Dances from Brittany and Albania with Sibylle Helmer at FACONE Feb 20

Dances from Brittany and Albania
with Sibylle Helmer

Saturday, February 20: 2–4:00pm EST

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

Sibylle Helmer has been teaching for more than 30 years in the international folk dance world, especially in the Netherlands but also in Belgium, England, Austria, Italy and Canada. She attends workshops of various teachers at home and abroad in order to keep up with the latest developments and continuously increase her knowledge. With her foundation Dansevent.nl, she organizes workshops, courses and festivals in the Netherlands with teachers from the Netherlands and abroad.

After her studies to become a French and Dutch language teacher, she stayed for six months in Paris as an au-pair. It was there where she first encountered Breton music and dance. Many summers after that, she went to Brittany for courses and festivals and thus her first specialty, Breton dance, was born.

Since 2010 she has been going to Albania regularly to learn more about that country’s dance, culture, history, and language. And so now she has developed her second specialty: Albanian dance. This week’s workshop will feature dances from […]

By dale|2021-02-16T14:44:02-08:00February 16th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Online Bulgarian Dance Workshops with Jaap Leegwater Feb 16 & 23

Online Bulgarian Dance Workshop with Jaap Leegwater!

The Burnaby International Folk Dancers are sponsoring two dance workshops with Jaap Leegwater on Tuesday, February 16th and 23rd. Both workshops are from 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm (PST).

Jaap is an experienced and dynamic workshop leader specializing in Bulgarian dance and culture for over 30 years. During his numerous research and field trips to Bulgaria, Jaap collected and recorded many original dances and songs from village elders throughout the country and he and his accordionist, Jan Wollring are excited to share these two dance workshops with us. There is no charge for the workshops and everyone is welcome.

Hope to see you all there! Lori and Chrisanne

Zoom link below to BIFD weekly Zoom sessions and to Jaap’s workshops on Tuesday, February 16th and 23rd – 7:30 – 10:00 pm (PST)
https://zoom.us/j/99504932576
Meeting ID: 995 0493 2576
Passcode: Bifd (Uppercase ‘B’ lowercase ‘ifd’)

By dale|2021-02-13T17:11:56-08:00February 13th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Balkan and Israeli Dance Workshops with Roberto Bagnoli – Feb 13

Balkan and Israeli Dance Workshops
with Roberto Bagnoli
as part of The Flurry Festival

Saturday, February 13
2-2:55pm ET — Balkan dance workshop
3-3:55pm ET — Israeli dance workshop

The Folk Arts Center’s weekly Saturday workshop is migrating from home this Saturday!

Roberto Bagnoli and Marcie Van Cleave will be with you on Saturday at our usual time, from 2-4,… but there are a few differences you will notice from previous Saturdays! Our workshop is the result of another collaboration between organizing groups: the Folk Arts Center and The Flurry.

The Flurry is a dance and music weekend, usually held in Saratoga Springs, New York, but being presented online this year. Visit The Flurry’s website for more information.

The Flurry is selling tickets for the weekend; the “economy level” is $25. There are many events happening from Friday through Sunday. Visit the performer list for details.

Some of the other workshops you might be interested in (in addition to Roberto’s on Saturday) include:

Pierre Chartrand – Quebecois Step Dance
Cheres – Ukraine and Yiddish Band
Henry Goldberg – Balkan Song leader
Ralph Iverson – Balkan Jam leader
Roo Lester – Hambo workshop and Scandinavian dances for Covid times!

By dale|2021-02-11T10:00:28-08:00February 11th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Israeli, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Special ‘Stockton Highlights’ program Feb 10

Special ‘Stockton Highlights’ program [TONIGHT!]

What some people said:
“I didn’t think I would be interested, but I stayed for the entire hour”
“For me, it was the highlight of the entire weekend”
“Really learned a lot, didn’t expect to”

Like perhaps most of you, I viewed contra and squares as a mostly white-America activity. This talk blew my mind.

