*a Living dance is a 1st Generation dance that is still performed in the country of origin (or immigrant communities) as part of a social event like a wedding where others can participate (not for an audience) by people who learned the dance informally (from friends and relatives by observation and imitation, not in a classroom situation). For more information, click here and here.
Maleševsko Oro, named after the Maleševske Mountains is a traditional dance popular in Eastern North Macedonia, Pirin, Bulgaria, Greek Macedonia, and among expat Macedonians in Turkey. I’ve found over 20 YouTubes of ‘village’ dance events, plus several more by performance groups in North Macedonia and, especially, Bulgaria.
Music
Most music used to accompany Maleševsko Oro is instrumental, with many similar though slightly different variations. Sheet music is written in either 2/4 or 4/4, though music in 9/8 also exists. For chords and sheet music, click: https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/sheet-music/malesevsko-oro-chords/ For lyrics (Macedonian only, no translations) click: https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/lyrics-original-language/ke-odis-mome-za-voda-and-rado-le-bela-rado-two-songs-for-malesevsko-oro/
Dance in North Macedonia – Малешевско оро
N. Macedonia seems to have 2 dances they call Maleševsko Oro. Most common is what I call the
Dance in Bulgaria – Малешевско хоро
Wikipedia, in its article Macedonia (region) says: “Macedonian Bulgarians are ethnic Bulgarians who self-identify regionally as “Macedonians” (Bulgarian: Mакедонци, Makedontsi). They represent the bulk of the population of Bulgarian Macedonia (also known as “Pirin Macedonia“). They number approximately 250,000 in the Blagoevgrad Province where they are mainly situated.
Wikipedia, in its article Pirin Macedonia says: “Pirin Macedonia or Bulgarian Macedonia[Note 1] (Bulgarian: Пиринска Македония; Българска Македония) (Pirinska Makedoniya or Bulgarska Makedoniya) is the third-biggest part of the geographical region Macedonia located on the Balkan Peninsula, today in southwestern Bulgaria. This region coincides with the borders of the Blagoevgrad Oblast, adding the surrounding area of the Barakovo village from the Kyustendil Province. After World War I, Strumica and the surrounding area were broken away from the region and were ceded to Yugoslavia [italics mine DB]….The name of this region comes from the Pirin Mountains which are spread in the central part of Pirin Macedonia. The mountain name Pirin comes from Perun (Bulgarian: Перун), the highest god of the Slavic pantheon and the god of thunder and lightning.”
As noted by Wikipedia, the Pirin region used to be part of a greater Macedonian region (blue in the map below) within the Ottoman Empire. After the Ottoman defeat of 1912, Macedonia was divided between Serbia, Greece & Bulgaria.
I could find no YouTubes showing what appear to be ethnic Macedonaians dancing Maleševsko at a ‘village’ social function. However there are many YouTubes of Bulgarian performing and recreational groups dancing Maleševsko. All in the line are dancing the same steps to (mostly) recorded music – much like recreational and performing groups in the West. The “Bulgarian” Maleševsko Horo is similar to the “Basic 8×2 beat pattern” of North Macedonia, but with arm swings. The lighter, bouncier, higher than N. Macedonian steps possibly reflect the influence of ballet-trained instructors.
Dance in Greek Macedonia
As noted by Wikipedia, Greek Macedonia used to be part of a greater Macedonian region (blue in the map below) within the Ottoman Empire. After the Ottoman defeat of 1912, Macedonia was divided between Serbia, Greece & Bulgaria.
Until recently, Macedonian-speakers in Greece were forbidden to speak their language in public, for fear it might encourage a desire to re-unite with North Macedonia (and/or Bulgaria). Right-wing Greek nationalists also blocked N. Macedonia’s attempts to gain UN recognition, quietly hoping they could annex Macedonia into Greece. After decades of assurances that Greek Macedonians consider themselves Greek first, and N. Macedonia’s recognition by major powers, most Macedonians (and their governments) are content to support the status quo. Greek Macedonians are more free to dance Macedonian dances using their Macedonian names.
Dance in Turkey
During and after the above-mentioned Balkan war of 1912, many Macedonians either migrated or were expelled to Turkey, where they’ve maintained their Macedonian heritage.
Bayrampaşa, a district of Istanbul. Basic 8 beats x2. Concordant.
Teachers
Maleševo Pie (zelnik)
COMMENTS:
John Uhlemann wrote: “The basic 8-measure Maleshevsko is done all over the place, as you say, but it is not always called that. Michael Ginsburg teaches a dance he researched in Eastern Republic of Macedonia, called “Changulovo”. It is Maleshevsko, but to a specific tune. In the same village, he said, they showed him about 20 dances, all with slightly different steps and each to a particular melody, but all basically Maelshevsko. There are many videos by the very purist folk group “Leb i Vino” on Youtube showing Maleshevsko, but never calling it that. As with many places in the Balkans, people request tunes from the musicians and then dance whatever. Finally, I learned a dance from a Pirin Bulgarian (not a dance teacher at all) that he called “Pirinska Chetvorka”. it was your basic 8-count Maleshevsko, but done to any song in 7/8 divided 3+2+2. So this dance is like Syrto in Greece. You like a song, you order it, and then do the local dance.”
Folkdance Footnotes 