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|Body= | |Body=Kopachkata is a dynamic and energetic dance performed by the best male dancers of the village of Dramche in the region of Pijanec. It is performed at weddings, public gatherings, and religious holidays. | ||
An old folktale from the Malesevija region of Macedonia states that Dimna Juda was a fairy witch who built a palace on the Vlaina Mountain. When she entered the village of Kratevo, she demanded to be given three bachelors, three maidens, and three children. In exchange for this small token, she promised not to put a curse on the village. | |||
In response, the villagers tried to bargain with her, offering gold to the bachelors, silver to the maidens, and pearls to the children. She reacted in anger by taking instead 100 bachelors, 100 maidens, and 100 babies as a result. While the maidens danced the Oro and the children picked xeranthemums (wildflowers native to southern Europe that symbolize the spirit of eternity and immortality), her bachelors were forced to build her palace. | |||
The dance was introduced to Tanec, the national folklore group in North Macedonia, by the village dancers. The original name of the dance was Sitnata. Tanec changed the name to Kopacka, which then became so famous that the villagers adopted the Kopacka name as the name of the dance and of their group so that everyone would know where this dance originated from. | |||
A combination of two songs is used for this dance: Dimna Juda for the slow and walking parts, and Dervisko Duso (Visko) for the fast parts. This fast-paced dance involves jumping, side movements, and scissors movements. The dancers hold their belts with their left hand over their right hand and dance in a half-circle with a 2/4 rhythm. Drummers, a fiddle, and sometimes a tamboura lute or bagpipes, accompany the dance in a semicircle. | |||
For the local communities, also the wider Pijanec region the Kopachkata dance is a symbol of cultural identity. This fast dance mimics the tasks of the farmer, such as digging, threshing, and hoeing the ground. | For the local communities, also the wider Pijanec region the Kopachkata dance is a symbol of cultural identity. This fast dance mimics the tasks of the farmer, such as digging, threshing, and hoeing the ground. | ||
As of today, with its village-style steps and technique, it is still popular in eastern Macedonia and is widely used by exhibition groups there. Even in Serbia, Kopačka is danced as a version of the Bulgarian dance Kopanica. The dance is still performed at weddings, in public gatherings, and during religious holidays. | As of today, with its village-style steps and technique, it is still popular in eastern Macedonia and is widely used by exhibition groups there. Even in Serbia, Kopačka is danced as a version of the Bulgarian dance Kopanica. The dance is still performed at weddings, in public gatherings, and during religious holidays. | ||
|Subject=dance, Ritual | |Subject=dance, Ritual | ||
|Country=Republic of Macedonia | |Country=Republic of Macedonia | ||
|SDG=(11) Sustainable Cities and Communities | |SDG=(11) Sustainable Cities and Communities | ||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 08:49, 3 May 2022
Kopachkata is a dynamic and energetic dance performed by the best male dancers of the village of Dramche in the region of Pijanec. It is performed at weddings, public gatherings, and religious holidays.
An old folktale from the Malesevija region of Macedonia states that Dimna Juda was a fairy witch who built a palace on the Vlaina Mountain. When she entered the village of Kratevo, she demanded to be given three bachelors, three maidens, and three children. In exchange for this small token, she promised not to put a curse on the village.
In response, the villagers tried to bargain with her, offering gold to the bachelors, silver to the maidens, and pearls to the children. She reacted in anger by taking instead 100 bachelors, 100 maidens, and 100 babies as a result. While the maidens danced the Oro and the children picked xeranthemums (wildflowers native to southern Europe that symbolize the spirit of eternity and immortality), her bachelors were forced to build her palace.
The dance was introduced to Tanec, the national folklore group in North Macedonia, by the village dancers. The original name of the dance was Sitnata. Tanec changed the name to Kopacka, which then became so famous that the villagers adopted the Kopacka name as the name of the dance and of their group so that everyone would know where this dance originated from.
A combination of two songs is used for this dance: Dimna Juda for the slow and walking parts, and Dervisko Duso (Visko) for the fast parts. This fast-paced dance involves jumping, side movements, and scissors movements. The dancers hold their belts with their left hand over their right hand and dance in a half-circle with a 2/4 rhythm. Drummers, a fiddle, and sometimes a tamboura lute or bagpipes, accompany the dance in a semicircle.
For the local communities, also the wider Pijanec region the Kopachkata dance is a symbol of cultural identity. This fast dance mimics the tasks of the farmer, such as digging, threshing, and hoeing the ground.
As of today, with its village-style steps and technique, it is still popular in eastern Macedonia and is widely used by exhibition groups there. Even in Serbia, Kopačka is danced as a version of the Bulgarian dance Kopanica. The dance is still performed at weddings, in public gatherings, and during religious holidays.