Wednesday, Feb 10 [Yes, tonight]
Program starts: 7:30 PM [Eastern]
https://tinyurl.com/MFDparties
Zoom ID: 846 8641 6549
Passcode: 333333 (six 3’s)

Tony Parkes created a scholarly presentation on the African roots of dance calling, from slaves and “hired” musician-callers, Black presence in square dancing into the 20th C, all the way to indigenous groups above the Arctic circle. The lecture includes archival and relatively “rare” footage.

I strongly urge you to see “Diversity in Square Dancing”

Tony will be joining us LIVE for a chat after the presentation, where YOU can ask questions and learn more.

Tony has considerable “dance cred”: he’s taught in >70% of the states, Canada, 5 countries in Europe, and – along with calling Squares and Contras at many other festivals – has performed at every NEFFA festival since 1969.

We’ll be on for a bit over an […]

By dale|2021-02-10T11:13:17-08:00February 10th, 2021|Culture, Information, Live|0 Comments

Rhythm & Drumming for Folk Dancers with Polly Feb 13

RHYTHM & DRUMMING FOR FOLK DANCERS with Polly Tapia Ferber

Saturday, February 13, 2021
3pm – 4:15pm MDT (2-3:15pm PT)

Registration required. $10 per class.

Due to popular demand, we’re continuing these exciting lessons as a recurring series!. Polly Tapia Ferber makes hearing, counting, and playing various dance rhythms accessible and enjoyable. Use any hand drum available: A doumbek, a djembe, a coffee can…your feet know the drill; now your hands and brain can get in on the fun!

Full information here.

By dale|2021-02-07T13:23:42-08:00February 7th, 2021|Live, Music, Workshop|0 Comments

Mainewoods Dance Camp 2021 – A Virtual Day at Camp Feb 13

Mainewoods Dance Camp

Just one week away!
A Virtual Day at Camp
Saturday, February 13, 2021
beginning at 11am EST
Meeting ID: 869 9258 6607
Passcode: 257715

There’s loads of dancing!
3 workshops, a review, an evening party and late night dancing!
Send us 2 or 3 dance requests for the evening Dance Party and/or Late Night Dancing.
dancerequests@mainewoodsdancecamp.org

and more ways to have fun:
A culture corner, Singing and making music, and cooking!
Sing and play along to Dobra Nevesco, Opincuta, and Tragnala Rumjana with Debby Szajnberg. The link to the music is
www.mainewoodsdancecamp.org/Music.pdf

Make a Romanian dinner with recipes from our chef, Riki, who has offered many recipes for your Virtual Day.
www.mainewoodsdancecamp.org/RomanianRecipes.pdf

and even more ways to have fun!

Make a video of a folk dance being done in snow shoes or swim fins. Be creative! Any folk dance will do but you will get extra points for including a grapevine. Videos due ASAP. Copy your video into this folder.

Chat with folks in dinner time breakout rooms. We’ll create new breakout rooms for each course, so you can choose whether to come for Mocktails and Cocktails, Main […]

By dale|2021-02-05T14:15:50-08:00February 5th, 2021|Culture, Dance, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

Steve Kotansky at FACONE Jan 30

Kolos and Konversation
with Steve Kotansky

Saturday, January 30, 2–4:00pm EST

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

Steve will present an afternoon of kolos for all “kolo maniacs” of yore with a focus on “Old Tyme Kolos” as they still survive in Hungary and Vojvodina. We will revisit old favorites such as Veliko Kolo, Kukunješće, Gajdaško, Malo Bunjevačko Kolo, and others. The presentation will including film materials.

Steve Kotansky danced with the prestigious AMAN Folk Ensemble plus many other groups, before becoming a dance major at the University of California at Los Angeles. He made his first research trip to Hungary and former Yugoslavia in 1970. While living in Germany for a number of years, Steve took advantage of his proximity to Balkan and Eastern European countries to pursue the study and research of their dances. He also lived in Bucovina for a while learning local folklore.

Most recently, Steve has been researching Albanian and Roma dance from the Diaspora and continues his work and research in Balkan and Central European countries. He is particularly interested in dance culture as it […]

By dale|2021-01-29T22:23:04-08:00January 29th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Jaap Leegwater and Jan Wollring at Friday Night L.I.F.E. – Jan 29

Jaap Leegwater with live music by Jan Wollring

January 29, 2021, 7:45 10pm Pacific Time

Time: Doors open at 7:45 pm PT with warm up dances from our “Jaap repertoire.” Jaap will start just after 8 pm PT and teach for most of the evening.

E-Mail for the link

We are happy to bring you, live from The Netherlands (at 5am), Jaap Leegwater. Jaap is known worldwide for his fun teaching and having introduced dances including Karamfil, Dobrudžanska Pandela, and Mari Marijko. He began his dance career in The Netherlands, where he earned one of his degrees in international folk dance, specializing in Bulgarian folk dance and choreography. Jaap studied at the State Choreographer’s school in Sofia and Plovdiv, living there for two years; he regularly returns to Bulgaria to update his studies and make new recordings.

Accompanying Jaap live will be accordionist Jan Wollring, whom we met at Facone. Jan was the regular accompanist of Bulgarian singer Galina Durmushliyska during the years she lived in the Netherlands.
Sherry Cochran, Joan Hantman, and Tom Bozigian and Sheree King will be on hand for this special evening.

Jaap has made his music available to us by request for a $15 donation to L.I.F.E. He has insisted that […]

By dale|2021-01-26T14:51:17-08:00January 26th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Live, Music, Workshop|1 Comment

Welcome Chinese New Year with San Diego folk dancers – Feb 6

San Diego Folk Dance Center Prepares to Welcome Chinese New Year!

February 6, 2021, 6:30pm to 10pm Pacific Time

Out with the Rat and in with Ox! Let’s prepare to welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Ox with some Chinese dances!
Also featuring Gail Wilson’s favorites and lots of Steve Kotansky dances!

6:30 p.m PT: Social time, and Zoom audio and video checks
7:00 p.m PT: Kin and Chin will teach us Chinese dances for the upcoming Chinese New Year. Then we’ll be highlighting favorite dances of Gail Wilson, our featured member of the night, as well as Steve Kotansky dances. What a great mix!
Request dancing at the end as host and time allow.

To connect, go to the San Diego Folk Dance Center website Newsletter at: folkdancecenter.org/newsletter.html. Scroll down the page to “Join Zoom Meeting” and click on the link.

See you there!
Chin Yu and Kin Ho

By dale|2021-02-01T12:49:32-08:00January 25th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Brazil Balkan/International Dance Workshop with Ira – Jan 30

Brazil Balkan/International Dance Workshop in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Saturday, January⋅ 30

1 – 3 pm ET

Local (Rio de Janeiro) time: 3 pm 5 pm Brasilia Standard Time

Ira Weisburd is teaching a 2-hour Balkan/International Dance Workshop in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Ira says: You are all welcome to join me and dancers from Brazil and around the World at this very special workshop. To join and get the special ZOOM link, email Anna De Jesus at: or Silvia Baldino at: silviarbaldino@gmail.com

By dale|2021-01-24T18:47:50-08:00January 24th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Events coming up! Feb thru June!

