Folk Dance Federation of California

Kolo Festival 2023
2023-11-24 - 2023-11-25 | Croatian Cultural Center, 60 Onondaga Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94708, United States
As always, there will be live music from: Albania, America, Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Norway, Romani, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden and Turkey! Jam session charts available all year round! Bulgarian/Macedonian Jam & Sing-along — for all instruments!
A brief performance by Łowiczanie Polish Dance Ensemble performing songs and dances from the Polish Roma community has been added to the Saturday night program. Łowiczanie, under the direction of Mary Kay Stuvland, has been performing since 1975 and is based in San Francisco.
There will be Zoom broadcasting of snippets of the festival through the Global Folk Dance Party channel. It’s FREE!
Zoom Registration
2023 will be the 72nd annual Kolo Festival!
Dance Instructors
Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu
Romanian Folk Dance
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…
Anna Angelova
Bulgarian Dances
Anna grew up in a small town in Northern Bulgaria where the lively local festivities (sabors) and traditional ceremonies kindled her
Zoom Registration interest in folklore at an early age. Anna’s dance adventures started when she joined the town’s folk dance ensemble where she learned from esteemed choreographers and performed along experienced dancers throughout her youth years.
Upon coming to Boston to further her education, Anna got introduced to the internationally acclaimed Ahmet Luleci’s Collage Dance Ensemble: a unique experience that unlocked passion and appreciation for the greater Balkan magic, and beyond. The 8 years Anna spent performing with Collage on local and national stages were instrumental for her growth as a dancer – from professional attitude to stage presence to polished style to authentic connection with our ancestors through Ahmet’s vibrant choreographies. In 2022, Anna was honored to teach Bulgarian Dance at Ahmet Luleci’s annual World Camp in Rock Hill, New York.
With the start of her own family in Boston, Anna felt the need to be more involved in the local Bulgarian community. This is when she joined Ludo Mlado, a Bulgarian folk ensemble led by Pepi Petrov and Marieta Mircheva. Anna connected with Ludo Mlado’s mission to preserve the rich dance traditions of Bulgaria. An outstanding moment with Ludo Mlado was the opportunity to participate in the Chicago Folk Festival VEREA. Read more…
For details visit http://kolofestival.org
On Site Registration

Register
Donate
Do you love Kolo Festival and wish to see it survive and flourish? We need your help to continue to produce this stellar music and dance program. Whether or not you can attend this year, please consider making a monetary gift.
This year we have matching grants funded by https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcucemrqT4rGdEuA1GXFGqXLH9BSIMr8_HpMitch Allen, Diane Baker and myself for a total of $3k! You can help us receive that money by either a one time contribution or a monthly contribution. You will find both options at https://KoloFestival.org.
Thank you for your consideration!
The California Kolo Festival Board

Family Fun and Dancing
2023-11-24 19:00 - 22:00, 2023-12-22 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Miraloma Park Clubhouse, 350 O’Shaughnessey Boulevard (at Del Vale Avenue), San Francisco, CA, 94127, United States
Join Changs International Folk Dancers for a night of music and dance for the entire family!
An hour of fun dance activities to music from around the world. Every Fourth Friday, 7pm-8pm
Followed at 8-10pm by international folk dances from our club’s repertoire.
$8 Adults (first time free!), Kids always free!

Palomanians Pie Party
2023-12-09 19:00 - 22:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
The annual Palomanians Pie Party featuring ice cream, refreshments and pie all provided by the Palomanians! Come join us for an evening of dancing and pie.
Nothing to bring, all pies, ice cream, and refreshments will be supplied by the Palomanians. Dances range from beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set). Denise Heenan will be our MC.
This year’s Palomanians Pie Party is even more special than usual.
As some know, Denise Heenan, teacher of the Palomanians for over 30 years, is retiring at the end of December. While certainly not disappearing from the Palomanians and the folk dance scene this is Denise’s last month running the Palomanians class.
So….in addition to enjoying a great evening of dancing and enjoying great pies and ice cream provided by the Palomanians, come and say thanks to Denise for a wonderful 30 years of friendship, leadership, and teaching. We’ll have some ‘open mic’ time for people to share their stories and we look forward to seeing you.
Email your requests or questions to pfdcparty@gmail.com
Proof of up to date vaccinations are required. If you’ve been to our parties in the past, we’ve marked you as vaccinated. If this is your first party, please bring proof of vaccination or email us proof at pfdcparty@gmail.com. Masks optional,
Download and share a flier.

