Tughmartneroo Kocharee (Armenia)

Tughmartneroo Kocharee

Armenia

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught by Tom Bozigian, who learned it at the Sayat Nova State Choreographic School in Yerevan. The dance is from the Daron/Taron region.

Music: GT 2002
Meter: 2/4
Formation: Lines of about 10 men, With L hand in small of back and R hand in neighbors L (behind their back)
Introduction: 4 bars, no action

Part 1

Bar 1: Jump onto both feet, L foot forward, R foot back (1), bounce twice (2, &),
Bar 2: Jump onto both feet, L foot forward, R foot back (1),  Put weight on L, lift R up behind L (2)
Bar 3: Step on ball of R to R (1), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3
Bar 5: Run R (1), L (2) in LOD
Bar 6: Run R (1) , jump on both feet with L forward, and R foot straight back (2)
Bar 7: Bounce in straddle position (1), hop on L and kick R forward (2)
Bar 8: Jump on both feet with L forward (1), Hop on L and Kick R forward (2)
Bars 9-12: repeat bars 1-4
Bar 13: Step back on R (1), hop on R, lifting L knee high (2)
Bar 14: Jump on both feet in a squat (1), straighten up with weight on L (2)
Bars 15-28: repeat bars 1-14
Bars 29-34: Repeat bars 9-14

Part 2: Transition

Bar 1-4: Put hands on waist, and do 4 Hop step steps to form a closed circle. (Hop on L, with R next to it (1), Step on R (&), Step on L (2)). End in Shoulder Hold.

Part 3: Sways

Bar 1: Sway on R to R (1), bounce on R presenting L heel to L (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork and direction
Bar 3: Hop on L, twisting R knee across L (1), Step on R to R (&), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3
Bar 5: Leap on R to R (1), Cross L over R (2)
Bar 6: Repeat bar 5
Bar 7: Squat on both feet (1), Straighten onto L and present R heel to LOD (2)
Bar 8: Turn to face RLOD, Extend L forward, Stepping on R. Clap hands above head [Note Bozigian's notes say to face out (1) Leap on L turning to face center (2)
Bars 9-16: Repeat bars 1-8

Part 4: Partners

Bars 1-6: Repeat the footwork of part 2 and add 2 more bars (i.e., 6 hop step steps) to end in two lines facing each other.
Bars 7-8: do two more hop step steps to approach partner.
Bar 9: Step back on R, Swinging arms backwards, and up over the head (1), pause (2)
Bar 10: Switch weight to the L and clasp hands above head with opposite (1), pause (2)
Bar 11-14: In each couple, the M facing center is the leader, let go of Leader's R hand, follower's left, but retain other hand. Leader do 4 hop step steps in LOD, follower do same footwork but are pulled into the main circle behind the leader, join hands in the circle. Hands drop down to V position on the 4th hop-step-step

Part 5: Faster Music

Bar 1: Facing center, Leap onto R, presenting L heel forward  (1),  hop on R touching R forward again. [Note Bozigian's original notes have this as a hop on L, followed by another hop, the the rest of the step is done on the opposite footwork to what is described here]
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork
Bar 3: Leap on R, presenting L forward (1), Leap on L presenting R forward (2)
Bar 4: Repeat bar 3
Bars 5-8: Repeat bars 1-4
Bars 9-10: Repeat bars 1-2
Bar 11: Leap onto both feet, R forward and L back and shout "Hey" (1), pause (2)

Other Notes on the web

• Page 173 of (1974) Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• http://vitrifolk.fr/descriptions/descriptions-armenie-TUGHMARTNEROO%20A%20---%20Tughmartneroo%20Kochari-Anglais.pdf

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Also spelled: Köçeri, Kótchari, Kotsari, Kotchari, tughamarteneroo

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