Čérni Potök

ČÉRNI POTÖK
Slovenian-Italian

PRONUNCIATION: CHAIR-nee poh-TEUK

TRANSLATION: Black brook

SOURCE: Dick Oakes learned this dance from Stephen Kotansky who learned it in Val Resia, Italy, and taught it to folk dancers at the 1984 San Diego State University Folk Dance Conference.

BACKGROUND: The Rozjanska Dolina (Val de Resia -- Resija in Slovenian) is a valley just across the Slovenian border in northeastern Italy. Because of it's isolated location among high mountains, the people have retained an archaic dialect of the Slovenian language. They consider it an ancient heritage, regardless of the artifical location of the border. The black brook (or creek) is a local place of "magical/ritual" significance.

MUSIC: Helidon (LP) FLP 03-006, side B, band 1.

FORMATION: Cpls or trios (2 across from 1) in a contra line. Cpls need not be of the opp sex. It is not uncommon for M to dance together. Steve's informants consider these dances to be more solo in nature, although they are always danced in pairs or trios. The following are the compass slots referred to in the description:

METER/RHYTHM: 5/4

STEPS/STYLE: M movements are freestyle and relaxed, matching a subtle flexing bouncy swagger with movement. M arms are at sides and move with a natural swing or slight lift to the side as the upper body sways. W are more subdued than the M and take smaller steps with knees closer together. W hands hold skirt out low to sides.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

1-2 After 10 cts, begin with low melody.

MEN'S STEP

High Melody (Turning in place and ending)

1 Standing in S slot, facing ptr (N), beginning to turn CCW to L, step L to face NW (ct 1); step R to face SW (ct 2); step L to face SE (ct 3); step R to face NE (ct 4); step L to face NW (ct 5).

2 Continuing to turn CCW, step R to face SW (ct 1); step L to face SE (ct 2); step R to face NE (ct 3); step L to face N (ct 4); lift slightly on L (ct &); stamp R with wt to face NW (ct 5).

Low Melody (Turn and cross over)

3 Turning CCW to L, step L to face SW (ct 1); step R to face E (ct 2); with back to ptr and crossing over and exchanging places, step L to L (ct 3); close R to L (ct &); turning CCW to face N, step fwd L (ct 4); step R to face W (ct 5).

4 Step L to face S and face ptr (ct 1); turning CW to R, step R to face W (ct 2); with back to ptr and crossing over and exchanging places, step L to L (ct 3); close R to L (ct &); turning CCW to face S, step fwd L (ct 4); step R to face E (ct 5).

Repeat meas 1-4.

WOMEN'S STEP

High Melody (Turning in place and ending)

1 Standing in N slot facing ptr (S), step R slightly back and turn to face W (ct 1); beginning to turn CCW to L, step L in place (ct 2); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face E (ct &); continuing to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct 3); step L in place (ct &); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face W (ct 4); transfer wt onto R (ct &); contining to turn CCW, step on L in place (ct 5); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face E (ct &).

2 Continuing to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct 1); step L in place (ct &); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face W (ct 2); continung to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct &); step L to face E (ct 3); turning CW to R to face ptr (S), dance and accented step fwd on R (ct 4); dance an accented step fwd on L (ct &); stamp fwd R with wt (ct 5).

Low Melody (Turn and cross over)

3 Turning CCW to L, step L to face NE (ct 1); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L (ct &); continuing to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct 2); step slightly fwd L to face ptr (S) (ct &); turning CCW to face E, step on R to R to cross over and exchange places with ptr (ct 3); step L across and behind R (ct &); touch ball of R slightly to R (ct 4); turning CW to R to face S, step fwd R (ct &); continuing to turn CW, step L over R (ct 5); pivot on L to face E (ct &).

4 Turning CCW to L to face ptr (N), step slightly back on R (ct 1); turning CCW to face W, step L in place (ct 2); step R to R to cross over back to place (ct 3); step L across and behind R (ct &); touch ball of R slightly to R (ct 4); turning CW to R to face N, step fwd R (ct &); continuing to turn CW, step L over R (ct 5); pivot on L to face ptr (S) (ct &).

Repeat meas 1-4.

LAST TIME THROUGH

The end of the dance comes after meas 2 and is indicated by one more playing of the High Melody. Turn one more time and end by stamping on cts 4,&,5.

ČÉRNI POTÖK
Slovenia-Italy

/ Da lipi möj Čérni potök, /
la li la le, la li li le,
da lipi möj Čérni potök

/ an rúdi lëpo zalani /
la li la le, la li li le,
an rúdi lëpo zalani

/ uod mája dárdu jásane /
la li la le, la li li le,
uod mája dárdu jásane.

/ Da bódi šuš libój močà, /
la li la le, la li li le,
da bódi šuš libój močà.

/ an rüdi lépo zalani /
la li la le, la li li le,
an rüdi lëpo zalani

/ nu an výnáša šćándule /
la li la le, la li li le,
nu an výnáša šćándule

/ nu šćájo to uomájano, /
la li la le, la li li le,
nu šćájo to uomájano.

/ Nu an vynësël lipa mo, /
la li la le, la li li le,
nu an vynësël lipa mo.

/ ja si bil tu, ke si jo jel /
la li la le, la li li le,
ja si bil tu, ke si jo jel

/ nu jsa to bila lipa ma /
la li la le, la li li le,
nu jsa to bila lipa ma.

/ Souá jo téla, jo mauá, /
la li la le, la li li le,
souá jo tëla, jo mauá.