Cafe Shalom Dance Party
2023-12-09 19:30 - 23:30 | Congregation Am Tikvah, 625 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, CA, United States
Israeli folk dancers from all over the Bay Area dance the night away at Café Shalom’s Saturday party—a monthly tradition since the 1960s! We play a wonderful mix of oldies and the latest dances based on requests. Dancers of all ages are invited to join the fun on the second Saturday of every month.
Saturday classes are large parties with many dancers from all ages and spectrum. We dance dances from 1918 and from 2018 back to back.
This year, the December Cafe Shalom falls on a day during the Hannukah holiday. What a treat!! Saturday Dec. 9, Congregation Am Tikvah and Cafe Shalom jointly hold the 2023 Cafe Shalom Hanukkah Candle Lighting, Potluck, and Israeli Dance Party.
5:30 pm – Candles
6:00 pm – Potluck
7:30 pm – Dancing
The first part of the evening – 30-45 minutes starts with slow and beginners dances, oldies, and dances which we learn in Tuesday class. Later we increase the intensity, up the beat and the pace and the evening is fully charged with great energy and fun.
7:30 pm – Warm-up, beginner’s, oldies dances, and recently taught dances
8:00 pm – Our party perks up… with circle, and couple dances
9:15 pm – Birthday celebrations, announcements, followed by a line dance set
9:30 – 11:30 pm – We’ll dance ‘til then or ‘til we drop – whatever comes first!
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students.
Info: Text 669.444.1284
Cafe Shalom, more details…

Saratoga Folk Dancers Black & White Ball
2023-12-14 19:30 - 22:15 | St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 18870 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, California, 95070
Celebrate the holidays with the Saratoga International Folk Dancers. Dress in black, white, or some combination — it makes for great photos. Refreshments for the table welcome!
Warmup and dances for beginners between 7:30 and 8:15pm. Request dancing for the rest of the evening. This is a large, friendly group; you won’t be disappointed! Drop in fee $8, seniors $6, and first visit free. More details…

Global Folk Dance Party
2023-12-16 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
Decorate for December!
Let’s celebrate the end of 2023 by decorating, dancing, and sharing out dance spaces.
Join The Party
By Zoom
Register by Zoom
We’ve changed Zoom numbers. Here’s what you need to do. Use the registration link above and you’ll get an email from Zoom with your link for the Global Folk Dance Party. Feel free to share the above registration link with your friends, they’ll get their own link to join. With the new registration, you’ll get a reminder email the morning of the Global Folk Dance Party, so you don’t have to look for your link.

IMPORTANT – Do not use both computer and phone; you will generate feedback.
Zoom will best be viewed using side by side mode. See https://bit.ly/39dximU for info.
When in the meeting, click the ‘chat’ button to chat with everybody and make requests.
When you sign into Zoom, enter your name and city so we know where you’re from!

By Facebook Live
Join by Facebook Live
if Zoom is full or you just want to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/PFDCouncil/
For more details or to send requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Christmas Night Dance Party
2023-12-25 19:00 - 22:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Once upon a time, a family gathered with friends and relatives every Christmas Night to celebrate the day. They shared food and beverages, and danced away the evening. John Nicoara was there. It was from the stories of these warm memories that Jan and he, and Becky and Adony, were inspired to continue that tradition with a new family — YOU!
All request Folk Dance Party with Adony and Becky Beniares as our MCs! Send your request to pfdcparty@gmail.com or to Adony directly. This is our 16th annual Christmas dance party.
Bring a finger food snack to share. Water and punch will be provided.
Proof of up to date vaccinations are required. If you’ve been to our parties in the past, we’ve marked you as vaccinated. If this is your first party, please bring proof of vaccination or email us proof at pfdcparty@gmail.com. Masks are not required.

New Years Eve Dance Party and Second Harvest Fundraiser
2023-12-31 19:00 - 2024-01-01 00:15 | All Saints’ Episcopal, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto, CA, 94301, United States
Come help Moveable Feet celebrate the arrival of 2024 with an in-person potluck supper and dance party while raising money for Second Harvest, a local food bank!
The combined, New Year’s Eve International Folk Dance Party and Lucy Chang Memorial Second Harvest Fundraiser will kick off on Saturday, December 31, at 7:00 p.m. and wind down not long after we ring in the New Year on Saturday morning. Once again it will be held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 555 Waverley Street, Palo Alto.
We’ll start with a potluck dinner at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:45), followed by dancing from about 8 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. Bring a favorite dish to share (label your serving utensils). Moveable Feet will supply drinks, plates, and utensils.
Please make a generous donation to Second Harvest, either in advance or bring to the party cash, checks, or a smart phone to use a credit card. You may also bring cans, jars (peanut butter), bags (rice, pasta), and boxes (cereal, cake mix) to be delivered to SHFB.
Additional notes: Masks appreciated. Parking is free on New Year’s Eve and no time limit in Palo Alto city lots and streets.
Donate to SHFB

New Year's Eve Dance Party
2023-12-31 21:00 - 2024-01-01 00:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Celebrate the New Year in dance with the Berkeley Folk Dancers! Come early to help decorate and ignite the party! Bring finger food.
Registration: $12 at the door
For more details contact Peter D’Angelo

Berkeley Folk Dance's Birthday Ball
2024-01-06 13:00 - 17:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Celebrate 83 Years of Berkeley Folk Dance
In January, BFD starts its 83rd year! Celebrate our birthday with us at the annual Birthday Ball, where we also welcome this year’s new beginners, as well as everyone who’s joined for the first time since last January.
The theme, is Come Fly With Me! Think of all the countries you could fly to!

Schedule

Time
Event
Price

1:00-2:00pm
Lunch
$25

2:00-5:00pm
Dancing
$12

Register

International Folk Dance Party
2024-01-12 13:15 - 16:00 | Age Well Center at South Fremont, 47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont, CA, 94539, United States
Free International Folk Dance Party. No partner or experience needed.
Dance Party Playlist
Party Play List

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2024-01-13 19:00 - 22:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Join the Peninsula Council Folk Dancers for an all-request dance party enceed by Clem Dickey
We’ll have dances for all levels, beginning to advanced. Dress comfortably in layers; sneakers or low-heeled dance shoes recommended. Donations to help cover the cost of the hall are welcome. We do dances from nearly every country in the world, and the music is incredible.
Masks are optional. Up to date vaccinations are required. If you’ve already shown us your vaccine info, no need to do it again. If not, you can email it to us at pfdcparty@gmail.com or bring it with you.
Send your dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com along with any questions, comments, or suggestions. Our MC will be Clem Dickey for this all request party.
Dances range from beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set). If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.
DOWNLOAD and share a flier.

Federation Board Meeting
2024-01-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation online for their board meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed.
Sunday January 14, 3:00pm-4:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 893 5363 4541
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

Stockton Folk Dance Winter Weekend
2024-01-19 - 2024-01-21 | 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 2024 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

💖 20+ hours of new dance classes, presentations, live music, videos hours, and events.
💖 12+ hours of dance parties
💖 Replays of almost everything, so you get two chances to watch
💖 Puzzles, videos, and all the other great things you’ve seen at our Camps.

Featured artists include:
DANCE TEACHERS

Ahmet Lüleci – Turkish
Anna Angelova – Bulgarian
Erica Goldman – Israeli
Jaap Leegwater & Jan Wollring – Bulgarian
Richard Powers – Vintage Dances

MUSIC TEACHERS

Polly Tapia Ferber – Drumming
Michele Simon – Singing

PRESENTATIONS

Ahmet Lüleci – Cooking and Video Hour
Andrew Carnie – Scotland and Gaelic
Richard Powers – Vintage Dances

LIVE MUSIC

Bill Cope And Orkestar Unbound

ASIA PARTY WITH FUSAE CARROLL
CELEBRATING YVES MOREAU
This, along with our great MCs and Techs, will make it a wonderful weekend.
Visit https://stocktonfolkdancecamp.org/winter-weekend-2024/ for emerging details…
SCHEDULE

View Winter Weekend Camp Schedule
REGISTRATION
The entire online camp is free with registration on Zoom.
Register
DONATE
100 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

Hungarian Dance House (Táncház) with Live Music
2024-01-20 16:00 - 22:30 | Black Box Theater, Woodside Priory, 302 Portola Rd, Portola Valley, 94028, United States
Eszterlánc invites you to join us at our táncház on January 20th, 2024. This is our regular start-of-the-year dance house, with László Orbán on violin, Miklós Lajos “Lecsó” on brácsa, and János Erdei on bőgő.
Our KCSP scholar, Ilka Dajka will lead the dance teaching circles. She will be helped by a male dance teacher visiting us from Hungary. Food and pastries, drinks (beer, wine, and soda) will be available for purchase.
All levels of experience welcome, no partner needed. Doors open at 4pm.

Schedule

Time
Event

4:00pm
Kid’s Dance

5:00pm
Adult Dance Teaching

6:00pm
Táncház

10:00pm
Singing

Admission
Adults $20
Youth 5-17 $5
Families (2 adults + 2 youth) $40
The event closes with open dance.

Cretan Glendi with Musicians from Crete
2024-02-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Joe Goode Annex, 401 Alabama at 17th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
At GreekFeet, we love to dance to live music! We are pleased to host Manolis Bobolakis and Vaggelis Bagourakis directly from Crete playing Cretan music for our dancing pleasure. Bring your dancing shoes for a night of lively dancing!
$20
Joe Goode Annex
401 Alabama Street at 17th Street
San Francisco
Ring the bell at the gate to enter.
Info: greekfeet@icloud.com
Sponsored by GreekFeet
Listen to Manolis Bobolakis, singer and violin

Vaggelis Bagourakis on Laouto

Festival of the Oaks
2024-02-10 13:00 - 21:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
For the 75th(!) anniversary of the Festival of the Oaks, there will be an afternoon workshop with John Morovich, followed a dance performance, an optional dinner, and an evening dance party.
Refreshments will be provided. Oh, and be sure to shop at (and/or donate to) the pre-owned folk dance costume sale (4:15 pm – 9:00 pm). For members of the Folk Dance Federation of California, there will be a membership meeting during the dinner hour.

Schedule

Time
Event
Price

1:00 pm
Doors open

1:30-4:00pm
Institute with John Morovich
$20

4:00-4:15pm
Dance performance

4:15-5:00pm
Dinner
$10

5:15-9:00pm
International Folk Dancing,Dances from around the world, Institute Reviews & Contras
$18

Special all-day Institutes and Folk Dance evening party package is $34.
John Morovich
John Morovich John Morovich, born in 1965, grew up in Seattle’s sizable Croatian community. Since 1973, he has studied, taught, and performed traditional music and dance of Croatia and other parts of Southeastern Europe. He was awarded the prestigious Washington State Arts Commission Folk Arts Fellowship for 2001.
He is currently the artistic director of the Seattle Junior Tamburitzans, a 50-member youth ensemble of which he was a performer from 1974 through 1987 and since 2013 has directed Tamburaski Orkestar Kisobran. He conducted the Jele Croatian Women’s Choir and Klapa Ruzmarin in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He was selected as Guest Conductor for the Croatian Fraternal Union of America Junior Cultural Federation Festival held in Chicago, in July 2005.
From 1980 through 2002, he was a featured performer with the Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble and the Ruže Dalmatinke Orchestra. In December, 2001, he erformed in and served as orchestra director for the Croatian Christmas cantata Narodil Se Mladi Kralj, by Tomislav Uhlik of Zagreb, Croatia, which was directed by Mary Sherhart. Since 1979, he has performed with the Sinovi Tamburica Orchestra with friends George, Tom and Tim Jovanovich, Jeff Suhadolnik, and John Major. The band, which participates frequently in the Tamburitza Extravaganzas, now includes Matt Thompson and George’s son Nick. For five years he performed with a balkan-gypsy fusion rock band Kultur Shock, with recent immigrants from the Balkans; and he recorded two albums with the group.
John has taught at many camps and seminars, including the California Kolo Festival in San Francisco, the Balkana Seattle Balkan Camp, the Texas Camp, the East European Folklife Center’s Balkan Music & Dance Workshops, and the Seattle Folk Dance Festival. John has also worked with many folklore ensembles across the United States and Canada. He most recently choreographed for the Ban Jelačić Croatian Dance Ensemble of Penticton, B.C., Canada; Hrvatski Vitezovi; Sarajevo of Vancouver; and Zagreb of Victoria, B.C., Canada, and Ethnic Dance Theatre of Minneapolis. MN. Dances John has taught include Kabanica i Seksera, Grizlica, H’ajd Na Lievo, Mazulka, Okrani Se Moje Kolo Malo, Repa, Sad Moi Dragi u Šumi Kod Koza, Saljsko Kolo, Slavonsko Kukunješče, Sroteš, Sˇ’tiri Snehe, Tanac po Susasko, Veloluški Tanac, and Žena Ide Na Gosti.
Register
DOWNLOAD and share a flier!
Contact Ruthie Gasser for more details.

