Folk Dance Federation of California

End of Winter Dance Party
2019-03-27 19:45 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Holbrook Palmer Park, Carriage House, 150 Watkins Avenue, Atherton, CA, 94027, United States
Bring your dancing shoes and good cheer to dance and celebrate the end of winter! Snacks or beverages to share are also appreciated if you are able.
Drop in fee is $9.00 for the entire evening. (There is no pro-rating of fees) If you are registered, the party is included.
The Carriage House Folk Dancers next class will be on April 3rd when our Spring Quarter begins. A flyer will be forthcoming.

"Just Baskets" Theme Dance Party
2019-03-23 19:00 - 23:00 | All Saints’ Episcopal, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto, CA, 94301, United States
The Moveable Feet club celebrates the basket dance with popular front or back basket folk dances!

6:45 pm
Doors open. Warm up dances.

7 – 8 pm
Workshop with Dan Unger teaching the Romanian back basket dance Braul Lui Zbarcea and Sandra Biroc teaching the Slavonic front basket dance Oj Rasticu Susnjati Mista.

8 – 11 pm
Dancing to your requests and these theme dances:

Ai Lipo Ti Je (Croatia, FB)
Alunelul Batut (Romania, BB)
Drmes Iz Zdencine (Croatia, BB)
Jiana (Romania, BB)
Moja Diridika (Croatia, FB)
Osmica (Bulgaria, BB)
Somogyi Karikazo (Hungary, FB)
Vrapceto (Bulgaria, FB)

Your requests can include non-basket holds, set, or couple dances from any country or region.
Snack contributions appreciated. DOWNLOAD, print, or share a flier!
Send questions or requests to Lucy or Karen.

March Folk Dance Party
2019-03-09 19:15 - 22:30 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Peninsula Council Folk Dance Party

7:15-7:30pm
Free pre-party review of Grad Se Beli, a fun Croatian dance taught by Zeljko Jergan at this year’s Heritage Festival

7:30-10:30pm
ALL-REQUEST PARTY. MC’d by Becky Beniares and Nancy Kaye

E-mail requests to Becky. She will incorporate your awesome requests into the program!
Be with the theme! Come wearing green!
Dances range from beginning to advanced and all forms (line, couple, set). Bring a snack to share!
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier!

Introduction to International Folk Dance
2019-02-17 13:00 - 14:30 | DC Dance Center, 1555 Washington Avenue, San Leandro, CA, 94577, United States
Instructors Gigi and Warren Jensen invite new dancers to learn international folk dance in the East Bay in three monthly 90min sessions.
Future classes are on March 17. Sign up for all three lessons in advance and it’s a total of $15.
Free parking in the area and it’s only a short 4 block walk from the San Leandro Bart station to the studio.
To join or for more details e-mail Gigi Jensen or call (510) 326-6415. The DC Dance Center web site or office will not have information of the class.

Lunar New Year Festival
2019-02-16 13:00 - 17:30 | Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South Street, Cerritos, CA, 90703, United States
The ninth annual Cerritos Folk Dancers Lunar New Year Festival will feature guest instructors Ahmet Lüleci and Evren Soytopçu Kiyak who will teach both western and eastern culture dances. The theme of the workshop is “East meets West”.
A lion dance will start at 12:55 pm to celebrate the Year of the Pig/Boar.

Festival of the Oaks
2019-02-10 09:00 - 17:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
The 71st annual international Festival of the Oaks features a morning international folk dance workshop with Lee Otterholt, a hot lunch, exhibition dance performance, and a program of afternoon recreational dances. Includes a pre-owned folk dance costume sale in the dance hall. Fun for all ages! No partner needed. Free refreshments will be served all afternoon.
Schedule
9:00-9:30am Registration
9:30am-12:00pm Dance workshop with Lee Otterholt, $14
12:00-1:00pm Hot lunch, $6
12:00-1:00pm Folk Dance Federation meeting. Includes lunch provided to Federation members attending.
1:00pm Exhibition dance performance
1:00-5:00pm International dance party, $12
Admission
Lee Otterholt Workshop and Folk Dance Party both $24
Workshop only $14
International Folk Dance Party only $12
Register Online
Lee Otterholt
Lee Otterholt, born in the USA of Norwegian-American parents, has lived and worked most of his life in Norway as a professional dancer, dance teacher and choreographer.
He founded and led the Center for International Folk Dance in Oslo, Norway. He was a professor of folkloristic dance at the Norwegian National College of Ballet and at the University College of Oslo. He was responsible for the establishment of four, still-active, folk dance clubs, and three performing groups in Norway. He led these groups to festivals all over Europe. He also produced teaching materials (videos, books and CDs) on folk dance for use in the Norwegian school system. He has a professional education in choreography and was one of the choreographers of the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994.
For the last 20 years Lee has been active on the international scene, teaching international folk dance (“Balkan and Beyond”) at festivals, workshops and camps in Europe, the US and Asia, and leading folk dance cruises and tours to many parts of the world. He moved to the USA, to Laguna Beach, California in 2003. There he founded and led the international folk dance performing group “SYRTAKI,” and he is the lead singer in the Balkan Beat band “Zimzala.” He teaches regularly at local folkdance clubs in the area, and teaches his own recreational folk dance group every Wednesday evening at Laguna Woods. He is the chairman of the Laguna Folk Dance Festival. In 2015 he received the National Dance Award, presented at the San Antonio Folk Dance Festival. More details…
Download, print, and share an EVENT FLYER

