Furla
(Bulgaria)
[Full notes] [Summary notes] [Other dances & the source code]
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Alternative Names
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'Фурла' is the original spelling.
'Furla' is a Latin transcription by Gergana.
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Formation
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Open circle in V-hold or basketweave hold.
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Pronunciation
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"FOU-r-la" where the 'ou' is a soft 'oo'. The 'r' is pronounced.
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Dance Structure
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(A1 + A2 + B) repeated throughout the music.
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Music Structure
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2 counts/bar, 4 bar phrases.
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Music Speed
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140 counts/min.
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Region detail
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Vlach culture in Severnyashko region.
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Source
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Gergana Pavnova in Rivieradance in Torquay, UK, 2024.
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Disclaimer:
Mistakes are quite likely in the notes and no guarantees are made as to accuracy. There may be other versions of the same dance or other dances with the same name. Music may differ, particularly in speed, introduction and duration, between performers. The division into parts, bars & counts might not be standard. These notes of the dance are freely distributable (under GPL or CC-by-sa) in so much as the note's author's contribution but the choreography and/or collection were by other people and so their copyright might apply to the dance itself. Better than using notes, go to a dance class where it is taught.
A happy lively dance with optional extra fast variations that can ny be done by some dancers whilst others do the slow variations without conflict. It is Bulgarian but feels a bit Romanian as it is Vlach & from near the border.
The traditional dance was Part A (other than the turning to face left for the first step, which is an ornamentation added by Gergana) with Part B being varied improvisations. Both parts can be done gentler or more lively variations/improvisations so the dance could be a community one with both "children" & "grannies". I prefer the fast variation of Part B as it has more interesting steps and is easier to follow as it does not cross the music.
I find it easier to teach if the difference between Part A1 & Part A2 is ignored. I also, possibly annoying the more musically able dancers, find it clearer to count as if it were 4 counts/bar (by taking pairs of musical bars) in 4 bar pairs of phrases. But I have stuck to 2/4 x 8 notation for these notes.
Style: Lively, happy, bouncy, upright. Mostly on the balls of the feet.
Introduction
Summary:
8 bars. Start with main melody instruments.
Wait through 2 phrases (8 bars, 16 counts). Start dancing when the the main melody instruments start up.
Part A1
Summary:
R across infront turning to face L, hop. L across infront turning to face R, hop. 2 heel Triple Steps forwards. R forwards turning to face centre, hop. Grapevine starting L side & R across infront. L side, hop.
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Start
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Facing centre. Weight on L foot.
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1
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1
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R across infront turning 90 deg acw to face cw around the circle.
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2
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R hop starting to turn cw.
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2
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1
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L across infront completing turning 180 deg cw to face acw around the circle.
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2
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L hop.
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3
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1
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R forwards onto the heel.
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&
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L close.
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2
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R forwards. (This bar comprises a R Triple Step forwards acw around the circle.)
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4
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Repeat bar 3 on the opposite feet (L Triple Step).
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5
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1
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R forwards turning to face the centre of the circle.
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2
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R hop.
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6
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1
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L side.
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2
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R across infront.
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7
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1
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L side.
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2
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R across behind. (With the previous bar, this comprises a Grapevine)
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8
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Part A2
Summary:
As Part A1 but end with R close touch instead of the hop.
This is simply the same as Part A1 but without the final hop in order to make it easier to transition in to Part B, especially if doing the fast version of Part B.
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1-7
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Same as Part A1 bars 1-7.
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8
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1
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Same as Part A1 bar 8 count 1 (L side).
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2
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R close without weight transfer.
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Part A fast version
Summary:
Same as Part A but double speed Grapevine.
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1-5
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Same as Part A basic version bars 1-5.
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6
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1
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L side.
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&
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R across infront.
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2
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L side.
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&
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R across behind. (This bar comprises a Grapevine at double speed.)
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7
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Repeat bar 6 (double speed Grapevine).
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8
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Same as Part A basic version bar 8.
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Part B slow version
Summary:
R fowards, L in place, L hop, R close. Mirror. R in place, L close. Quick R Triple Step in place ending heel touch L turned out; mirror. R & L in place. In forwards in 4 step hops. Out backwards in 4 quick Triple Steps zig-zagging.
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Start
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Facing centre. Weight on L foot.
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1
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1
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R forwards.
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2
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L in place.
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2
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3-4
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Repeat bars 1-2 in mirror image (L forwards, R in place, R hop, L close.)
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5
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1
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R in place.
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2
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L close. (This bar feels so forgettable, especially if doing the fast version, but it is needed so the second half of Part B fits the music.)
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6
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1
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R in place.
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&
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L in place.
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2
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R in place.
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&
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Turn L foot out to the side & touching its heel to the ground without weight transfer. (This bar is essentially a R Triple Step in place ending with a turned out L heel touch.)
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7
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Repeat bar 6 in mirror image. (L Triple Step in place ending with R turned out heel touch.)
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8
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1
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R in place.
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2
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L in place.
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9
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1
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R forwards. Can optionally stamp this step.
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2
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R hop. (The second half of Part B is very simple compared to the first half.)
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10
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Repeat bar 9 in mirror image (L forwards, L hop).
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11-12
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Repeat bars 9-10 (R forwards, R hop, L forwards, L hop).
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13
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1
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R backwards turn to face slightly acw of the direction to the centre. Optional styling of leaning slightly forwards.
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&
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L close.
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2
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R in place. (This bar is a R Triple Step backing out diagonally R.)
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14
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Repeat bar 13 in mirror image. (L Triple Step backing out diagonally L.)
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15-16
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Repeat bars 13-14. (2 more zig-zagging Triple Steps backing out.) Straighten up.
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Part B fast version
Summary:
(Quick R heel across infront, L in place, ditto across behind) x 1.5, L hop, R close. Mirror bar 1. Brush L hook across infront, L forwards. R in place, L close. Quick R Triple Step in place ending heel touch L turned out; mirror. Quick R in place, heel touch L turned out; mirror. In forwards in 4 step hops. Out backwards in 4 quick Triple Steps zig-zagging.
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Start
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Facing centre. Weight on L foot.
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1
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1
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R across infront on the heel.
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&
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L in place.
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2
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R across behind on the heel.
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&
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L in place.
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2
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1-&
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As bar 1 counts 1-& (R across infront on the heel, L in place.)
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2
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L hop (very small hop as there is not much time for it).
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&
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R close.
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3
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Repeat bar 1 in mirror image (L across infront on the heel, R in place, L across behind on the heel, R in place.)
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4
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1
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In a single move L forwards without weight transfer & brush forewards to hooked across infront of R foot.
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2
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L forwards.
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5-7
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As Part B slow version bars 5-7. (R in place, L close. Quick R Triple Step in place ending heel touch L turned out; mirror.)
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8
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1-&
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As bar 6 counts 2-& R in place. (R close, L turned out heel touch.)
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2-&
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Mirror counts 1-&. (L close, R turned out heel touch.)
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9-16
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As Part B slow version bars 9-15. Can optionally turn the 1st step (bar 9 count 1) into a brush & step.
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