Northwest Folklife Festival May 28-31

50th Annual Northwest Folklife Festival

The 50th Annual Northwest Folklife Festival is taking place virtually all weekend long (May 28-31, 2021). Throughout Memorial Day weekend, explore over 6 program channels, participate in live Zoom workshops and dances, and stream a variety of performances at your convenience through the On-Demand channel.

Watch the livestreams here on our website, Facebook, and Twitch!

Of note:

Participatory dance is listed here: https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/participatory-dance/
Balkan dance Kef is https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/participatory-dance/kef.html
Balkanarama is https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/music/balkanarama.html
Interview with Martin Koenig is https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/storiesandspokenword/martin-koenig-(50th)-*.html
Sounds from Bulgaria is https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/storiesandspokenword/martin-koenig-on-demand.html
There is Croatian dance https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/dance/vela-luka-croatian-dance-ensemble.html
Romanian/Hungarian music https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/music/trio-tsuica.html
Live streams are https://www.nwfolklife.org/festival/50-years-of-folklife/

By dale|2021-05-28T10:43:52-07:00May 28th, 2021|Anytime, Culture, Dance, International, Live, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Online Bulgarian Dance Workshop with Jaap Leegwater June 12

Come dance with us!

We are presenting a three-hour Bulgarian dance virtual (Zoom) workshop with Jaap Leegwater, accompanied by his accordionist, Jan Wollring.

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021 – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (Pacific Time).
Jaap and Jan will play a few tunes for us on flute and accordion at the break for us to dance to.

Tune in at 9:45 am (Pacific Time) for chat time. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Presented by Burnaby International Folk Dancers.

Please note that this workshop is free of charge. Donations are accepted to support the presenters. Donations of $20CAD/$15US or more will get access to Jaap’s folder (Music, sheet music & dance notes).

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/99504932576
Passcode: Bifd (Uppercase ‘B’ lowercase ‘ifd’)
Meeting ID: 995 0493 2576

Information: https://burnabyfolkdance.org/event/bulgarian-dance-workshop-with-jaap-leegwater/

By dale|2021-05-21T22:45:37-07:00May 21st, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Dances from South Serbia with Alex Marković at FACONE – May 15

Dances from South Serbia

with Alex Marković

Saturday, May 15: 2:00 – 4:00pm EDT

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

$10 is suggested to support this program and FAC, but any amount is appreciated.

Join this workshop via Zoom by activating this link.

About the Workshop

The Ottoman Empire lost southern Serbian regions to the emerging Serbian state in 1878, leaving strong influences on local culture after several centuries of imperial rule.

For this workshop we’ll survey a variety of traditions from the area, learning a few dances that will span the spectrum from rural Serbian and Albanian dances to urban Romani and Serbian repertoires. In addition to learning steps we’ll look at dance styling, too, breaking down how rural versus urban traditions and various ethnic traditions differ from each other. There’ll be something for everyone- please join us!

About Alex

Alex Marković has an M.A. and Ph.D. from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He wrote his doctoral thesis on identity politics and musical performance among Romani brass musicians in Vranje, Serbia, conducting 17 months […]

By dale|2021-05-14T15:16:39-07:00May 14th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Friday Night L.I.F.E. features Jaap Leegwater and Jan Wollring May 14 and 21

This is week 60 of our virtual adventures!

Time: Friday 08:00-10:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada) every week, until we return home to LA Dancefit!
Contact Sherry for the Zoom link at

***On May 14th, 2021, and reviewing on May 21st, we are happy to bring you, live from the Netherlands (at 5am), the return of Jaap Leegwater with a different set of dances from his recent workshops for us. 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 will be master accordionist Jan Wollring, 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. We will open the doors at 7:45pm with warmup dances. Jaap will start […]

By dale|2021-05-13T11:09:06-07:00May 13th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Global Folk Dance Party – May 15, 3pm – 6:30pm PT

Global Folk Dance Party – Third Saturday

On May 15th, we will be having our Global Folk Dance Party, this month being joined by Steve Kotansky with a focus on dances we’ve learned from Steve and Susan. In addition, two of our friends from Florida, Pat Henderson and Bobby Quibodeaux, will be dancing from their home studio, with maybe a small group of friends dancing with them!
Info about our May Global Party is:

Date – May 15, 2021
Time – 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm, Pacific Time
Links – See flyer for zoom info. Also broadcast on Facebook Live.

We look forward to dancing with you this month. Please continue to send us requests, ideas, and comments on our parties; we read every message you send us.

Information on Facebook is here.
Flyer here with working links.

By dale|2021-05-08T18:05:14-07:00May 8th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

San Diego Folk Dance Center International Dance May 8

San Diego Folk Dance Center International Dance May 8

6:30 pm Pacific time: social time
7 pm – 10 pm Pacific time: dancing
Chin Yu, hosting
Featuring Chin Yu’s favorite dances tonight. See playlist here.

To join our Zoom dance session, go to the San Diego Folk Dance Center’s website/Newsletter page, scroll down to “Join Zoom Meeting,” and click on the Zoom link there. http://folkdancecenter.org/newsletter.html

Come dance with us this evening!
Cost: Free

By dale|2021-05-08T13:03:39-07:00May 8th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

South Jersey Virtual International Dance – June 5

South Jersey International Folk Dance
Saturday, June 5, 7pm to 8pm Eastern Time

1 Hour of virtual international folk dancing led by Clark Loveridge and Boel Denne-Hinnov in lieu of our usual monthly dance on the first Saturday of the month.

FREE

Link / Location: Click here to join Zoom

For more information, please contact Clark Loveridge at

By dale|2021-05-07T10:07:57-07:00May 7th, 2021|Dance, International, Live|0 Comments

Dance workshop with Achilleas Tsiaras – Kypseli – May 8

Greek Dance Workshop
with Achilleas Tsiaras

Live Stream from Meliti in the Roumlouki region of Macedonia, Greece
Saturday, May 8, 2021
1 pm PDT, 3 pm CDT, 4 pm EDT, 23:00 in Greece, 10 am in Hawaii

Click here to join the event on Zoom

Achilleas will teach Dimitroula, Seferli, Geiko and more dances
from his home in Roumlouki, Central Macedonia, Greece.

English translation provided by Giouli Dimou and Joe Graziosi

We continue to offer dance workshops via Zoom to support our dance teachers and musicians. Most of the donations we receive are given to the instructor or musician with a small amount reserved for Kypseli to build up a reserve. Though we cannot meet in person, we want to stay connected to our Greek dancing friends. We hope to come back to dance together as soon as it is safe to do so!

Free to join but donations welcome.

If you wish to donate via Venmo, please use: @Jozef-bilman
If you wish to donate via Zelle, please use:
If you wish to donate via PayPal, please use:
(Please note the updated email!)
and note that you are donating to “Friends and Family”.
If you wish to send a […]

By dale|2021-05-07T09:33:38-07:00May 7th, 2021|Dance, Greek, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Hawaiian Dance and Culture at FACONE – May 1

Hawaiian Dance and Culture

with Kumu Hula Kawika Alfiche

Saturday, May 1: 2:00 – 4:00pm EDT

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

$10 is suggested to support this program and FAC, but any amount is appreciated.

Join this workshop via Zoom by activating this link.

About the Workshop

May is Pacific Islanders Month and we celebrate Hawai`i which is the furthest north of all the Polynesian Islands in the Pacific. Come share in this class of both traditional and modern Hula-Hawaiian Dance for both men & women. Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people. These are the words of our last King, Kawika Kalākaua, who returned hula into the public eye after being banished by missionaries for some 50+ years (1820-1870).
This fun gathering will include basics of hula, language, history, geography, chanting, singing and more! This class will be taught by Kumu Kawika Keikiali`i Alfiche (Hula Master) of Hālau o Keikiali`i.

About Kawika

Kumu Hula Kawika Keikiali’ihiwahiwa Alfiche has been teaching hula and Hawaiian cultural arts for almost 30 years. Kawika is the […]

By dale|2021-04-30T22:41:24-07:00April 30th, 2021|Culture, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Lyrids/Kyklos Folk Dance Festival April 23-25 – Register Now!

LYRIDS/KYKLOS FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL

co-organized by Burnaby and Kyklos International Folk Dancers

April 23 – 25, 2021 online via Zoom

Register Now for your unique Zoom link. FREE to attend!

Here is all the information about the festival you could possible want, and there is lots there!

Festival highlights include:

The two primary teachers this year are Tineke & Maurits van Geel, teaching Armenian, International and Roma dances. In addition, we have 8 dance, singing and music workshops Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with Ahmet Luleci teaching Turkish dances, Gergana Panova-Tekath teaching Bulgarian dances and Miamon Miller teaching a Balkan musical instruments workshop (All instruments are welcome). As well, there will be Israeli dances, seated dances, Balkan singing and drumming workshops.