Cretan Glendi with Live Music
2019-02-04 19:00 - 21:30 | Joe Goode Annex, 401 Alabama at 17th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
Live music featuring Manolis Skoutelis playing Lyra/Askomandura and Spyros Skouradakis on Laouto from Rethymno, Crete. GreekFeet is pleased to host Manolis and Spyros for our first Cretan Glendi bringing you the spirit of Crete. Join us for a lively night full of traditional Cretan music and dancing.
Can’t make our event on the 4th? You can hear Manolis and Spyros at the Belmont Greek Church Dinner and Glendi on February 9.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Cretan Glendi Dinner and FDF Preview
Church of the Holy Cross
900 Alameda delas Pulgas
Belmont
Ticket Price: $55 Adults
RSVP to cretanglendi2019@gmail.com
See also https://www.facebook.com/events/774918702844655/

2019 Scholarship Ball
2019-01-27 13:00 - 18:00 | Polish-American Hall, 327 Main Street, Roseville, CA, 95678, United States
​​We are happy to announce the theme of our next FUN-Raising SIFDAC Scholarship Ball will be a Good Vibrations Beach Party!
An indoor Beach Party will be held the first hour from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. (indoors in winter to help keep us warm) with a picnic-style pot luck, games, and a genuine sing-along (including non-dance songs). ​Then the Dance Party will be from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Each year the SIFDAC sponsors a Scholaship Ball and raises funds for dance scholarships to attend to folk dance camps through donations from the Scholarship Ball event. Eligible candidates for scholarships are selected based on procedures and requirements determined by SIFDAC. ​
Please help spread the word and start gathering ideas for your favorite songs and dances to request, and to whom you might like to send “good vibrations” via dedications. Thank you for your support in helping local dancers attend folk dance camps via our SIFDAC scholarships!
How to Request Submit Dance Requests, Song Requests, and Dedications
Dance Requests

Each requested dance (other than a set dance that needs to be briefed) will be $10.
Each set dance that needs to be briefed will be $15.
There will be a maximum of 60 dances. Please note that, as we did last year, if we don’t get 6 dancers out on the floor, we will proceed to the next dance, so we can keep the party moving.
Each individual is limited to requesting 2 dances.
Each SIFDAC club is limited to requesting 4 dances.

Sing-along Song Requests
New this year! Requests for sing-along songs are also $10 each, limited to one request per individual or club. We anticipate only having time for 12 songs…so be the first on your block to make a request to be sure it is included in the program.
Dance and/or Sing-along Dedications
Also new this year: Songs and dances may be dedicated! Submit your dedication, for an additional $10 pledge, along with your request. An example of a dedication is, “Dances of the World dedicates Salty Dog Rag to Joya with love”. Each dedication will be announced before the song or dance, posted on the SIFDAC website and posted on the wall at the hall.
How to Make Your Requests and Dedications
Donor pledges will begin November 1, 2018. Only email requests will be honored. Remember! First come, first served!!
Send your requests and dedications along with your contact information to Toba Goddard. Include the following information: (1) requester (individual or club); (2) name of dance; (3) country of origin; (4) non-partner, couple, or set; (5) tempo (slow, medium, or fast); (6) difficulty (easy, medium, or tricky); and (7) who has recording.
If you need to call Toba, she will be using her new phone number: 916-956-4916.
Each year the SIFDAC sponsors a Scholaship Ball and raises funds for dance scholarships to attend to folk dance camps through donations from the Scholarship Ball event. Eligible candidates for scholarships are selected based on procedures and requirements determined by SIFDAC. ​
Please help spread the word and start gathering ideas for your favorite songs and dances to request, and to whom you might like to send “good vibrations” via dedications. Thank you for your support in helping local dancers attend folk dance camps via our SIFDAC scholarships!
​How to Pay for Requests and Dedications
After our community song and dance card is full, reminders will be sent to each individual and each club for their total pledges. Pay for your requests and dedications at the Ball. Make checks payable to “SIFDAC.”
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier!

