*1st Generation dance. A dance that developed in a traditional way – not ‘taught’ by a teacher or choreographer, but ‘learned’ by observing and imitating others in your “village”, where the village’s few dances were the only dances anyone knew. It usually is ‘generic’ – the dance pattern is fairly simple and not tied to any particular piece of music. The dance phrase may or may not match any musical phrase, but the music’s rhythm must be suitable for performing the footwork. This dance may have many variations, but they’re performed at the whim or inspiration of the leader or (sometimes) any other dancer so long as it doesn’t interfere with the flow of neighboring dancers. For more, click here, here, and here.
Music called Indijski čoček
There are LOTS of recordings of instrumental music in the Balkans called Indijski Čoček. Many different melodies. I suspect “Indijski” refers more to a vague notion of “like India” than to anything more specific.
The dance Indijski čoček
In 1997 Steve Kotansky introduced a dance he called Indijski čoček.
I have spent hours looking for YouTubes showing dances in the Balkans called Indijski čoček, but without success. I did find a Romani wedding in Kočani, but they danced only 3-measure T-6-style čočeks. However just because I couldn’t find a Balkan YouTube doesn’t mean Indijski čoček isn’t danced there. Kotansky indicates it could be danced to “any good medium-tempo Čoček”, and the form – a standard 3-measure čoček with added steps to make it 5-measures – is not unlike other Balkan dances, and is unlike standard multi-part choreographies created for recreational folk dancers. I’m calling it a 1st Generation dance.
There are many YouTubes of recreational folk dancers doing Kotansky’s dance he called Indijski Čoček.
COMMENT:
Rick King wrote:
I just read your discussion of the popular dances of Stockton 2021 and your discussion of Indiiski Cocek. Steve Kotansky isn’t the only one who’s taught this dance. Sani Rifati (of Voice of Roma) taught it also and called it Kocanska Gajda (which from what John Uhleman said makes better sense than Indiiski Cocek). He used wild, high energy, fast, Roma music though, so for practical purposes it’s a different dance!
Sani is not into choreographing. I think it’s safe to say this is a living dance.
Don replies: I looked up Kočanska Gaida and found YouTubes of bands playing a tune by that name, but none of people dancing to it.
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