At mealtimes, watch culture talks and memorable videos from past Salt Spring Island & Lyrids Folk Dance Festivals with Dale Adamson and Rosemarie Keough (founder of the Salt Spring Island folk dance festival).

You won’t want to miss our evening parties with our favourite recorded dances, and with Osem i Devet + friends playing recorded and live music.

Here’s how you can get involved and participate:

Register for the […]

By dale|2021-04-22T13:39:05-07:00April 22nd, 2021|Armenian, Balkan, Culture, Dance, International, Live, Music, Party, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Global Folk Dance Party – Apr 17, 3pm – 6:30pm PT

Dear Wonderful Folk Dance Community,

We will gather on Saturday, April 17, for a party we’re calling “Double Name Dances and Other Favorites.” Come find out what we’ve got in store!

For a sneak preview, here are a few of our dances: Galyam Galyam, Zek Zek Dadumle and Rum Dum Dum.

Our guest dance leaders will be Michael Ginsburg and Melissa Miller and Lew Smith – please see below for their biographies. To attend our party, please use the link on the flyer.

Get ready to have a dazzling time dancing with your friends, lifelong and new, near and far. Hope to see you there!

Here are the guest dance leader Bios:

Lew Smith started folk dancing in 1966 and led folk dancing at UCSB in the late ’60’s and at SJSU in the early ’70’s. Lew is also a member of the Balkan band Svirači.

Melissa Miller (aka Ghanima Gaditana) has been folk dancing since childhood, and teaches and performs belly dance in the Bay Area and beyond. She also performs regularly with the band Svirači.

Michael Ginsburg has always been interested in Balkan music and dances, especially Macedonian and […]

By dale|2021-04-17T09:48:02-07:00April 17th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

Greek Dance Workshop with Kyriakos Moisidis at FACONE – April 17

Greek Dance Workshop
with Kyriakos Moisidis

Saturday, April 16: 2:00 – 4:00pm EDT

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

To support FAC and this program $10 is suggested, but any amount is appreciated.

About the Workshop

Kyriakos will be teaching dances from a variety of regions within the country. A list of dances from which he will choose for Saturday’s workshop will be posted on this page soon.

Join this workshop via Zoom by activating the link that will be posted here prior to the event.

About Kyriakos

Kyriakos is a prolific researcher instructor, and performer of Greek traditional dance. Born in the village of Prohoma, near Thessaloniki, his family origins trace back to Pontic Greeks from the region of Kars (present-day northeastern Turkey).

In 2003, Kyriakos completed a degree in Physical Education and Athletics from Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, with a major in traditional dance. He has conducted extensive research on traditional Greek dance, music, and customs. He is a very popular teacher and well-versed in the dances from all regions of Greece; his expertise on dance traditions from Pontos, Kappadokia, […]

By dale|2021-04-14T16:57:15-07:00April 14th, 2021|Dance, Greek, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

South Jersey Virtual International Dance – May 1

South Jersey International Folk Dance
Saturday, May 1, 7pm to 8pm Eastern Time

1-Hour Virtual International Folk Dance led by Steve Clarke and Clark Loveridge with technical assistance from Peter Notarfrancesco in lieu of our monthly face-to-face dance in southern New Jersey prior to the pandemic.

FREE

Click here for Zoom Link

For more information, please contact Clark Loveridge at

By dale|2021-04-14T10:31:21-07:00April 14th, 2021|Dance, International, Live|0 Comments

Folkothèque (Folk Dance Party) – Montreal/Ottawa – Apr 17

Folkothèque (Folk Dance Party) – Montreal/Ottawa
Saturday, 17 April – 8 pm to 9:30 pm Eastern Time

Folk Dance Party – Montreal/Ottawa – organized by the Association montréalaise des arts et des traditions populaires (AMATP)

This will be an Interprovincial Folkothèque (folk dance party) with a mix of dances from Ottawa and Montreal, led by Jocelyne Vaillancourt from Montreal and Silvia Holtop from Ottawa.

To join this event on zoom, click here.
Meeting number: 812 217 8657

The event is free.

