Folk Dance Federation of California

Land Dancers Folk Dance Weekend
2025-08-30 11:00 - 2025-09-01 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cliff’s land in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA-9 & Skyline Blvd, Saratoga, CA, 95070
Please join the Land Dancers this Labor Day weekend August 30 to September 1 for International and Israeli folk dancing and music at The Land. Anyone is welcome. Fun for families. No charge. Held every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. Founded by Cliff Jenkins and friends in 1981.
You can camp out for the whole weekend or just come for the day and enjoy the deck, the creek, the forest, dancing and friends!
We dance outdoors on a big redwood deck where two creeks come together in the Santa Cruz Mountains, off Skyline Blvd near Highway 9. Dancing typically runs from around noon to 11 pm Saturday and Sunday but there isn’t a set schedule. Note map shown is only general vicinity, contact Betsy to RSVP and for directions.
The event is free of charge but we welcome donations to Land Dancers, the 501c(3) organization we created to organize and carry on folk dance weekends at the land. You may bring a check or cash to the land, mail a check to the address shown below, or use this link to make a donation through PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account to donate).
Contact Betsy Moore, eambetsy@gmail.com (408-507-7177) to request a flyer with directions and more info, to ask questions, or to be added to our email list.

North/South Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar
2025-10-10 19:00 - 2025-10-12 13:00 | Monte Toyon, 220 Cloister Lane, Aptos, CA, 95003, United States
Are you a folkdance teacher who would like to hone your skills or a dancer who would like to learn to teach? If so, plan to come to the N/S Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar!
About
North/South Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar is a gathering of teachers focused on improving teaching skills and sharing information and ideas with other teachers. All Folk Dance teachers, both current and prospective, are welcome. Each annual seminar features two master instructors who have specialized knowledge of folk dance.
The 2025 North/South Master Teachers are Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu. They will lead workshops on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning, plus cultural or teaching presentations. Both are professional teachers with decades of experience in welcoming and retaining dancers in the folk dance world.
Price
$320 with on-site accommodations, $270 off-site; Final payment due August 10, 2025. Price includes meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch and all activities. On-site accommodation is dorm-style with shared bathrooms.
Featured Guests
Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu
Romanian Folk Dance and more…
Cristian and Sonia have been guest performers with the Collage International Dance Ensemble of Boston, have been regular teachers at l’ École supérieure de danse du Québec and have been selected to be part of the Artists in the Schools program sponsored by the Québec Ministry of Education. In recent years, they have developed a specific interest in working with recreational folk dance groups in Canada and the United States, Mexico and Brazil. They have been teaching in Europa (Austria, England, Poland, Germany, Italy,  Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France) in Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia) and Australia  to share their love of Romanian folk traditions.
In recent years, Cristian and Sonia have developed a specific interest in working with recreational folk dance groups. They’ve been teaching in Brazil, Canada and the United States, Europe (Austria, Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands), Asia (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan) to share their love of Romanian folk traditions. They have taught workshops in Canada and the United States and choreographed Romanian suites for performing groups, including the world-renowned BYU Folk Dance Ensemble in Utah. Read more…

Monte Toyon Camp & Conference Center
Helgesson Hall, Monte Toyon
Monte Toyon Camp & Conference Center is an idyllic oasis right in the heart of Aptos, California. Just a short drive from the west coast beaches you’ll head inland on a road that meanders through a beautiful wooded forest opening to our doorstep. Situated in a gorgeous and refreshing redwood forest setting, there are short nature trails that circle the camp for a peaceful walk in forest beauty. Monte Toyon is a short drive to nearby Nisene Marks State Park, Seacliff State Beach, and Santa Cruz Beaches and Boardwalk. Wi-Fi is available in meeting areas. Read more…
Registration deadline: August 10, 2025
Register