Mainewoods Dance Camp	http://mainewoodsdancecamp.org/	February 13, 2021
Spring Festival	https://springfestival.us/	March 12-14, 2021
World Camp	http://www.worldcamp.us/	March 18-21, 2021
NFO Conference	http://nfo-usa.org/annual-conference-2021/	April 7-11, 2021
Lyrids/Kyklos Festival	https://lyridsfolkdancefestival.org/	April 23-25, 2021
June Camp	https://sites.google.com/site/junecampifd/	June 4-6, 2021
Scandia Camp	http://scandiacampmendocino.org/	June 11, 2021

By dale|2021-01-29T22:39:08-08:00January 23rd, 2021|Balkan, Dance, International, Live, Party, Scandinavian, Workshop|0 Comments

Flurry ’21 – Dancing in the Cloud – Feb 12 – 14

Flurry ’21 – Dancing in the Cloud
February 12-14

A year like no other means a Flurry like no other.
flurryfestival.org

This February 12-14, let’s continue the tradition and gather virtually. Flurry’21: Dancing in the Cloud will include more than 100 Zoom sessions of music, dance, jam sessions, educational workshops, social hours, and much more. It will be the next best thing to being in person! Your ticket to this year’s Flurry allows entrance to it all.

For more information and to purchase tickets click here.

By dale|2021-01-21T14:25:20-08:00January 21st, 2021|Dance, Live, Music, Workshop|0 Comments

Princeton Friday Night Folk Dance Virtual Party! Last Fridays

Join Princeton dancers for a party the last Friday of each month!

Next party:
Friday, January 29, 2021, 7:30–9:30 PM ET
Party link: https://tinyurl.com/PFNFD-Party
contact:
Website: www.princetonfolkdance.org

By dale|2021-01-16T17:44:18-08:00January 16th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

Jaap Leegwater workshop at Burnaby Folk Dance Feb 16 & 23

Come dance with us! Burnaby International Folk Dancers is having Jaap Leegwater, for two-hour online dance workshop via Zoom on Tuesday, February 16 and a week later on February 23 for a one hour review session. Accompanying Jaap will be Jan Wollring, accordionist, and Tijn Boissevain with video and technical support. Our club runs weekly Tuesday evening Zoom sessions from 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm (PT), although for Jaap’s workshops, we will run from 7:30 – 10:00 pm (PT).

Please note that these workshops are free of charge. For more info: burnabyfolkdance.org.

February 16, 2021 – 7:30pm-10:00pm (PT)
February 23, 2021 – 7:30pm – 10:00pm (PT)

Tune in at 7:15 pm (PT) for chat time.

Zoom Link: Click here for Zoom link
Meeting ID: 995 0493 2576
Passcode: Bifd (Uppercase ‘B’ lowercase ‘ifd’)

By dale|2021-01-19T18:28:14-08:00January 15th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Zoom dancing in San Antonio Tuesdays Update 7-8pm CT

San Antonio Folk Dancers are continuing their Zoom dancing this Tuesday 7-8pm CT. “Doors” open around 6:45pm.

San Antonio Folk Dancers Meet Tuesdays 7-8pm (Doors open at 6:45 pm):

The link below will be valid through the end of March.
Click here for Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 852 5527 0704
Passcode: 320045

After 8 pm we may dance more if there some want to stay longer.

By dale|2021-01-15T16:14:53-08:00January 15th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Zlatne Uste Golden Festival January 15-16 – starts tonight!

Golden Festival Online 2021

Register here!
See festival schedule here!

New York’s only music and dance festival of its kind celebrates 36 years of music and dance. For the first time, live-streamed worldwide from our homes to yours. The Festival is hosted by Zlatne Uste Brass Band and features a tapestry of musics from the Balkans and beyond.

Our 36^th year shaking up NY and the world!
Join us for two nights of great Balkan Music, Dance, and Arts online.

Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band will headline, along with 30 bands and performers over two nights.

Enjoy live-streamed cybercast concerts on both nights from across the US on our stages. Live-streamed dance instruction on Friday evening! Great live and pre-recorded music videos both nights.

Discover unique crafts and food in our Virtual Charshiya marketplace (opening Dec. 6, 2020), as well as interactive gatherings, workshops and demos during the festival.

Tickets: Register in advance, or during festival, for link to the live stream.
Suggested donation: $25 for both nights’ access – no minimum.

All proceeds from the festival will be donated to charitable or educational organizations related to Balkan culture and communities.

