Valle E Dardhës (Albania) ~ Othaters

Valle E Dardhës (Moreau Version)
Albania

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught in US by Yves Moreau, who learned it from the Tirana Folk Ensemble. The dance was also taught by Steve Kotansky. On the web, there are a couple of videos of very different dances by this name.

Music: Heritage Folklore Workshop Tape 1997
Meter: 2/4 (Kotansky notates it as 4/4)
Formation: Open circle, hands in W position, hold kerchief in R hand.
Introduction: 2 bars.

Part 1

Bar 1: facing slightly in LOD, Čukče on L foot (&), Step on R (1), L (&), R (2) in LOD
Bar 2: repeat bar 1, with opposite footwork
Bar 3: Turn to face slightly RLOD and step backwards on the R, in LOD (1), Step on L backwards in LOD, slightly backing away from center (2)
Bar 4: Turn to face center, step R to R (1), Close L next to R with weight (2)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4.

Part 2

Bar 1: Facing center, drop hands with neighbors, put left hand behind back and R hand (with the kerchief forward, bend both knees, swinging R hand down across in front of body (1), Straighten knees, and bring kerchief up and out to the R (2), The kerchief essentially does a figure 8 in these two counts.
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1
Bar 3: Take hands in W position, Step on R to R (1), Touch L toe forward into the center of the circle (2)
Bar 4: Step on L to L (1), Close R, no weight (2)
Bars 5-8: repeat bars 1-4

repeat dance from the beginning until the end of the music.