SVRLJIŠKI ČAČAK
Serbian

PRONUNCIATION: SFERL-yeesh-kee CHAH-chahk

TRANSLATION: Čačak-type dance (Čačak means "dried mud") from Svrljig

SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Dick Crum who learned it in the early 1950s from villagers of the Svrljig area, just over the hill from the city of Niš in southeastern Serbia. Several other instructors have taught the dance in the US, including Dave Rosenberg and Larry Weiner. Carol Walker taught a variant at the 1977 California Kolo Festival

BACKGROUND: According to Dick Crum, though this unusual 11-measure dance appears to have recently fallen from the region's repetoire of dances, it adheres to the character of dances from the Svrljig area. Svrljig is situated on the river Svrljiški Timok, 30 km east of Niš, the biggest city in south Serbia. The slopes of the Svrljig Mountains are fascinating.

MUSIC: Folk Dancer (45rpm) MH-3029
Village Dances from Svrljig Jugoslavia LW-1

FORMATION: Short lines (5 to 10 dancers) of mixed M and W holding belts in an "X" pos and R arm under, or with L hand on hip and R hand resting on neighbor's forearm in "Q" pos (as if being escorted). Some dancers prefer to dance with hands simply joined and held down in "V" pos.

METER/RHYTHM: 2/4

STEPS/STYLE: LIMP STEP: Small step swd on ball of ft with knees straight (ct &); step on free ft next to supporting ft bending knees slightly (ct 1).
SYNCOPATED THREE WITH STEPS: Step swd, flexing knees, with heel slightly turned out (ct 1); straighten knees (ct &); step on free ft next to supporting ft, flexing knees (ct 2); step on free ft next to supporting ft, flexing knees (ct &).
STEP STAMP: Step slightly swd with toe turned slightly out (ct 1); stamp free ft next to supporting ft bending knees (ct 2).
The entire dance is done facing ctr with small steps which are kept close to the floor.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

1-2 INTRODUCTION - No action.

THE DANCE

1 Limp Step R twice.

2 Syncopated Three With Steps R.

3 Syncopated Three With Steps L.

4 Step Stamp R.

5 Limp Step L twice.

6 Syncopated Three With Steps L.

7 Step Stamp R.

8 Limp Step L twice.

9 Syncopated Three With Steps L.

10 Step Stamp R.

11 Step L swd, bending knees (ct 1); Limp Step R (cts &2).

Repeat entire dance, beg with the final ct & of meas 11, to end of music.

11 NOTE: Because of the speed of the music, many dancers dance Syncopated Threes With Bounces in place of Syncopated Threes With Steps:
SYNCOPATED THREES WITH BOUNCES: Step swd, flexing knees, with heel slightly turned out (ct 1); straighten knees (ct &); close free ft to supporting ft and bounce on both heels (ct 2); bounce on both heels (ct &).

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes

SVRLJIŠKI ČAČAK Serbian

PRONUNCIATION:	SFERL-yeesh-kee CHAH-chahk

TRANSLATION:	Čačak-type dance (Čačak means "dried mud") from Svrljig

SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance from Dick Crum who learned it in the early 1950s from villagers of the Svrljig area, just over the hill from the city of Niš in southeastern Serbia. Several other instructors have taught the dance in the US, including Dave Rosenberg and Larry Weiner. Carol Walker taught a variant at the 1977 California Kolo Festival

BACKGROUND:	According to Dick Crum, though this unusual 11-measure dance appears to have recently fallen from the region's repetoire of dances, it adheres to the character of dances from the Svrljig area. Svrljig is situated on the river Svrljiški Timok, 30 km east of Niš, the biggest city in south Serbia. The slopes of the Svrljig Mountains are fascinating.

MUSIC:	Folk Dancer (45rpm) MH-3029 Village Dances from Svrljig Jugoslavia LW-1

FORMATION:	Short lines (5 to 10 dancers) of mixed M and W holding belts in an "X" pos and R arm under, or with L hand on hip and R hand resting on neighbor's forearm in "Q" pos (as if being escorted). Some dancers prefer to dance with hands simply joined and held down in "V" pos.

METER/RHYTHM:	2/4

STEPS/STYLE:	LIMP STEP: Small step swd on ball of ft with knees straight (ct &); step on free ft next to supporting ft bending knees slightly (ct 1). SYNCOPATED THREE WITH STEPS: Step swd, flexing knees, with heel slightly turned out (ct 1); straighten knees (ct &); step on free ft next to supporting ft, flexing knees (ct 2); step on free ft next to supporting ft, flexing knees (ct &). STEP STAMP: Step slightly swd with toe turned slightly out (ct 1); stamp free ft next to supporting ft bending knees (ct 2). The entire dance is done facing ctr with small steps which are kept close to the floor.

MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


1-2	INTRODUCTION - No action.

	THE DANCE

1	Limp Step R twice.
2	Syncopated Three With Steps R.
3	Syncopated Three With Steps L.
4	Step Stamp R.
5	Limp Step L twice.
6	Syncopated Three With Steps L.
7	Step Stamp R.

8	Limp Step L twice.
9	Syncopated Three With Steps L.
10	Step Stamp R.

11	Step L swd, bending knees (ct 1); Limp Step R (cts &2).

	Repeat entire dance, beg with the final ct & of meas 11, to end of music.

11	NOTE: Because of the speed of the music, many dancers dance Syncopated Threes With Bounces in place of Syncopated Threes With Steps: SYNCOPATED THREES WITH BOUNCES: Step swd, flexing knees, with heel slightly turned out (ct 1); straighten knees (ct &); close free ft to supporting ft and bounce on both heels (ct 2); bounce on both heels (ct &).
Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes