Baba Djurdja

БАБА ЃУРЃУА
Macedonia (Skopje Area)
Baba Djurdja (grandmother Georgia) is named after an old woman who danced to save a young girl from the hands of the Turks. Near the end of the Turkish occupation of the Balkans, when the situation was very chaotic, some Turks would raid villages and steal what they could. They would then ask the village girls to do a dance for them. In one such instance, Baba Djurdja danced instead and this dance is what the Turks saw. It is still done with a slight limping style, especially at the beginning when the music is slower.
Source: As learned by Tom Deering from Atanas Kolarovski and Pece Atanasovski.
Rhythm: 7/16 - Counted: 
       Slow,  Slow,  Quick,  Slow
         1      2      3       4
        2/16   2/16   1/16    2/16
This rhythm was referred to by one Macedonian musician as an "inside-out seven."
Recordings:    RTB LP 1394: Pece Atanasovski Orchestra
Folkraft LP-24: Two Gajdas and Tapan
Balkan Arts BA-US-1001: Novo Selo Orchestra
Formation: Originally a women's dance, now danced in mixed lines with arms down ("V" position).
Meas Ct   BASIC STEP
 
The very first measure of the dance is danced with the following pattern only once, although it is the basic moving step for the rest of the dance. The first measure of each step repeat is noted at the end of the pattern.

(1)1 Facing slightly and moving R, small Leap forward onto L ft
2 Step forward onto R ft, bending knees
3 Springing up off of R, Step on L ft replacing R
4 Step forward onto R ft
This step looks somewhat like a chasse--it is meant to imitate the old woman, Baba Djurdja.
 
2-3 REPEAT measure 1 twice more
 
41 Turning to face center, Leap slightly forward onto L ft
2 Step back and slightly R onto R ft in place, Lifting L leg low
3 Rise up to ball of R ft
4 Come down to normal R ft
 
51 Hop on R ft
2 Leap to L ft beside R Lifting R leg low
     (Switch lifted leg)
3 Rise up to ball of L ft
4 Come down to normal L ft
 
6 REPEAT measure 5 with opposite footwork
7 REPEAT measure 5
 
11 Turning slightly to face R, Hop on L ft lifting R across L shin
2 Moving R (LOD), Step forward onto R ft, bending knees
3 Springing up off of R ft, Step on L ft replacing R ft
4 Step forward onto R ft
 
  VARIATION - Usually done as the music speeds up
 
1-3 REPEAT measures 1-3 of the Basic Step
 
41 Facing center, Leap slightly forward onto L ft
2 Step back and slightly R onto R ft in place
3 Small Leap to L ft in front of R ft
4 Step on R ft in place
 
51 Hop on R ft, lifting L leg
2 Slight Step L onto L ft
3 Leap to R ft directly in front of L ft
4 Step on L ft in place
 
6 REPEAT measure 5 with opposite footwork
7 REPEAT measure 5
 
To either the Basic step or the Variation the leader can add a single clockwise turn. The turn is initiated on count 1 of the fourth measure, and continues throughout most of the measure with no change of step work.
 
Dance Description by Tom Deering