Čučuk

Чучук
Skopje, Macedonia
Source:As learned by Thomas Deering from Atanas Kolarovski over the years and Pece Atanasovski at his Macedonian Folkdance Institute, Oteševo, Macedonia, July 1976.
Pronounced:CHOO-chook
Rhythm:
9/16 - Counted:

Sometimes:
 Quick  
 1
 1
2/16 		Quick  
 2
 2 &
2/16 		Quick  
 3
 3
2/16 		Slow
 4
 4 & a
3/16
Recording:Folkraft LP-15 (Zurla and Tapan)
Jugoton LSY 61392 (Pece Atanasovski Orchestra)
RTB EP 14-719 (Folk Orchestra)
RTB EP 14-714 (Zurla and Tapan)
Formation:Originally separate circles of men and women, men in the center holding shoulders, women on the outside in holding hands in "W" position.
Step Note:Čukče: Lift the heel of the supporting foot slightly before the beat, bringing it down on the beat. The ball of the foot does not leave the floor. Think "ah" when counting it in the dance. When a lift is involved, usually the lifted leg is already up and in place when the Čukče is executed.
MeasCt   STEP 1 - Beginning, Warm-up, or Introduction Step
 
11Facing center with weight on R, small Čukče on R, with L lifted low
 2,3,4Three small steps in place L, R, L
 
2REPEAT meas 1 with opposite footwork
3REPEAT meas 1
 
41Small Čukče on L in place, lifting R low
 2,3,4Facing slightly and moving R, three walking steps R, L, R
 
51,2Continue with two walking steps L, R
 3Turning to face center, Step L slightly to center
 4Step back to place onto R
 
 STEP 2 - Slow Basic Step
 
11Hop on R lifting L leg in front
 2Čukče on R
  &Step onto L in place
 3Step on R slightly forward
 4Step on L in place
 
2REPEAT meas 1 with opposite footwork
3REPEAT meas 1
 
41Facing slightly and moving R, Hop on L lifting R leg in front
 2Čukče on L in place
  &Step onto R to R
 3Leap forward onto L
 4Čukče on L in place
  &Step on forward (LOD) onto R
 
51Leap forward onto L foot
 2Čukče on L
  &Step forward onto R
 3Turning to cace center, Leap slightly forward onto L foot
 4Step back to place onto R
 
 STEP 3 - High Lifts
 
11Hop on R with L leg lifted high in front
 2Hop on R with L lifted high in front
  &Step onto L in place
 3Step on R in place
 4Leap to L in place, lifting R leg High in front
 
2REPEAT meas 1 with opposite footwork
 
31-3REPEAT meas 1, counts 1-3
 4, &Two quick steps L, R in place
 
4,5REPEAT meas 4 & 5 of Step 2
 
 STEP 4 - Basic Fast Step
 
11Leap to R in place (this is a high leap with the body)
 2Hop on R in place swinging L slightly in front of R shin
  &Step onto L in place
 3Step on R in place
 4, &Two quick steps L, R in place
 
2REPEAT meas 1 with opposite footwork
3REPEAT meas 1
 
4REPEAT meas 4 of Step 2
51Leap forward onto L foot
 2Čukče on L
  &Step forward onto R
 3Turning to cace center, Leap slightly forward onto L foot
 4Turning to face center, Step sideward R onto R foot
  &Quick Step on L behind R
 
 STEP 5 - Leaps (men only) (This step replaces 2 Fast Basic steps)
 
1-4REPEAT meas 1-4, Step 4, dropping shoulder hold on meas 4
 
51Facing slightly and moving R (LOD), Leap to L
 2Step deliberately forward (LOD) onto R
 3Squat in place with weight on both feet
 4Rise up from squat with weight on L
 
61Leap high to R foot, swinging R leg out in front and, bringing L foot up under body
 2Step deliberately onto L
 3Squat in place with weight on both feet
 4Rise up from squat with weight on L
 
7-8REPEAT meas 6 two more times (4 Squats and 3 Leaps total)
 
9-10REPEAT meas 4-5, Step 4 (Travelling LOD with a transition to the in-place step)
 
 STEP 6 - Squats and Turns (men only)
 
 As Step 5 above except Meas 5 Ct 4, and Meas 6:
 
1-4REPEAT meas 1-4, Step 4, dropping shoulder hold
 
51Facing slightly and moving R (LOD), Leap to L
 2Step deliberately forward (LOD) onto R
 3Squat in place with weight on both feet
 4Rise up from squat with weight on BOTH feet, shoulder width apart
 
61Jump up, turning one complete Turn L in place (counter-clockwise) landing on both feet on the count
 2Pause
 3Squat in place with weight on both feet
 4Rise up from squat with weight on BOTH Feet
 
7-8REPEAT meas 6 two more times turning R then L (4 Squats and 3 Turns total)
 
9-10REPEAT meas 4-5, Step 4 (Travelling LOD with a transition to the in-place step)
 
 
NOTE:  Steps 5 and 6 are not usually done consecutively. Step 4 (the basic fast step) should be done at least once between the men's show-off steps. The men can, at the leader's option, rejoin shoulder hold whild doing the basic fast step if the basic step is to be done several times.

If the line is not segregated at the beginning of the dance, the men should separate from the women and move into the center when Step 5 or Step 6 is first called. The men do not usually rejoin the women. The women should continue to do the basic fast step while the men are doing the leap or squat steps.
 
Dance Description by Tom Deering