User:Pdebee/Rachenitsa

Rachenitsa (also known as ruchenitsa) is the name for a family of lively folk dances from western Bulgaria written in meter, and also sometimes for the accompanying music. Some dancers count the steps in terms of "quick" and "slow" beats, the pattern being quick-quick-slow (counted as 2-2-3). The name comes from the word rucenik, a piece of cloth which the dancers hold in hand (ruka) and wave in the air during dancing.

Dances in similar to rachenitsa can also be found in Republic of Macedonia  using other names.

"Chekuryankino horo" steps
As an example of the form, the "Chekuryankino horo" is danced in a semi-circle in the counties of Lukovit and Pleven. The men join in at the front of the semi-circle and the women at its latter end.

Musical influence
The music accompanying the rachenitsa has spread beyond its original homeland, rachenitsas having been recorded by such groups as ...