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2024-02-11 15:30 - 18:30 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Join the Peninsula Council Folk Dancers for an all-request Valentines dance party emceed by Hollis and Lon Radin.
We’ll have dances for all levels, beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set). Dress comfortably in layers; sneakers or low-heeled dance shoes recommended. Donations to help cover the cost of the hall are welcome. We do dances from nearly every country in the world, and the music is incredible.
Masks optional. Up to date vaccinations are required. If you’ve already shown us your vaccine info, no need to do it again. If not, you can email it to us at pfdcparty@gmail.com or bring it with you.
Send your dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com along with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.
DOWNLOAD and share a flier

Yanni Konstantinou Greek Dance Workshop
2024-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Joe Goode Annex, 401 Alabama at 17th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
Yannis is a great friend to GreekFeet. We are happy once again to welcome Yanni for a special dance workshop. He is a great instructor and this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Joe Goode Annex
401 Alabama Street at 17th Street
San Francisco
Ring the bell at the gate to enter.
Yannis Konstantinou
Yannis Konstantinou
Yannis Konstantinou, is an internationally recognized teacher and researcher of Greek Macedonian Dances and culture. He has taught workshops extensively throughout Europe and the USA. Yannis is the current president of the highly respected dance association “Lygkistes” which has performed extensively throughout Europe. Yannis also served as the artistic director and instructor for Lykeion Ellinidion Florinas, teaching over 200 dancers of all ages on a weekly basis, as well as teaching at many Cultural Associations
Yannis’ passion for traditional music and dance began in his childhood, dancing with his family in his parents’ villages of Alona and Akrites in the Florina region of Greece. He is deeply committed to preserving and sharing the rich traditions, culture, music and dance of this region.

Annual Lunar New Year Festival
2024-02-17 13:00 - 17:30 | Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South Street, Cerritos, CA, 90703, United States
The annual Cerritos Folk Dancers Lunar New Year Festival! Now in its 12th year!
Workshop teachers are Alexandru David and Mihai David.
Suggested donation: $15 per person at the door (non-refundable $12 if prepaid by Feb. 18, 2023)
There will be finger food served. If you like, you may bring food or non-alcoholic beverage to share with other dancers.
You have the option to attend the after-festival dinner together. The restaurant and the cost are to be announced in the festival. To reserve a seat, please sign up at the front desk by 4 p.m. on the day of the festival.
For more details contact CerritosFolkDancers@gmail.com or call Wen at 626 500 5035.

Global Folk Dance Party
2024-02-17 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
Celebrate Leap Year!
Is there anything more fun and joyous than leaping? Come leap, lift and jump with us as we celebrate leap year as only folk dancers can! We’ll have our usual team of dance leaders and this month we’re also joined by guest leaders Harry Solomon, Judy Solomon, Siu-Ching Lui, and Paul Tong. Have any ideas? Send them along to us!
Please come at 2:30pm to listen to pre-show music presented by Murray Spiegel. Also join us for the after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends.
Join The Party
By Zoom
Register by Zoom
We’ve changed Zoom numbers. Here’s what you need to do. Use the registration link above and you’ll get an email from Zoom with your link for the Global Folk Dance Party. Feel free to share the above registration link with your friends, they’ll get their own link to join. With the new registration, you’ll get a reminder email the morning of the Global Folk Dance Party, so you don’t have to look for your link.

IMPORTANT – Do not use both computer and phone; you will generate feedback.
Zoom will best be viewed using side by side mode. See https://bit.ly/39dximU for info.
When in the meeting, click the ‘chat’ button to chat with everybody and make requests.
When you sign into Zoom, enter your name and city so we know where you’re from!

By Facebook Live
Join by Facebook Live
if Zoom is full or you just want to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/PFDCouncil/
For more details or to send requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Dance Party with Da! Mozhem
2024-02-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma, CA, 94952, United States
Special dance party with band Da! Mozhem hosted by Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers. Bring tips for the band!
Da! Mozhem is back with new tunes and old favorites, playing at some great clubs and venues in the greater Bay Area, including Santa Cruz and Petaluma.
Da! Mozhem at the San Francisco Free Folk Festival
Da! Mozhem
Da! Mozhem plays and sings high-energy pan-Balkan music for the joy of dancing. D!M is a group of friends who have been playing together for well over a decade. The group has veterans from many excellent folklore bands such as the People’s International Silver String Macedonian Band, Born to Drone, Westwind, Sviraci, and the Slavonian Traveling Band. The band plays with emphasis on Bulgarian, Macedonian, and ex-Yugoslav traditions. Several members frequently travel to the Balkans to learn more about the folkloric music of the region. The group plays on traditional instruments unique to the region as well as modern instruments.