More info: goldenfest.org
General […]

By dale|2021-01-15T11:24:08-08:00January 15th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Live, Music, Party, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Balkan Vocal and Instrumental Workshops Mondays

Balkan Mondays Online

Vocal workshop with Dina Cindrić

JANUARY 25; FEBRUARY 1, 8, 15, & 22, 2021, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM ET
Balkan Fest Montreal

Learn the elements of style, pronunciation, ornamentation, improvisations and more, All levels welcome.
Instructor: Dina Cindrić

Cost: $50 per participant for all 5 classes, or $15 per class

Register here: https://balkanfestmontreal.org/21-bm-reg-v-e
Instruction will be in English and French.
Each class will focus on the songs of one or more of the following dances:

Follow the links above to download lyrics, translations, and scores before the workshops, and to access supplementary audio files, dance notes, videos, etc.
During the workshops, you will be able to sing or play along, while muted, with Dina.
From time to time, you may be invited to unmute and to sing or play so that Dina can offer comments and advice.
To ensure that all participants can receive some personal instruction, each class will be limited to 15 people.

Instrumental workshop with Sergiu Popa

JANUARY 25; FEBRUARY 1, 8, 15, & 22, 2021, 8 PM – 9 PM […]

By dale|2021-01-14T11:23:57-08:00January 14th, 2021|Balkan, Live, Music, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Riki’s International and Israeli dancing – Thursdays 8pm ET

We dance in a huge and beautiful space in what used to be a church. It’s two hours of international folk dances, including many Israeli dances. I usually teach just one dance in a session. Also, during the two hours we have a short break with some sit-down-dancing.

To get the link to the zoom event please send an email to

Weekly on Thursdays, 8-10pm ET

By dale|2021-01-12T15:23:01-08:00January 12th, 2021|Dance, International, Israeli, Live|0 Comments

Folk Arts Center of New England Updates Jan 2021

Saturday, January 16
2:00 – 4:00pm ET
Scandinavian Dances for Covid Times with Roo Lester

Some find Scandinavian music and dance to be lyrical and flowing. Others find it to have drive and passion. Come on Saturday and decide for yourself.

Join us for some non-partner, Covid-friendly dances to lovely and fun Norwegian and Swedish music. All of the dances can be done in spaces – small or large, carpeted or not – with limited turning. For more information about Roo and her workshop visit the event page.

Thursday, January 21
7:00 – 8:30pm ET
FAC Game Show: Souvenir Sleuth

We are excited to present the first-ever FAC Game Show: Souvenir Sleuth, in which teams compete to identify souvenir objects acquired by FAC friends in their travels. Visit the event page for more details.

There are multiple ways to enjoy the evening. Submit a souvenir and tell its story! Participate as a team member and play the guessing game! Watch from the audience and swap travel stories!

To be on a team, send your name to and we’ll randomly […]

By dale|2021-01-12T15:17:29-08:00January 12th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

National Folk Organization Conference April 7-11 – Dance Leaders needed!

April 7-11, 2021, the National Folk Organization is holding their yearly conference virtually.

As part of that free online event, in addition to fascinating programming on folk dance as well many other kinds of folk crafts and traditions, there will be evening dance parties. You are invited to be part of those dance parties!

We are looking for individuals and groups to lead dances on Zoom the evenings of April 8, 9, and 10.

Lead dances (15 minutes, total)
All types of ethnic and traditional dances are welcome
Followable material
Experts will help you with your music & sound

You can use recorded or live music – either with musicians present, or dancing to a video made by musicians (we can help you match to live music if you wish).

Reply to us via this Google Form as soon as feasible, and no later than February 15, 2021.

If there is an overabundance of responses, priority will be given to current NFO members.

Please spread the word to others who might be interested. If you have questions, contact .

Mady Newfield
for the NFO 2021 Conference Dance Parties Committee

By dale|2021-01-12T14:41:17-08:00January 12th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

Previous 123 Next