Fall Camp 2025
2025-10-31 - 2025-11-02 | Brandeis-Bardin Campus, 1101 Peppertree Lane, Brandeis, CA, 93064, United States
Join us at Fall Camp 2025 for another magical, fun-filled weekend of dance, music, crafts, nature, and camaraderie.
This year, Fall Camp 2025 will feature one main teacher, Catherine Rudin, plus several of our own California-based dance teachers. Catherine will present an eclectic mix of forgotten-classic and recent captivating dances, with particular attention to styling details that make a dance specific to a time and place. She has danced for more than 5 decades, enjoying a wide variety of styles and traditions. She has both family and linguistic research ties to the Balkans, especially Bulgaria. Balkan music and dance are her roots, but she loves and participates in other traditions as well.
In a return to a practice from the first Fall Camp and Camp Hess Kramer, several experienced and skilled California dance teachers will also present great dances that campers will enjoy learning.
Dancing will be in the magnificent, air-conditioned Wapner room, on a wooden dance floor. Fall Camp offers many other activities, including:

Dance parties on Friday and Saturday evening (Yes, we will solicit your dance requests in the weeks before-hand),
Meals together, Happy Hours, and other socializing with our precious dance friends,
The opportunity to play an instrument and/or sing in the Potluck Band,
Art/craft projects in the campus’ inspiring environment,
Morning stretching sessions and nature walks in the tranquil, outstandingly natural landscape,
Expertly-led star, and maybe satellite-gazing, well away from LA’s city lights.

Campus
Once again, Fall Camp will be on the beautiful rural Brandeis-Bardin Campus near Simi Valley, with its comfortable motel-style rooms in an idyllic, natural setting. Nestled in a woodsy alcove, the campus is a lovely place where you can enjoy being close to nature while still having the creature comforts of excellent meals (upgraded from previous years), motel-style rooms (with private bathrooms, heat, and air conditioning), and more. You can dance when you feel like it, and when you don’t, do other things such as catching up with friends, playing Scrabble, working on a jigsaw puzzle with others, getting a massage, completing a craft project, going for a walk in nature, reading a good book, meditating, or doing nothing at all. You don’t have to get on a plane or drive treacherous mountain roads to be with nature, and WiFi is available too!
About 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, near Simi Valley, Brandeis-Bardin is a lovely and comfortable place to spend a weekend dancing with friends. The beautifully landscaped grounds have many mature trees and offer breathtaking views of the Santa Susana Mountains. The camp’s address is 1101 Peppertree Lane, Brandeis, CA 93064. Fly into Burbank or LAX.
Fall Camp Registration
Registration
Note that the Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc. requires participants to sign a waiver that is included in the file. As we get closer to the date, Brandeis-Bardin Campus will also require participants to sign a waiver, and that waiver can be signed online.
Register

Stockton Folk Dance Winter Weekend
2026-01-30 16:30 - 2026-02-02 03:00 | Online, CA, United States
Instead of making you wait all the way to July to enjoy the wonders of Stockton Folk Dance Camp, enjoy the 2026 Stockton Folk Dance Winter Weekend with
Dance – Music – Presentations – Videos – Games – Parties – Virtual Hugs
All online via Zoom
Featuring an all-star faculty with more than 70 hours of classes, presentations, parties, and replays

💖 4 dance parties.
💖 Dance With the Teachers hosted by Paul Collins, Sherry Cochran, Murray Spiegel, and Roo Lester
💖 Sherry Cochran and Will Cope – The Rise of Folk Bands in the U.S.
💖 Our amazing house band, Orkestar Unbound

Featured artists include:

Richard Powers – Presentation
Jaap Leegwater and Angel Nazlâmov – Bulgarian
Tanya Dimitrov – Bulgarian
Shamulik Gov-Ari – Israeli
Andy Taylor – Dances from Carpathian Europe
Heidi Vorst and Süssefüsse – Dance Performance
Will Cope and Orkestar Unbound – International Dance Music Favorites

More artist details…
Plus games, videos, puzzles, and more to be announced. This, along with our great MCs and Techs, will make it a wonderful weekend.
Visit the Stockton Folk Dance Camp Winter Weekend page for emerging details…
REGISTRATION
The entire online camp is free with registration on Zoom. Register now! If you are already registered for the Global Folk Dance Party, you’re all set. We use the same Zoom.
Register
DONATE
One hundred percent of each donation goes directly to the artists! Stockton Folk Dance Camp is a 501-c-3 nonprofit, so all donations are tax deductible. No contribution is too small.
Donate
Schedule

Your browser does not support iframes. You can view the content here.

Monte Toyon Weekend
2026-01-30 18:00 - 2026-02-01 13:00 | Monte Toyon, 220 Cloister Lane, Aptos, CA, 95003, United States
What a lovely combination, folk dancing and friends, all in the beautiful nature near Aptos. Join us for a weekend in the verdant redwoods with teacher Loui Tucker. Loui plans to poll attendees regarding their interests and will draw from her repertoire gathered during her 45+ years of teaching international folk dance. Be prepared for interesting and enjoyable dances to inspiring music.

International dances
Morning classes 9 am to 12 noon, Saturday and Sunday
Culture Corner 1 pm, Saturday
All-request dance parties, Friday and Saturday evenings
Lots more fun!

Mail-in Registration Form Camp Monte Toyon is located near Santa Cruz, outside of Aptos. Activities start with dinner Friday evening, 6pm, and end after lunch on Sunday. Saturday afternoon options are culture corner with Loui or possibly walking the beaches, hiking through the redwoods, visiting the nearby towns or the monarch butterflies at the state park.
Space is limited to 50 attendees, and room assignments are made in the order that deposits are received. The onsite rate for the entire weekend is $320 and the offsite rate is $250; deduct $20 without Friday dinner. Save your spot with a deposit of $50 each, or pay in full, with the balance due by December 20, 2025.
Register online

NFO Conference 2026
2026-03-05 - 2026-03-08 | Old Murphey School, Shared Visions Retreat Center, 3717 Murphy School Road, Durham, NC, 27705, United States
Annual NFO Meeting and Conference 2026
March 5 – 8, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina
Save the date!
Arrive in time for the Welcoming Reception on Thursday evening. Friday starts out with the NFO Annual Membership. The rest of the weekend will be full of presentations, workshops, performances, and parties, and the Awards Banquet on Saturday evening. Plan to stay through Monday morning for the post-conference debrief.
We hope you will join us in Durham for three+ days of cultural activities, events, and friends, including:

Presentations
Dance instruction
Music workshops
Evening dance parties
Workshops
Performances
Live music
Singing
Networking opportunities
Awards banquet
Annual business meeting

Presenters
Many more presenters and performers will be announced, but here’s a preview of our exciting program.

Phil Jamison – Appalachian Dance Traditions
Erik Bendix – International Dancing
Sheila Kay Adams – Storytelling
Ben Owen – Pottery
Triangle Shape Note Singers – Singing
Apple Chill Cloggers – Dancing
Debby Szajnberg – NFO Grant Report: Global Rhythm Games

Registration opens November 28, 2025. More info will be posted to the website as updates are available.
For ongoing updates in programming, schedule, and registration visit the NFO 2026 Conference Web Page.

Lyrids Folk Dance Festival 2026
2026-04-17 - 2026-04-19 | Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall, 12460 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, V3Y 2J5, Canada
The twelfth and final Lyrids Folk Dance Festival will take place April 17-19, 2026 at Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall an hour drive east of Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Our guest artists will be Tineke and Maurits van Geel presenting Armenian, Roma, and other International dances.
Zakuska from Seattle, WA will be the Saturday evening party band.
Register
Zoom Registration
For more details e-mail info@lyridsfolkdancefestival.org
Donations Gratefully Accepted
Please support the Festival and the Presenters. Drop into our Saturday party and we’ll tell you how to purchase the music and video packages from the Presenters.
Featured Guests
Tineke van Geel
Tineke Van Geel
In 1977 Tineke van Geel received her degree as folk dance instructor. She specializes in Armenian dance and works as a choreographer. Tineke conducts workshops for students at various levels, beginners to professional, and has taught classes in international folk dance, Dutch and Armenian dances in many countries around the world. Her main focus is to break down complicated steps and movements to basic elements and slowly ‘rebuilding’ them to the original dance form. This skill is part of her worldwide success and is combined with a vast knowledge of Armenian dance and culture.
Since 1985 she has regularly visited Armenia to study folklore at the Pedagogic Institute and Choreographic School in Yerevan. A part of each research trip was devoted to working with several amateur groups in Armenia and doing research on costumes. Two of those research trips were sponsored by the Dutch government. On several occasions Tineke visited the USA to observe the dances performed by the Armenian communities there. Read more…
Maurits van Geel
Maurits Van Geel
Maurits was artistic director of the professional Dutch dance performance group The Internationaal Danstheater for 24 years. During this interval, the group performed 47 different evening shows. Part of this job involved several months of dance research each year in order to prepare for these programs.
Maurits has traveled extensively in his dance research that has emphasized the Roma culture and those in the Caucasus. These travels have included India, Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, England, France, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ossetia, Dagestan, and Cherkassy. He has also choreographed many dances.
In the last several years, Maurits has been teaching often with Tineke, and this has included workshops in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. In North America, the couple have taught at Oktoberfest in Montreal, Pinewoods Camp in Maine, and Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Read more…

Land Dancers Folk Dance Weekend
2026-05-23 00:00 - 2026-05-25 00:00 | Cliff’s land in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA-9 & Skyline Blvd, Saratoga, CA, 95070
Please join the Land Dancers this Memorial Day May 23 to 25 for International and Israeli folk dancing and music at The Land. Anyone is welcome. Fun for families. No charge. Held every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. Founded by Cliff Jenkins and friends in 1981.
You can camp out for the whole weekend or just come for the day and enjoy the deck, the creek, the forest, dancing and friends!
We dance outdoors on a big redwood deck where two creeks come together in the Santa Cruz Mountains, off Skyline Blvd near Highway 9. Dancing typically runs from around noon to 11 pm Saturday and Sunday but there isn’t a set schedule. Note map shown is only general vicinity, contact Betsy to RSVP and for directions.
The event is free of charge but we welcome donations to Land Dancers, the 501c(3) organization we created to organize and carry on folk dance weekends at the land. You may bring a check or cash to the land, mail a check to the address shown below, or use this link to make a donation through PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account to donate).
Contact Betsy Moore, eambetsy@gmail.com (408-507-7177) to request a flyer with directions and more info, to ask questions, or to be added to our email list.

June Camp 2026
2026-06-11 - 2026-06-14 | Lake Forest Academy, 1500 West Kennedy Road, Lake Forest, 60045, United States
June Camp, a mainstay of the Midwest international folk dance community, welcomes dancers from all over the U.S.A. and beyond! We especially pride ourselves on welcoming globally-known dancers and this year Caspar Bik will be our featured guest.
See you at June Camp!
Caspar Bik
Caspar Bik Caspar Bik was born in 1990 in the Netherlands. He was an active dancer from a young age in groups that presented Dutch dances as well as groups that showed international dances. Caspar graduated in 2013 as a dance teacher at the dance academy Codarts in Rotterdam. Besides folk dancing, Caspar has experience in modern/contemporary dance, classical ballet, jazz dance, ballroom, and tap dance. Since his graduation he has been teaching different dance styles to children, teenagers, and adults at amateur and professional levels. In 2014, he founded a youth school for theater arts which performs a stage musical every year for which Caspar creates the choreography. Both as a folk dance instructor and as a choreographer he has taught courses in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Turkey, Taiwan and the USA. Caspar has been specializing in folk dances from countries around the Black Sea. During his research in Georgia, he trained with the professional ensemble Erisioni and traveled through the country to experience the colorful variety and beauty of Georgian dance, song and music. Read more
Dance Exchange
Programs such as the Dance Exchange give local teachers opportunities to shine. The Dance Exchange is a program of brief reviews by advance request, of classic old dances that you can’t quite remember – or ones from past June Camps that have slipped away. Participants submit suggestions and our committee finds local teachers who can present them. You can get a sense of the range of dances that have been included in the past by looking at this list. Notes and music for the Dance Exchange dances will be available to all and videos will be included in the weekend’s video download package. Read more…
Live Music Parties
As always, we will have wonderful live music for all our evening parties provided by Tom Pixton, Ralph Iverson, and Brian Wilson who are in residence throughout camp.
Register