Laguna Folk Dance Festival 2024
2024-03-01 - 2024-03-03 | Laguna Woods Clubhouse 2, 24112 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Woods, CA, 92637, United States
Clubhouse 2 Southern California’s premier folk dance festival! Dance and instrumental workshops with master teachers, parties with live music, the famous Sunday Dance Concert, catered food… what’s not to like? The Laguna Festival is one of Southern California’s premier annual folk dance events. You can bet all your friends will be there. You should be too!

Instructors
We are proud to announce that our teachers this year are Dr. Gergana Panova-Tekath and Roberto Bagnoli
Gergana Panova
Dr. Gergana Panova-Tekath
Dr. Gergana Panova-Tekath was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. From 1988 to 1993, she danced with the Filip Kutev Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble. She studied dance ethnology in Bulgaria and obtained her Ph.D. in dance from Dortmund University (Germany).
She regularly commutes between Bulgaria, where she heads the Ethnochoreology Department at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and Germany, where she is Professor of Dance at Folkwang University in Essen.
She has published numerous articles and has written two books on various aspects of Bulgarian traditional dance. Besides organizing annual summer seminars in Bulgaria, Gergana has taught workshops in many countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Israel, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina and North America.
She graduated in Dance Pedagogy, Ethnochoreology, Choreography and Direction (Bulgaria), and Kinetography and Communicative Sciences (Germany) and has completed a Doctorate with “Summa cum laude” and awarded the prize “Dissertation 2004” from the Technical University of Dortmund (Germany) in the area of Cultural Philosophy. The title of her thesis is “Dance after Perestroika. The Communication between Eastern and Western Europe through the Bulgarian Folkdances.” Gergana qualified in Ethnochoreology and Communication in 2011 in Sofia.
She performed as a solo dancer and choreographer at the National Ensemble for Folksongs and Folkdances (Philip Koutev) in Sofia from 1988 to 1994, was a Choreographer for different Bulgarian and international Theater Projects, was a Senior Fellow and Associate Professor for Ethnochoreology at the Institute for Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, and has lectured at the Technical University of Dortmund, the Humboldt University, Berlin, the University in Zurich, the University of Music, Vienna, and the New Bulgarian University, Sofia.
Starting in 1994, she has conducted over 300 seminars and summer academies in folk dances in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.
Gergana has published over 50 Articles and two books about dancing, nonverbal communication, ethnology, etcetera in Bulgarian, German, English, and Russian.
Read more…

Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel, and North America under the guidance of renowned choreographers and teachers. Roberto now lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy, considered to have one of the most important dance communities in Italy.
From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di luna Italiana and Capriccio Italiano (Italian dances), GiroGiroMondo (dances from around the world), Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances), Mazal Tov (Israeli dances), and Ethnos (international folk dances).
He is the founder of Folk Atelier Reggio Emilia (FARE), devoted to the development and conservation of folk dance heritage. As director of FARE, he is in charge of organizing and conducting folk dance classes, workshops with Italian and foreign specialists, and of the performing sector, staging various performances, parties, and dance gatherings.
He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli Dance).
Roberto teaches weekly classes in various cities in the north of Italy and conducts monthly sessions in Rome and Milan besides conducting workshops and seminars throughout Europe, the United States (notably the Stockton Folk Dance Camp), and Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan. Read more…
Melanie Lawson Kareem
Ukulele playing and jamming
Returning to The Laguna Folk Dance Festival, Melanie Lawson Kareem, a folk dancer since childhood, shares her lifetime of enjoying music with others by teaching ukulele on Zoom, everyday. She is well-known in the folk dance world as “The Folk Dancer’s Ukulele Teacher” having taught at Stockton Camp since 2019.
Bands
Sans Frontières
Sans Frontières has a wide-ranging repertoire, tackling pieces that are widely danced, but not typically performed by IFD bands.  Their repertoire consists of relatively recent music that evolved from, and celebrates, ethnic heritage, but expresses that heritage in modern-day musical conventions – Music from anywhere in the world that’s popular for dance all around the world.  Read more…
Tzidia
Tzidia is a San Diego-based band made up of friends who previously performed together with the groups Trio Zheni, Eastern Exposure, and Dromia. Their name reflects these earlier associations. They play folk dance music primarily from the Balkans and surrounding areas, plus Scandinavia. Read more…
Hotel
Ayres Hotel within walking distance of festival. Phone (949) 588-0131 and ask for “Laguna Woods” discount. Available with the local operator only. (Do not use 800#).
Covid Policy
At this time we have no restrictions. People can decide their level of risk and wear a mask or not and/or take other measures as they deem appropriate to their particular situation. Please do not attend the Festival if you are feeling unwell. If you are feeling unwell, stay home and contact us for a refund.

