Kabadayı (Turkey)

Kabadayı

Turkey

These notes ©2017, Andrew Carnie. Originally taught in the US by Bora Özkök, who learned it from Ugur Kavas. The dance is from the region of Kirklareli. The name of the dance is a title given to an honored person. Also taught by Ahmet Lüleci

Music: Solen 83 (Bora Özkök and the Sultans); Turkmen AL002
Meter: Part 1: 14/4; Parts 2&3: 6/4.
Formation: Short Lines in shoulder hold
Introduction: Bar 1 of part one starts with the Zurna. However, you actually start on count 2 of bar 5 of part 1, right before the drum roll and dance bars 6-7, just to the drum beats:

Part 1

Note, this part of the dance is in 14/4 time. But it's much easier to notate it as 7 bars of 2/4. So I'm going to break it down that way
Bar 1: Čukče on L lifting R knee up (&), Step on R in LOD, with L leg trailing high "Doggy at fire hydrant position) (1), Pause (2)
Bar 2: Čukče on R (&), Step on L in LOD, with R leg in "doggy" position (1), pause (2)
Bar 3: Čukče on L (&), Step on R in LOD, but turning to face center, L foot is behind R calf (1) Swing L foot around to front, knee up (2)
Bar 4: With L knee up, flex R knee (1),  Flex again (2)
Bar 5: Flex R knee again (1),  Bring L foot behind R and fall onto it (2)
Bar 6: Lift R knee up (during drum roll) (1), Flex L knee, down up (2)
Bar 7: Flex L knee (1), Flex L knee again (2)

repeat bars 1-7, six more times (total of 7). The last time through the dance switch from shoulder hold to pinky finger hold.

[Bora's notes include a variation on part 1, where the last three times, count 1 of bars 1, 2, 3, involve kneeling down, and touching free foot knee to the ground. As far as I know he never taught this variation to US folk dancers]

Part 2 (6/4 - medium speed)

In pinky finger hold. 
Bar 1: Step on R in LOD (1) Bounce on R foot, with L foot pointing back (&), Step on L in LOD (2), Bounce on L, with R foot pointing back (&), Step on R to R, turning to face center (3) Touch L toe next to R foot (&). Rock forward on L foot, hands roll forward pointing fingers down "Madge you're soaking in it" style, a.k.a. stealing from the cookie jar (4). Rock back in place on R foot, with arms pulling back into W position (&), Step on L slightly backwards (5), Lift R foot up slightly (&), Step R (6), L (&) in place.
Bas 2-8: repeat bar 1, 7 more times.

Part 3 (6/4 - fast speed)

Bar 1: Facing center, and moving into the center,  flick R heel up in front of L shin (1), Step on R into center (&). Flick L heel up in front of R shin (2), Step forward on L into the center (&), Flick R heel up in front of L shin (3), Step on R into center (&), Rock forward on L foot, hands roll forward pointing fingers down stealing from the cookie jar (4). Rock back in place on R foot, with arms pulling back into W position (&), Step on L backwards out of center (5), Lift R foot up slightly (&), Step R (6), L (&) in place or backing up slightly. [Bora's notes are slightly different for counts 4&, he has the left foot touching without weight on count 4, then a bouncing on the R foot while bringing the L foot back on the & count; Ahmet's notes notate these beats the way I do]
Bars 2-8: repeat bar 1, 7 more times

Ending: Lift R foot up in front and shout hey!

Other notes on the web

• http://www.socalfolkdance.com/dances/K/Kabadayi_A_Turkish.pdf

Other videos on the web:

John Chu

Other sources

• Luleci, Ahmet (1987) Unpublished dance notes
• Anonymous (n.d), Unpublished dance notes (probably Bora wrote these)

Also spelled: Kabadayi

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