According to Dick Oakes, “Op Sa is a spontaneous exclamation often used while dancing. There is no exact English translation, but it is something like “whee,” “yippee,” or “ee-haw!” There are many songs with Opsa or Sa Sa in the title. They can be used for either the Serbian dance Sa sa or the Serbian-North American Opsa. The earliest Sa, Sa YouTube I could find is a recording made by Roma musician Miki Sibinović in 1976.
/Nek’ se igra ovo kolo Let’s dance this kolo,
ko ga ne bi vol’o// everyone loves it.
//kolo ide tako lako It moves so freely and easily
da zaigra moze svako// everyone can dance to it.
//Nek’ se igra ovo kolo Let’s dance this kolo,
ko ga ne bi vol’o// everyone loves it.
//kolo ide tako lako It moves so freely and easily
da zaigra moze svako// everyone can dance to it.
Chorus:
//Devojke se čuju, op sa skoči You can hear the girsl shouting: “Opsa! Dance!”
ne daju se momci, ko ce brze, The boys won’t be outdone, they want to dance faster, složije i bolje igraj do zore, op sa!// more together and better – dance till dawn, opsa!
//Nek’ se igra ovo kolo Let’s dance this kolo,
ko ga ne bi vol’o// everyone loves it.
//momci, sure, svi u kolo Boys, girls, everybody join in the kolo,
nek’ se vije naokolo// wind it around.
Chorus.
//Nek’ se igra ovo kolo Let’s dance this kolo,
ko ga ne bi vol’o.// everyone loves it.
//Zurle jece, bubanj bije The zurlas are wailing, the drum is beating,
vesele se meraklije.// and the dancers are on a high.
Chorus. Transcribed and translated by Dick Crum, July 1994.
“There have been many spin offs and variations of the tune since; most local communities dance the “sa” step to lots of tunes with the right meter and “groove”, though, so these specific melodies are not the only ones connected to the “sa” dance.”
Opsa, opsa, opsasa
Siromašan momak Poor guy
A bogata duša A rich soul
Mala igra kao cigra A little game like a cigar
Opasno me sluša He listens to me dangerously
REF.
Opsa, opsa, opsasa igra Opsa, opsa, opsasa dance
Igra malena lijevo, desno Dance small left, right
Jedan, dva živo, živo, opsasa (x2) One, two live, live, opsasa!
Ko leti visoko When it flies high
Uvijek nisko pada It always falls low
Mala igra kao čigra A little game like a tern
Hoće da nastrada He wants to get hurt
Ko godine broji Who counts the years
Starosti se boji He is afraid of old age
Mala igra kao čigra A little game like a tern
Ništa se ne boji He is not afraid of anything
Source: https://tekstomanija.com/mahir-burekovic-opsa-sa/ Translation: Google
Opsa music is also considered Čoček music. Čoček can be danced in kolo formation, or as a solo dance. Here’s an Opsa song with solo Čoček dancing.
Ludnal e pak nashiyat svyat, Our world is crazy again,
vsichko e dens, pop i rap. it’s all dance, pop and rap.
Khaĭde na bas, che v nash’te sŭrtsa Let’s bet that in our hearts
oshte zvuchi: Op-sa, op-sa, op-sa! also sounds: Op-sa, op-sa, op-sa!
Malko nazad da poglednem sega, Let’s look back a little now,
ritŭma znaem, nyama shega. we know the rhythm, no joke.
Maniya strashna e tova, Mania is scary,
losho nyama, khaĭde ela. Not bad, come on.
Stiga mechti, fars i lŭzhi, Enough dreams, farces and lies,
vreme za tantsi e nali? time for dancing isn’t it?
Nyama tabu v nash’te dushi There is no taboo in our souls
i oshte zvuchi: Op-sa, op-sa, op-sa! and it also sounds: Op-sa, op-sa, op-sa!
Source: YouTube posting, Translation: Google
Sa from Bujanovac
A choreography by Steve Kotansky to this Romani music:
Dželem, Devla,čhaja te mangav, Romani translation unavailable
čhaja te mangav, romnja ke tela.
Ola kuda, aj van ki daj,
anke pečhaja, ona na Devla.
Refrain: Marov Suzo, marovčhaje bre,
i si ma mig e, amen khel, amen.
Marov Suzo, marovčhaje bre,
k'avel o dive, amen khel, amen.
So se romale, e Suza mange na de,
me voli ma lasa, si putri breš.
Pe voli ma, aj ne ola,
na šti romalen, ništa te kheren.
Folkdance Footnotes 