Rumyana Filkova: Songs and Dances of Bulgaria
2019-01-25 19:30 - 22:00 | Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, United States
Rumyana Filkova, an accomplished teacher and performer from Plovdiv and a member of the folkloric ensemble “Trakia”, will lead a Bulgarian dance and singing workshop. She will present at least one Bulgarian dance that we will join in song as we dance it. She will teach additional dances with songs and songs for dancing as there is time and interest.

Rumyana Filkova
Rumyana Filkova is a professional Bulgarian folk singer, educator, and researcher. She has been on the stage for over two decades, where she presented the rich vocal heritage from the Balkans. She has lead students on the path of traditional Bulgarian folk singing, sharing her diverse experience and knowledge. Rumyana Filkova has numerous records with Bulgarian State Radio, Radio Blagoevgrad, Orchestra of the Bulgarian State Television, The choir of the Academy of Music and Dance Plovdiv, and many other guest performances with ensembles across the county. She has taught classes and workshops for Bulgarian and foreign folk song student. Rumyana has served as a judge to folk singing competitions and festivals.

“Ne vitkai se Sofche”- Rumiana Filkova

Hungarian Dance House Tanchaz
2019-01-19 15:00 - 23:00 | Croatian Cultural Center, 60 Onondaga Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94708, United States
Learn dances commonly played during a táncház, or just improvise! Meet the Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble and the Mazsola Hungarian Children’s Folk Dance Ensemble. Dance through the evening with Forrás Banda, our táncház band! Adults’ dance teaching circle with László Tihanyi.

Tanchaz – Hungarian Dance House in San Francisco (2013)

Heritage Festival 2019
2019-01-18 - 2019-01-19 | Twin Pines Center, 20 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont, CA, 94002, United States
SAVE THE DATE!
Friday, January 18th
LOCATION: Garden House, Shoup Park, 400 University Ave, Los Altos
Opening Party – $10
Come share your favorite club dances. Meet Saturday’s workshop teacher, Željko Jergan!
Saturday, January 19th
LOCATION: Twin Pines Community Center, Belmont
Dance Workshop – $15
1:30 to 4:30pm
Afternoon Croatian Dance Workshop with Željko Jergan.
Dinner Break
4:30 to 6:30pm
Enjoy dinner in town or order a wrap to enjoy on site ($15 in advance).
Singing
6:30 to 7:00pm
Come learn to sing Grad Se Beli
Party – $15
7:00 to 10:00pm
Ethnic dress welcome! Program of recorded international folk dance requests.
Koraci
Exhibition by Croatian Youth Group Koraci, featuring dances choreographed by Željko
Registration
Registration Form Directions and Parking
Pay before January 16th and save! Attend Friday AND Saturday for only $35 ($50 with on site supper).
Register online
DOWNLOAD flier, print, and share.
Kids under 12 are free, youth 12-18 are $5/event at the door.
Note Friday and Saturday events are at different venues

Email dance requests, questions, and registration to heritagefolkdance@gmail.com
Doors open 1/2 hour in advance.

Dance Party with Da! Mozhem
2019-01-11 20:00 - 22:30 | Strawberry Recreation Center, 118 E. Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley, CA, 94941, United States
Dance to your favorite international tunes with Da! Mozhem all on a spacious sprung floor!
Admission: $12. Students half-price, kids free with adult.
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
Da! Mozhem
Da! Mozhem is quite possibly the largest folk dance band popular today in the Bay Area. Its members for this party are John Burke (accordion, vocals), Joyce Clyde (gadulka, vocals), Sonne Lemke (vocals), Paul Litsky (tambura), Alan Moore (accordion, kaval), Barbara Saxton (vocals), Lew Smith (doumbek, tupan), Ginny Snyder (clarinet, tambura, accordion, brach, gajda, vocals), Holly Thuman (bass, vocals), Nettie Wijsman (vocals), and Radmila Zaric (vocals).

