DABENE VILLAGE'S KUKERI - COSTUME & DANCES
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In Dabene, there are two types of masked. The first type are the Kukeri with their peculiar bells and uniform clothing; in Dabene alike in the whole region the Kukeri are called “Startsi / Elders”. The other masked also called “Startsi / Elders” in Dabene village would put on a variety of costumes and masks, and play diferent scenes prepared either in neighbourhoods or with friends.
The female vocal band will perform together with the Kukeri of Dabene: the women sing and dance “horo” (a traditional dance in Bulgaria) as they would play in the village on Kuker Day in the past.
The female vocal band will perform together with the Kukeri of Dabene: the women sing and dance “horo” (a traditional dance in Bulgaria) as they would play in the village on Kuker Day in the past.
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The MaskThe Kukeri of Dabene Village have a face mask called “obraz” (“image” - the emphasis is on “a”) and made of wire net hiding the face of the Kuker. The image of the former Kuker Lalo Shopov has been inherited from his grandfather, who once bought it from potters making such masks.
As the net of the mask is pretty thick, which hinders breathing the Kukeri put it just in the start. After touring the scene once or twice. they lift the mask from the face placing it just under their head kerchiefs, and play without masks. The Kukeri cover their heads with old-time women's kerchiefs in either crimson or green with lighter spots. They do it alike the elderly Dabene's women in the past – crossing the ends of the kerchief under the chin and knotting them there. The younger women of Dabene Village would knot the ends of their kerchiefs over the head so their faces would stay open. Kukeri put a flower on their heads, which is artificial because of the quick fading of the live flowers. The second type of maskedр those without bells also hide their faces but in another ways for instance by painting them black or veiling. They will wear different masquerade costumes in accordance with their individual whims either within the neighbourhood, families or friends. |
The Bells
The large number of “hlopki” (round-bellied bells) around the waist is typical for the Dabene Village's Kukeri. They arrange them in a certain order from the largest down below to the smallest up above. The “lopki” of the former Kuker Lalo Shopov are 50 larger ones, but in the band there is a Kuker with 200 smaller “lopki”.
There is no rule for odd or even number of the “lopki”. |
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They attach them to the belts around the waist and across the shoulders.
The “lopki” will hit each other and will soon get crushed. That is why the Kukeri will check their condition each year, when the Kuker Day approaches, will repair (weld) what will have been cracked or will buy another “lopka” to replace the broken.
Nowadays, the “lopki” are just kept for the Kuker Day; they not use them for the sheeps as it was in the past. Once they bide them to the straps, they will use them for many years. Just the best “lopka” may sometimes be tied to the ram leading the flock.
The “lopki” will hit each other and will soon get crushed. That is why the Kukeri will check their condition each year, when the Kuker Day approaches, will repair (weld) what will have been cracked or will buy another “lopka” to replace the broken.
Nowadays, the “lopki” are just kept for the Kuker Day; they not use them for the sheeps as it was in the past. Once they bide them to the straps, they will use them for many years. Just the best “lopka” may sometimes be tied to the ram leading the flock.
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ClothesThe Kukeri of Dabene Village will always wear white shirts of cotton fabric. The embroideries on the collar could be blue, red or green. Once, the women would embroider just the collars of the shirts leaving the sleeves. Under the shirt, are the straps of the “lopki” (the round-bellied bells).
In the old time, the Kukeri would wear women's pinafores. At some point the pinafore dropped out because nobody wished to wear it, and also they could be hardly found in the village as the women had stopped sewing and wearing them. Who still has any pinafore will rather keep it for other feasts such as George's Day (a big holiday in the region). On the shoulders, they will put a scarlet kerchief and a women necklace of strung golden pennies. Recently, the Kukeri of Dabene also wear military style breeches of cloth ie with bulged knees and tight part under the knees. Before the breeches they would put on pants, and before 1944 they would wear traditional “poturi” (full-bottomed and tight legged breeches of home made cloth). They also have traditional socks (“navushta”) below the knees. |
They have traditional moccasins but made of rubber instead of leather as it was in the past. Once, they could also have knitted slippers.
Moves and Steps
Once, they would walk “in a heap”. However, there was some order too: they would walk one after another, in threes or fours.
The step of the Dabene Village's Kukeri has not been changed: they step with bruising (springing) on each leading leg. While stepping, they rotate the hips a bit in order to jangle the bells louder. The tact is like a march one: one-two, one-two.
“If you watch the dance of the Dabene's Kukeri you would wonder how they are able to bear the baggage of so many “lopki” on their waists. However, I do not feel like having anything on my back. It is because we keep the step, the rhythm. If you mess up the rhythm everything is heared the the public aside.” (the former Kuker Lalo Shopov).
In the past but also nowadays, the Kukeri of Dabene “break the horo” (the traditional Bulgarian dance) on the square. Once they appear, the “horo” could not go on because the “hlopki” drown the songs of the women, and they go aside.
Then the Kukeri again go away, play, do their moves tour in pairs the circle.
Figures
Once, they would not form figures. The figures were introduced by the “young”, when the latter saw them performed by other Kuker bands at festivals and feasts.
The Dabene's Kukeri start in pairs, split into left and right, then gather the columns and go in a column one after another...
When they perform at festivals, they will firstly start in four columns, split into two columns in front of the jury, then make a circle, and will again gather in four columns. Afterwards they go towards the jury, make a column, a circle, meanders, zig-zag, etc. They will agree on the figures in advance.
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