/ da lipi möj Čérni potök, /
la li la le, la li li le,
da lipi möj Čérni potök.

My beautiful black brook.
la li la le, la li li le,
My beautiful black brook.

still a nice green
la li la le, la li li le,
still a nice green.

from May to autumn,
la li la le, la li li le,
from May to autumn.

Be it dry or wet,
la li la le, la li li le,
Be it dry or wet,

It's always a nice green.
la li la le, la li li le,
It's always a nice green.

and under the overhangs
la li la le, la li li le,
and under the overhangs

it carries the fish,
la li la le, la li li le,
it carries the fish.

It also brought my Lubo.
la li la le, la li li le,
It also brought my Lubo.

Yeah, it was there I was caught
la li la le, la li li le,
Yeah, it was there I was caught

and it was also my beloved
la li la le, la li li le,
and it was also my beloved

That I wanted, that I have.
la li la le, la li li le,
That I wanted, that I have.

My beautiful black brook.
la li la le, la li li le,
My beautiful black brook.

Copyright © 2012 by Dick Oakes

ČÉRNI POTÖK Slovenian-Italian

PRONUNCIATION:	CHAIR-nee poh-TEUK

TRANSLATION:	Black brook

SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance from Stephen Kotansky who learned it in Val Resia, Italy, and taught it to folk dancers at the 1984 San Diego State University Folk Dance Conference.

BACKGROUND:	The Rozjanska Dolina (Val de Resia -- Resija in Slovenian) is a valley just across the Slovenian border in northeastern Italy. Because of it's isolated location among high mountains, the people have retained an archaic dialect of the Slovenian language. They consider it an ancient heritage, regardless of the artifical location of the border. The black brook (or creek) is a local place of "magical/ritual" significance.

MUSIC:	Helidon (LP) FLP 03-006, side B, band 1.

FORMATION:	Cpls or trios (2 across from 1) in a contra line. Cpls need not be of the opp sex. It is not uncommon for M to dance together. Steve's informants consider these dances to be more solo in nature, although they are always danced in pairs or trios. The following are the compass slots referred to in the description:

METER/RHYTHM:	5/4

STEPS/STYLE:	M movements are freestyle and relaxed, matching a subtle flexing bouncy swagger with movement. M arms are at sides and move with a natural swing or slight lift to the side as the upper body sways. W are more subdued than the M and take smaller steps with knees closer together. W hands hold skirt out low to sides.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION

1-2	After 10 cts, begin with low melody.

	MEN'S STEP

	High Melody (Turning in place and ending)

1	Standing in S slot, facing ptr (N), beginning to turn CCW to L, step L to face NW (ct 1); step R to face SW (ct 2); step L to face SE (ct 3); step R to face NE (ct 4); step L to face NW (ct 5).

2	Continuing to turn CCW, step R to face SW (ct 1); step L to face SE (ct 2); step R to face NE (ct 3); step L to face N (ct 4); lift slightly on L (ct &); stamp R with wt to face NW (ct 5).

	Low Melody (Turn and cross over)

3	Turning CCW to L, step L to face SW (ct 1); step R to face E (ct 2); with back to ptr and crossing over and exchanging places, step L to L (ct 3); close R to L (ct &); turning CCW to face N, step fwd L (ct 4); step R to face W (ct 5).

4	Step L to face S and face ptr (ct 1); turning CW to R, step R to face W (ct 2); with back to ptr and crossing over and exchanging places, step L to L (ct 3); close R to L (ct &); turning CCW to face S, step fwd L (ct 4); step R to face E (ct 5).

	Repeat meas 1-4.

	WOMEN'S STEP

	High Melody (Turning in place and ending)

1	Standing in N slot facing ptr (S), step R slightly back and turn to face W (ct 1); beginning to turn CCW to L, step L in place (ct 2); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face E (ct &); continuing to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct 3); step L in place (ct &); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face W (ct 4); transfer wt onto R (ct &); contining to turn CCW, step on L in place (ct 5); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face E (ct &).

2	Continuing to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct 1); step L in place (ct &); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L to face W (ct 2); continung to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct &); step L to face E (ct 3); turning CW to R to face ptr (S), dance and accented step fwd on R (ct 4); dance an accented step fwd on L (ct &); stamp fwd R with wt (ct 5).

	Low Melody (Turn and cross over)

3	Turning CCW to L, step L to face NE (ct 1); pivot on L and step R slightly to R of L (ct &); continuing to turn CCW, transfer wt onto R (ct 2); step slightly fwd L to face ptr (S) (ct &); turning CCW to face E, step on R to R to cross over and exchange places with ptr (ct 3); step L across and behind R (ct &); touch ball of R slightly to R (ct 4); turning CW to R to face S, step fwd R (ct &); continuing to turn CW, step L over R (ct 5); pivot on L to face E (ct &).

4	Turning CCW to L to face ptr (N), step slightly back on R (ct 1); turning CCW to face W, step L in place (ct 2); step R to R to cross over back to place (ct 3); step L across and behind R (ct &); touch ball of R slightly to R (ct 4); turning CW to R to face N, step fwd R (ct &); continuing to turn CW, step L over R (ct 5); pivot on L to face ptr (S) (ct &).

	Repeat meas 1-4.

	LAST TIME THROUGH

	The end of the dance comes after meas 2 and is indicated by one more playing of the High Melody. Turn one more time and end by stamping on cts 4,&,5.