BFD's New Year's Eve Dance Party
2018-12-31 21:00 - 2019-01-01 00:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Celebrate New Year’s Eve dancing with the Berkeley Folk Dancers!
Wear your slinky, sultry, elegant, fancy duds (or just comfy garments) and get ready to dance the night away. Bring some snacks to share with the crowd. It is an all request night, so bring a list of your favorite dances (written out or in your agile brain).
Here’s to a wonderful 2019! We can certainly use it!
$5 members; $7 non-members.
More Info: Judy Stonefield (510)-655-3074.

Winter Solstice Potluck and Party
2018-12-20 19:30 - 22:30 | St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 1399 43rd Ave, at Judah St., San Francisco, CA, 94122, United States
Mandala’s annual winter solstice party begins with a potluck meal followed by a bell ringing ceremony around 8:45pm. Request dancing to follow thereafter. Bring your favorite bell to ring in the holiday season!

Year End Dance Party
2018-12-19 19:45 - 22:00 | Holbrook Palmer Park, Carriage House, 150 Watkins Avenue, Atherton, CA, 94027, United States
Help Suzanne Rocca-Butler and the Carriage House Folk Dancers celebrate a year end folk dance party. Help bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to share for the refreshments table.

GreekFeet Year-End Party
2018-12-17 19:00 - 22:00 | Il Pirata, 2007 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, United States
GreekFeet loves to throw a party and this year our Year-End party is at our favorite old-time sports bar Il Pirata with live music featuring Greg Jenkins on Clarinet, Dan Cantrell on Accordion and Michael Garibaldi on Percussion. We will have a private room with access to the bar to quench our thirst between dances. Music will start at 8:00 pm. Social hour from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm with appetizers, please bring an appetizer to share. Great fun, hope you can make it to celebrate with us!
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Social Hour, No Host Bar and Appetizers, Bring an appetizer to Share
8:00 pm to when the band calls it quits: Live music with Greg Jenkins on Clarinet, Dan Cantrell on Accordion. and Michael Garibaldi on Percussion

Orkestar Cope-a-Cabana Dance Party
2018-12-14 19:30 - 22:30 | All Saints’ Episcopal, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto, CA, 94301, United States
Live music and dancing to Bill Cope and his friends: Orkestar Cope-a-Cabana
Bring some light refreshments and non-alcoholic beverages to help make it a party, and tips for the band!
Orkestar Cope-a-Cabana
Orkestar Cope-a-Cabana is a group of talented local musicians playing Balkan and Greek music, and led by well-known multi-instrumentalist Bill Cope.
Bill Cope, an all-around multi-instrumentalist whose music folk dancers have loved to dance to for many years. He performs internationally as well as with many local Bay area ensembles, and is the Director of the San Francisco Kolo Festival. Instruments: accordion, laouto, gajda.
Michele Simon is a singer and percussionist, specializing in Balkan folk music and folk dance music. She has performed internationally as well as with many local Bay area ensembles, including Anoush, Brass Menazeri, and Kitka. Instruments: tupan, dumbek.
Tom Farris (tambura, guitar, hand drum)
Anastasia Barkett (violin)

Hanukkah Potluck and Dance Party
2018-12-08 19:00 - 23:30 | St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 1399 43rd Ave, at Judah St., San Francisco, CA, 94122, United States
Celebrate Hanukkah at Cafe Shalom! Potluck dinner starting at 7pm followed by candle-lighting (bring menorahs). Easy and beginner dances to start off the dancing and then an all-request Israeli dance party!
Admission: $10 adults or $5 students

Holiday Celebration and Second Harvest Fundraiser
2018-12-08 15:00 - 19:30 | First Baptist Event Hall, 305 N. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, 94301-4105, United States
Holiday Celebration and Second Harvest Food Bank Donation

3:00-4:00pm
Happy Holidays Potluck Reception – snacks appreciated. (refrigerator available, no oven)

4:00-7:30pm
Quick teach of fun dances by Loui Tucker and Wendy Brown during party with dancers’ requests.

Donation: $15 and/or 10 cans of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank (checks payable to Second Harvest Food Bank). Goal is 300 cans and $300. No glass containers or expired cans.
Among us, there are students to seniors on limited or fixed income who would appreciate receiving help with meals. The Moveable Feet is donating the cost of the hall and refreshments. Thank you in advance for your support.
The City of Palo Alto asks that we:

Park only in legal spaces, avoiding bike lanes or too close to driveways
Avoid talking loudly outside

Christmas Folk Dance Party
2018-12-01 19:00 - 22:00 | Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401, United States
Razzmatazz’s annual Christmas folk dance party. Includes a reading of A Night Before Christmas and a visit from Santa! Dancing to recorded and live music.