Land Dancers Folk Dance Weekend
2026-09-05 11:00 - 2026-09-07 18:00 | Cliff’s land in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA-9 & Skyline Blvd, Saratoga, CA, 95070
Please join the Land Dancers this Labor Day weekend September 5 to 7 for International and Israeli folk dancing and music at The Land. Anyone is welcome. Fun for families. No charge. Held every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. Founded by Cliff Jenkins and friends in 1981.
You can camp out for the whole weekend or just come for the day and enjoy the deck, the creek, the forest, dancing and friends!
We dance outdoors on a big redwood deck where two creeks come together in the Santa Cruz Mountains, off Skyline Blvd near Highway 9. Dancing typically runs from around noon to 11 pm Saturday and Sunday but there isn’t a set schedule. Note map shown is only general vicinity, contact Betsy to RSVP and for directions.
The event is free of charge but we welcome donations to Land Dancers, the 501c(3) organization we created to organize and carry on folk dance weekends at the land. You may bring a check or cash to the land, mail a check to the address shown below, or use this link to make a donation through PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account to donate).
Contact Betsy Moore, eambetsy@gmail.com (408-507-7177) to request a flyer with directions and more info, to ask questions, or to be added to our email list.

North/South Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar
2026-10-09 19:00 - 2026-10-11 13:00 | Monte Toyon, 220 Cloister Lane, Aptos, CA, 95003, United States
Are you a folkdance teacher who would like to hone your skills or a dancer who would like to learn to teach? If so, plan to come to the N/S Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar!
About
North/South Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar is a gathering of teachers focused on improving teaching skills and sharing information and ideas with other teachers. All Folk Dance teachers, both current and prospective, are welcome. Each annual seminar features two master instructors who have specialized knowledge of folk dance.
The 2026 North/South Master Teachers are Tineke and Maurits van Geel. They will lead workshops on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning, plus cultural or teaching presentations. Both are professional teachers with decades of experience in welcoming and retaining dancers in the folk dance world.
Price
$320 with on-site accommodations, $270 off-site. Price includes meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch and all activities. On-site accommodation is dorm-style with shared bathrooms. Registration coming soon. Save the date!
Featured Guests
Tineke van Geel
Tineke Van Geel
In 1977 Tineke van Geel received her degree as folk dance instructor. She specializes in Armenian dance and works as a choreographer. Tineke conducts workshops for students at various levels, beginners to professional, and has taught classes in international folk dance, Dutch and Armenian dances in many countries around the world. Her main focus is to break down complicated steps and movements to basic elements and slowly ‘rebuilding’ them to the original dance form. This skill is part of her worldwide success and is combined with a vast knowledge of Armenian dance and culture.
Since 1985 she has regularly visited Armenia to study folklore at the Pedagogic Institute and Choreographic School in Yerevan. A part of each research trip was devoted to working with several amateur groups in Armenia and doing research on costumes. Two of those research trips were sponsored by the Dutch government. On several occasions Tineke visited the USA to observe the dances performed by the Armenian communities there. Read more…
Maurits van Geel
Maurits Van Geel
Maurits was artistic director of the professional Dutch dance performance group The Internationaal Danstheater for 24 years. During this interval, the group performed 47 different evening shows. Part of this job involved several months of dance research each year in order to prepare for these programs.
Maurits has traveled extensively in his dance research that has emphasized the Roma culture and those in the Caucasus. These travels have included India, Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, England, France, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ossetia, Dagestan, and Cherkassy. He has also choreographed many dances.
In the last several years, Maurits has been teaching often with Tineke, and this has included workshops in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. In North America, the couple have taught at Oktoberfest in Montreal, Pinewoods Camp in Maine, and Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Read more…