For information about AMATP, click here. (in French)

The poster is here. (in French)

By dale|2021-04-11T13:37:14-07:00April 11th, 2021|Dance, International, Party|0 Comments

Ontario Folk Dance Camp Goes Virtual! – May 22

Ontario Folk Dance Camp Goes Virtual!

Saturday, May 22, 2021, 7 – 10 p.m. Eastern

Our Featured Guests Are:
Lucia Cordeiro – Brazilian Dances
Vlasto Petkovski – Macedonian Dances

Schedule:
7:00 – 8:00 Eastern Teaching
8:00 – 10:00 Eastern Dance Party With Various Leaders

Poster here.
Registration Link: OFDC Registration
For more information visit: www.ontariofolkdancecamp.ca
Email:

By dale|2021-04-04T18:45:45-07:00April 4th, 2021|Balkan, Dance, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

June Camp on June 4-6 – Registration is open

June Camp, the Midwest’s residential extended folk dance weekend, is moving to Zoom for 2021 and will take place on the usual weekend, June 4 – 6.
This year we will be bringing all the artistic excellence, community, and that special feeling of June Camp to you in the safety of your own home as June Camp goes online. Join us for:

Workshops from 2 excellent teachers: Lee Otterholt (Balkan) and Penny Brichta (Israeli)
Bonus workshop and Golden Oldies with Jaap Leegwater (Bulgarian)
The Dance Exchange, where dances you’ve requested are reviewed (request by April 12!)
Happy Hour-and-a-half – an informal time for singing, dancing, and socializing
The Hospitality Room – breakout rooms for when you don’t want to dance
Saturday’s dance party with Tom Pixton and friends
Retrospectives of past June Camps and personalities

Free registration is open now. You will receive a personalized Zoom link to attend all events.
Please support June Camp and our artists through monetary contributions. Incentives are offered.
Find further information as well as the registration link and Dance Exchange request link on the June Camp website at https://sites.google.com/site/junecampifd/.
Email: with questions or to join the mailing list.

By dale|2021-04-01T11:34:04-07:00April 1st, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

Zoom’s First* and Only April Fool’s Dance Party – April 1

Zoom’s First* and Only April Fool’s Dance Party

Tonight’s the Night!

Dress up in a funny costume if you like. Dress your pet in a funny costume whether or not they like it.

Host: the big Fool, Murray Spiegel
Special Guest Fool: Lee Otterholt

>> Pass along to your friends and groups <<

TONIGHT: Thursday, April 1 Party starts: 7:30-10 PM [Eastern Time]

>> We start promptly | Recommend joining 10 mins early <<
Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/MFDparties
Or Zoom ID: 846 8641 6549 Password: 333333 (six 3’s)

* Hopefully, the last one too.

By dale|2021-04-01T09:33:52-07:00April 1st, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

Hoolyeh and Friends 13th Annual Folkdance Reunion Dance Party – May 1

Hoolyeh and Friends
13th Annual Folkdance Reunion Dance Party

Hosted in Corvalis, Oregon: 6 pm to 10 pm, Pacific Time

Our emphasis will be on Balkan dances from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
Programmed dances from 6 pm to 10 pm Pacific Time.

This event is free. It has been a yearly event for the past 12 years, except for 2020.

To attend the event and to be put on the email list, please contact Denis White, with your name and email address.

By dale|2021-04-01T09:27:51-07:00April 1st, 2021|Balkan, Dance, Live, Party|0 Comments

San Diego Folk Dance Center International Dance April 3

San Diego Folk Dance Center International Dance April 3

6:30 pm Pacific time: social time
7 pm – 10 pm Pacific time: dancing
Chin Yu, hosting
Featuring Kathy R’s and Carol C’s favorite dances tonight. So there’ll be some really good dances in the lineup!

To join our Zoom dance session, go to the San Diego Folk Dance Center’s website/Newsletter page, scroll down to “Join Zoom Meeting,” and click on the Zoom link there. Here’s the link to the Newsletter page:
http://folkdancecenter.org/newsletter.html

Come dance with us this evening!
Cost: Free

By dale|2021-03-31T15:36:54-07:00March 31st, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Princeton Friday Night Folk Dance – April 30

Join Princeton dancers for a party the last Friday of each month!
Virtual International Folk Dance Party with various leaders.

Next party:
Friday, April 30, 2021, 7:30–9:30 PM ET
Party link: click here.
contact:
Website: www.princetonfolkdance.org

By dale|2021-03-28T16:25:38-07:00March 28th, 2021|Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

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