Begovsko kolo [Noblemen's Dance] is composed by the Bosnian contemporary composer Omer Pobrić, the founder of the Sevdah Institute in Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Although Sevdah insists on preserving and presenting traditional, classical Bosnian-Herzegovinan artistic works, we do not hesitate to dance to contemporary pieces of music if they are written in the classical spirit and performed following the high standards of classical musicality. Every culture evolves, as does the Bosnian-Herzegovinan, and we would like to present to our audience the modern Bosnian-Herzegovinan culture, too.
Thus, inspired by this graceful modern musical piece and traditional foot-work of several local dances, Denis Bašić choreographed his version of Beys' Dance for Sevdah.
The Begovsko dance is imbued with gracious movements and a touch of aristocratic pride that is to be expected in the mannerism and dancing style of the Ottoman elite. In order to achieve that high level of elegance, the musical score is played somewhat slowlier than usual.
All the solo accordion music to which Sevdah dances has been recorded by our dear friend Michael Lawson, the accordionist of Seattle's amazing band Balkan Cabaret.