Raca
(Serbia)
[Full notes] [Summary notes] [Other dances & the source code]
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Alternative Names
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'Raca' is the original spelling (transcribed into the Latin alphabet).
'Rahtsa' is a phonetic English transcription.
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Region
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Vaške region.
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Formation
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Short lines in V-hold with leader at the right hand end.
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Dance Structure
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((2 x A) + (2 x B)) repeated throughout the music or as leader calls.
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Music Structure
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4 counts/bar, 9 bar phrases.
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Music Speed
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190 counts/min.
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Source
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Ben Koopmanschap in his weekend course for Balkanplus in London, 2008.
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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 by Ben Koopmanschap.
A fast lively party-like dance with 2 variations.
He taught it to two tunes. The first was more structured (but still lively) with a clear alternation between two different phrases, each in blocks of two, to which the two parts of the dance were matched (so the dance was structured Part A twice then Part B twice repeatedly). The second was a 'party version' played more ad-lib to which the leader of each individual line would decide on & call whichever variation they wanted next.
Style: Lively, jolly, big steps, lots of travelling. Leader can occaisionally joke around & try to mislead followers.
Introduction
Summary:
9 bars.
Wait through 1 phrase (9 bars) of music. (In the structured version this means that the first time through Part A is only done once.)
Part A
Summary:
Starting R foot to the R in step-hop x 2, triple-step & hop. Mirror. (Cherkessia R ending with hop. Mirror.) x 2. Back bicycle R, R stamp x 2, pause.
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Start
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Facing along the line to the R Weight on L foot.
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1
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1
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R forwards along the direction of the line.
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2
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R hop bringing L foot up to beside mid R calf.
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3-4
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Repeat counts 1-2 on the opposite feet (L forwards, L hop).
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2
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1
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R forwards along the direction of the line.
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2
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L forwards likewise.
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3
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R forwards likewise.
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4
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R hop.
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3-4
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Turn 180 deg acw to face L along the line and repeat bars 1-2 in mirror image (travel forwards to the L starting with L foot in (step, hop) x 2, step x 3, hop).
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5
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1
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R to the side facing the forwards perpendicular to the line (by turning 90 deg cw).
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2
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L across infront.
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3
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R in place.
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4
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L lift infront. The leg goes up to the upper leg being about 15 deg below the horizontal and the lower leg approximately vertical. (Together with the 3 previous steps this comprises a Cherkessia that ends with a lift.)
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6
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Repeat bar 5 in mirror image (a Cherkessia comprising L to the side, R across infront, L in place, R lift) without the turn to face forwards (not needed as already facing that way).
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7-8
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Repeat bars 5-6 (Cherkessias R & L so it is 4 Cherkessias in total) without the turn to face forwards (not needed as already facing that way).
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9
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1
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R lift infront in a big backwards bicycling motion the plane perpendicular to the line.
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2
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R close with a flat footed stamp without weight transfer.
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3
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Repeat count 2 (R stamp).
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4
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Pause.
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Part B
Summary:
As Part A but all travelling to the R & bars 6-8 replaced with (high step & close L, ditto R, (L side, R close) x 3.5, pause).
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Start
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Facing along the line to the R Weight on L foot.
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1-2
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As Part A bars 1-2 (travel forwards to the R starting with R foot in (step, hop) x 2, step x 3, hop).
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3-4
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As Part A bars 3-4 but without the change of direction (repeat bars 1-2 on the opposite feet but still travelling to the R).
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5
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As Part A bar 5 (a Cherkessia comprising R to the side, L across infront, R in place, L lift) facing in the direction of the forwards perpendicular of the line.
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6
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1-2
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L close onto flat foot via a high step (intermediate position has upper leg about 45 deg below the horizontal and lower leg vertical, close is on count 2).
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3-4
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Repeat counts 1-2 in mirror image (R high step & close).
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7
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1
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L to the side flat footed with a low (almost shuffling) step.
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2
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R close likewise.
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3-4
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Repeat counts 1-2 (L side, R close).
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8
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1-3
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Repeat bar 7 counts 1-3 (L side, R close, L side).
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4
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Pause.
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9
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As Part A bar 9 (back bicycle R, R stamp x 2, pause).
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