Baiduska
Baiduska is a circular dance having a six-beat rhythm; it's one of the favourite dances of people from Eastern Romylia. Since the dance is widespread, many variations can be found throughout the Thrace-Macedonian area.
Different theories are explaining the origin of the name of the dance. If the word has Slavic origin it means going straight, in a straight line, whereas if the origin of the word is Turkish it means a man who does not walk straight, someone who is limping without being lame.
Baiduska is a symbolic dance which, according to the leading (dominant) theory, represents a battle tactic with its sequence of steps. From this point of view it is considered a war dance; the threatening cry (battle-cry) of the dancers confirms the battle character of the dance.
Holding:
It is a mixed circular dance, where hands are held palm-to-palm. The dancers either keep the hands low (when the arms are straight and swinging, for steps 11 to 20) or high (bent at the elbow, from steps 1 to 10). <br /> <em>Clarification concerning the positioning of the arms:</em> In the second sequence of 10 counts, the arms are straight and forward on the 13th count, straight and backwards on the 15th counts, forward again on the 17th count and back once more on the 19th count. In the counts in between (14th, 16th, 18th), the arms are mid-way, in the process of swinging from forward to backward. [or from directly thrust downwards to swinging forward on count 12, and from backwards to being bent again on count 20). The arms should be relaxed at the shoulder, so the swinging is not mechanical.
Steps:
Three limp steps are made towards the left along the circumference of the circle, where each step covers 2 counts.
Three limp steps are performed towards the left, along the circumference of
the circle, where each step covers 2 counts.
1. The right leg steps close to and in front of the left leg, clockwise along the circumference of the circle, while the left leg bends at the knee and is slightly raised behind the right leg. Meanwhile, the arms are bent at
the elbow, moving circularly.
2. The left leg steps in place, slightly behind and to the left of the right foot. The arms are still bent at the elbow and moving circularly.
This sequence is danced another two times, until the 6th count, during which
the arms will have moved circularly three times, reflecting the movement of
the legs. The trunk of the body is turned slightly to the left.
7. The trunk and toes are face the centre of the circle, and the left leg takes a bounce/step on the spot, while the right leg is raised slightly, bent at the knee. Meanwhile the arms are kept bent at the elbow, where palms
are held at shoulder height.
8. The right foot steps on the spot (next to the left foot).
9. The right foot takes a bounce/step on the spot, while the left foot is raised slightly, bent at the knee.
10. The left foot steps on the spot (next to the left foot).
11-12. On the 11th count, the right leg steps emphatically in front of and slightly to the left of the left leg, while the left leg, bent at the knee, is raised slightly. With similar emphasis to the legs movement, the arms are straightened and thrust downwards. On the 12th count, the left leg steps back on the ground, while the right leg is simultaneously raised and the trunk is turning towards the opposite direction (anti-clockwise) along the circumference of the circle. During these steps, the trunk, that faces clockwise, suddenly changes direction to face now to the right.
13. A second skip/step is taken with the left foot while the right foot is raised and kept almost straight (just slightly bent at the knee). The arms are kept straight and swung forward up to shoulder height.
14. The right foot steps down, still following the momentum of the dance in the anticlockwise direction, while the arms are kept straight and swung backwards.
15. A skip/step is taken with the right foot, while the left foot is raised and kept almost straight (just slightly bent at the knee). The arms are returning from their backward motion and are starting to swing forward
again.
16. The left foot steps down towards the momentum and anticlockwise direction of the dance.
17-18. Same as in counts 13-14.
19-10. Same as in counts 15-16.
Different theories are explaining the origin of the name of the dance. If the word has Slavic origin it means going straight, in a straight line, whereas if the origin of the word is Turkish it means a man who does not walk straight, someone who is limping without being lame.
Baiduska is a symbolic dance which, according to the leading (dominant) theory, represents a battle tactic with its sequence of steps. From this point of view it is considered a war dance; the threatening cry (battle-cry) of the dancers confirms the battle character of the dance.
Holding:
It is a mixed circular dance, where hands are held palm-to-palm. The dancers either keep the hands low (when the arms are straight and swinging, for steps 11 to 20) or high (bent at the elbow, from steps 1 to 10). <br /> <em>Clarification concerning the positioning of the arms:</em> In the second sequence of 10 counts, the arms are straight and forward on the 13th count, straight and backwards on the 15th counts, forward again on the 17th count and back once more on the 19th count. In the counts in between (14th, 16th, 18th), the arms are mid-way, in the process of swinging from forward to backward. [or from directly thrust downwards to swinging forward on count 12, and from backwards to being bent again on count 20). The arms should be relaxed at the shoulder, so the swinging is not mechanical.
Steps:
Three limp steps are made towards the left along the circumference of the circle, where each step covers 2 counts.
Three limp steps are performed towards the left, along the circumference of
the circle, where each step covers 2 counts.
1. The right leg steps close to and in front of the left leg, clockwise along the circumference of the circle, while the left leg bends at the knee and is slightly raised behind the right leg. Meanwhile, the arms are bent at
the elbow, moving circularly.
2. The left leg steps in place, slightly behind and to the left of the right foot. The arms are still bent at the elbow and moving circularly.
This sequence is danced another two times, until the 6th count, during which
the arms will have moved circularly three times, reflecting the movement of
the legs. The trunk of the body is turned slightly to the left.
7. The trunk and toes are face the centre of the circle, and the left leg takes a bounce/step on the spot, while the right leg is raised slightly, bent at the knee. Meanwhile the arms are kept bent at the elbow, where palms
are held at shoulder height.
8. The right foot steps on the spot (next to the left foot).
9. The right foot takes a bounce/step on the spot, while the left foot is raised slightly, bent at the knee.
10. The left foot steps on the spot (next to the left foot).
11-12. On the 11th count, the right leg steps emphatically in front of and slightly to the left of the left leg, while the left leg, bent at the knee, is raised slightly. With similar emphasis to the legs movement, the arms are straightened and thrust downwards. On the 12th count, the left leg steps back on the ground, while the right leg is simultaneously raised and the trunk is turning towards the opposite direction (anti-clockwise) along the circumference of the circle. During these steps, the trunk, that faces clockwise, suddenly changes direction to face now to the right.
13. A second skip/step is taken with the left foot while the right foot is raised and kept almost straight (just slightly bent at the knee). The arms are kept straight and swung forward up to shoulder height.
14. The right foot steps down, still following the momentum of the dance in the anticlockwise direction, while the arms are kept straight and swung backwards.
15. A skip/step is taken with the right foot, while the left foot is raised and kept almost straight (just slightly bent at the knee). The arms are returning from their backward motion and are starting to swing forward
again.
16. The left foot steps down towards the momentum and anticlockwise direction of the dance.
17-18. Same as in counts 13-14.
19-10. Same as in counts 15-16.