Valle Nuseve Nga Korça

History

A women's dance from Korça in south-east Albania. I learned this dance from Liz Hammer in 2011.
The name means Bride's dance from Korça but the music comes from Tepelenë in the Labëria region of Albania.

Rhythm

The music is in 4/4, danced as slow-slow (2-2) or slow-quick-quick (2-1-1).

Steps

Start in a line in a W hold, facing right of centre.

First part

Take a slow step to the side with the right, then a slow step across in front with the left.

Facing centre, step to the side with the right (slow), cross behind with the left (quick), then replace the right (quick). Repeat this to the left.

Point the right foot forward (slow), step to the side with the right (quick), then cross in front with the left (quick).

Do the first part four times

Second part

Take two slow steps to do a complete turn to the right, travelling a little. Step to the side with the right (slow), then point the left foot in front and a little across (slow).

Step to the side with the left (slow), cross behind with the right (slow), step to the side with the left (slow). Step to the right and a little behind with the right (quick), then cross in front with the left (quick).

Step to the side with the right (slow), cross in front with the left (slow), step to the side with the right (slow), point the left foot in front and a little across (slow).

Step to the side with the left (slow), cross behind with the right (slow), step to the side with the left (slow), touch close with the right (slow).

Do the second part once.

Liz taught this dance with a third part:
End the second part with a step close rather than a touch close with the right.
Four grapevine steps to the left, starting with left to the side, right crossing behind. On the fourth time end with a touch across in front with the right rather than a step.
Repeat to the right but end with the left closing beside the right.
The sequence is then first-second-third-second, the second part being like a 'chorus' between the first and third parts which alternate.
I prefer doing just the first two parts.

There is an 8-bar introduction, the dance starts with the singing.

Music

Ali Pasha from Grupi Tepelenes.

Dance description by Andy Bettis - May 2012