Bulgarian folk dance regions: Trakija (Thrace)

Courtesy of www.eliznik.co.uk

Thracian style is perhaps the most deceptive Bulgarian dance style. It is often the first Bulgarian dance style that western folk dancers are exposed to in dances such as Pravo Trakijsko Horo or Trakijska Ruchenitsa. It appears a relatively easy style to learn, but it takes a great deal of practice to really dance the dances from this region with the smoothly flowing, graceful movements evident when watching both men and women who have been born in this area, and it is a style that is easily lost.

The most important key to Thracian style is to dance with relaxed knees. Steps are taken onto the whole foot, with the body weight centered over the feet. Hands are held in "W" hold or low hold or are used for smooth flowing arm movements.

Dances are based mainly on a 2/4 rhythm especially in Eastern Thrace. Irregular rhythms such as 5/8, 7/16 and 9/16 are more common in Western Thrace especially in the area close to the Šop region. The tropoli (tapping) step is found only in Eastern Thrace (Stara Zagora, Sliven, Yambol Districts) and is danced only by men. Women dance with a less flamboyant style than the men. Pair dances are more common in Trakija than other regions.

The Thracian Region extends into Greece and dances from the Greek part of Thrace have similar characteristics to those from the Bulgarian part e.g. the Greek dance Zonoradiko is the same basic dance as Pravo Trakijsko.