More Details

International Folk Dance Party
2024-03-08 13:15 - 16:00 | Age Well Center at South Fremont, 47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont, CA, 94539, United States
Party Playlist Free International Folk Dance Party. No partner or experience needed. Come join us for easy and fun dances from around the world.
Wear yellow or green to help us celebrate the arrival of Spring!

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2024-03-09 19:00 - 22:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
(Vecteesy.com) Calling all Hip Cats and Folk Dancers.
Join us on March 9 for a 50’s themed folk dance bash. Join the two ginchiest MCs on the planet, Alicia LaFetra and Ellie Wiener, as they spin your favorite folk dances from every decade.
Dressing up for this event is optional, but if you’re up for it, you can join us and be the bees knees, dressing up in whatever 50’s style suits you. Visit this webpage, or this link for ideas on dressing up.
We’ll have dances for all levels, beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set). Dress comfortably in layers; sneakers or low-heeled dance shoes recommended. Donations to help cover the cost of the hall are welcome. We do dances from nearly every country in the world, and the music is incredible.
Requested donation of $10, but no one will be turned away due to money.
Please stay home if you are sick, and please wear a mask if you are unsure or have been exposed to someone with a contagious illness. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Send your dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com along with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
DOWNLOAD and share a flier!
If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.

Global Folk Dance Party
2024-03-16 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
Connect Globally, Dance Locally. Follow folk dance leaders and dance watching enthusiasts worldwide.
Remember singing your ABCs? Well, now you can dance them! We’ll have our usual team of dance leaders and this month we’re also joined by guest leaders Mady Newfield and Catherine Rudin. Have any ideas? Send them along to us!
Please come at 2:30pm to listen to pre-show music presented by Murray Spiegel. Also join us for the after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends.
Join The Party
By Zoom
Register by Zoom
We’ve changed Zoom numbers. Here’s what you need to do. Use the registration link above and you’ll get an email from Zoom with your link for the Global Folk Dance Party. Feel free to share the above registration link with your friends, they’ll get their own link to join. With the new registration, you’ll get a reminder email the morning of the Global Folk Dance Party, so you don’t have to look for your link.

IMPORTANT – Do not use both computer and phone; you will generate feedback.
Zoom will best be viewed using side by side mode. See https://bit.ly/39dximU for info.
When in the meeting, click the ‘chat’ button to chat with everybody and make requests.
When you sign into Zoom, enter your name and city so we know where you’re from!

By Facebook Live
Join by Facebook Live
if Zoom is full or you just want to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/PFDCouncil/
For more details or to send requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Federation Board Meeting
2024-03-17 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation online for their board meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed.
Sunday March 17, 3:00pm-4:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 893 5363 4541
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

San Antonio Folklife and Dance Festival 2024
2024-03-22 - 2024-03-24 | Our Lady of the Lake University, 411 SW 24th St., San Antonio, TX, 78207, United States
The San Antonio Folklife and Dance Festival (SAFDF) is a beloved tradition of international folk dance teaching, music, parties, and camaraderie! This year is its 66th year. SAFDF is an in-person event in the Multicultural Activities and Recreation Center (MARC) on the campus of the beautiful Our Lady of the Lake University.

For 2024

Dance teachers:

Andy Taylor-Blenis, teaching international dances and leading her famous dance stretches
Miroslav “Bata” Marčetić, teaching Serbian dances
Željko Jergan, teaching Croatian dances

Dance parties with live music by Shirley Johnson and Slavadillo
Free public folk-dance performances, ethnic craft vendors, and food vendors at Rolling Oaks Mall (March 23 and 24, noon to 5 pm)

Registration and Details