Monte Toyon Camp & Conference Center
Helgesson Hall, Monte Toyon
Monte Toyon Camp & Conference Center is an idyllic oasis right in the heart of Aptos, California. Just a short drive from the west coast beaches you’ll head inland on a road that meanders through a beautiful wooded forest opening to our doorstep. Situated in a gorgeous and refreshing redwood forest setting, there are short nature trails that circle the camp for a peaceful walk in forest beauty. Monte Toyon is a short drive to nearby Nisene Marks State Park, Seacliff State Beach, and Santa Cruz Beaches and Boardwalk. Wi-Fi is available in meeting areas. Read more…
Register Now

Fall Camp 2026
2026-10-30 - 2026-11-01 | Brandeis-Bardin Campus, 1101 Peppertree Lane, Brandeis, CA, 93064, United States
Band Being-together New-laughs-old-friends Dance Happy-hour Walk Wildlife Discover-the-unexpected Fall Camp 2026
The 7th Fall Camp will be Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, and it promises to be another vibrant, fun-filled weekend. Once again, camp will be on the Brandeis-Bardin Campus near Simi Valley (40 miles northwest of downtown LA), with a delightful combination of creature comforts (such as motel-style rooms with heating and air conditioning) and a lovely rural setting. We will dance in a beautiful, air conditioned hall with a wood floor.
In addition to teaching, camp will offer many entertaining and even enriching attractions, including a Halloween-themed dance party, a Fall Colors-themed dance party, happy hours, the Potluck Band (open to all musical campers), craft projects and puzzles, stargazing with a rocket scientist, morning nature walks, and some other past favorites and new surprises.
Join us for another magical, fun-filled weekend of dance, music, crafts, nature, and camaraderie.
Campus
Once again, Fall Camp will be on the beautiful rural Brandeis-Bardin Campus near Simi Valley, with its comfortable motel-style rooms in an idyllic, natural setting. Nestled in a woodsy alcove, the campus is a lovely place where you can enjoy being close to nature while still having the creature comforts of excellent meals (upgraded from previous years), motel-style rooms (with private bathrooms, heat, and air conditioning), and more. You can dance when you feel like it, and when you don’t, do other things such as catching up with friends, playing Scrabble, working on a jigsaw puzzle with others, getting a massage, completing a craft project, going for a walk in nature, reading a good book, meditating, or doing nothing at all. You don’t have to get on a plane or drive treacherous mountain roads to be with nature, and WiFi is available too!
About 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, near Simi Valley, Brandeis-Bardin is a lovely and comfortable place to spend a weekend dancing with friends. The beautifully landscaped grounds have many mature trees and offer breathtaking views of the Santa Susana Mountains. The camp’s address is 1101 Peppertree Lane, Brandeis, CA 93064. Fly into Burbank or LAX.
Registration
PRICES INCREASE JULY 1 SO REGISTER SOON!
Fall Camp 2026 Registration Form and Waiver

NFO Conference 2027
2027-04-07 - 2027-04-11 | Old Murphey School, Shared Visions Retreat Center, 3717 Murphy School Road, Durham, NC, 27705, United States
Annual NFO Meeting and Conference 2027
April 7 – 11, 2027 in Twin Cities, Minnisota
Save the date!
The NFO Conference in Twin Cities, MN will be presented in conjunction with IFest-MN – International Festival of Minnesota
For ongoing updates in programming, schedule, and registration visit the NFO 2027 Conference Web Page.