Romanian Dance Workshop
2018-11-26 18:10 - 20:00 | City College of San Francisco, Wellness Center, 50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA, 94112, United States
Beloved master dance teachers, Sonia and Cristian, are known internationally for teaching Romanian Dance. They are in town to teach at the Kolo Festival, and we are delighted that they have added this workshop to their teaching schedule! Different dances will be taught at the Kolo Festival and this workshop, so try to make it to both events! The Kolo Festival is a celebration of Balkan culture, held not far from CCSF over Thanksgiving weekend.
Free, but donations to help pay for the instructors appreciated.
Parking on campus: $5.
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
For more details contact Jeanne-Marie Hughes, PhD
Hosted by the City College of San Francisco International Folk Dance Class

Kolo Festival 2018
2018-11-23 - 2018-11-24 | Croatian Cultural Center, 60 Onondaga Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94708, United States
The 67th Kolo Festival with
Dance Teachers
Gergana Panova – Bulgarian
Sonia Dion & Cristian Florescu- Romanian couple and non-couple
John Morovich & John Filcich – Kolos
Singing Teachers
Maria Bebelekova, Michele Simon & John Morovich
Bands
15+ bands on the main dance floor and in the Kafana, playing live music from: Albania, America, Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Norway, Romani, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden and Turkey!

Online Registration Mail-in Registration

November Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2018-11-10 19:15 - 22:30 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Suzanne Rocca-Butler will teach Papadhopanayiotena and Gagauzko Horo, a Bulgarian folk dance of the Gagauzians during the FREE pre-party workshop from 7:15-8:00pm.
Chang’s Folk Dance team will emcee the all request party from 8:00-10:30pm.
Dances range from beginning to advanced and all forms (line, couple, set). Come dance on a great wood floor! Bring a snack to share!
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier!

Bulgarian Workshop with Michael Ginsburg and Party with Bulgarika
2018-10-28 13:00 - 19:00 | First Baptist Event Hall, 305 N. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, 94301-4105, United States
Enjoy a Bulgarian folk dance workshop with master instructor Michael Ginsburg then stay to dance to traditional Bulgarian dance music played by Bulgarika!
Schedule

1:00 pm
Doors open

1:30-3:30 pm
Bulgarian Folk Dance Workshop with Michael Ginsburg, $12

3:30-4:00 pm
Social time with refreshments and dancing to recorded music.

4:00-7:00 pm
Dance party with music by Bulgarika, $18

Both sessions: $25
For the workshop, as time permits, Michael will teach from the following dances:

Shira Horo
Trite Pate from Kermen
Proletno Horo from Malo Konare
Kako Kostadino
Shirto
Ovcepolso Potrculka
Vlach Tsamiko
Ramono Veleshko

If you have a request from his prior CDs, let Lucy know.
Snack donations always appreciated. Refreshments provided.
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
Bulgarika
Bulgarika presents traditional Bulgarian songs and tunes. The band is led by husband and wife team, Nikolay (gadulka, a fiddle) and Donka Kolev (vocalist), award-winning performers from Folk Music Conservatories in Bulgaria. They are joined by Stoyan Kostov (tambura and vocals) and Michael Ginsburg (tapan).
Nikolay Kolev
Nikolay Kolev (gadulka)
Nikolay Kolev is a native of the Thracian Rose Valley village of Karavelovo, has been playing gadulka since age 10. After graduating from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, he performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. In 1984 he founded the orchestra “Sopot”. In 1985 he formed the wedding-music ensemble “Rozova Dolina” and in 1992 the prize-winning ensemble “Balkanski Glasove”. In 1994 and 1995 the latter group took first prizes at the Varna Festival. Nikolay has accompanied many well-known singers including Vulkana Stojanova, Roumen Rodopski and Todor Kozhuharov. He has also taught many students at a number of Balkan camps in the U.S. In 1999, Nikolay was the first Bulgarian to be recognized by the Slavic Heritage Council of America for his outstanding contributions to music.
Donka Koleva
Donka Koleva (vocals)
Donka Koleva is a native of the village of Tuzha in the Stara Zagora region of Thrace. She graduated from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, and performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. She was director of the Folk Song Chorus of Sopot, has been a featured soloist on Bulgarian Radio-TV, has participated in numerous singing competitions in Bulgaria and Europe and has been featured on numerous recordings. In 1997 her recording of Javore was named “Song of the Year” in the Bulgarian national radio competition. Since immigrating to the U.S. she has taught and performed widely across N. America, both privately and at numerous camps, festivals and other events. In addition to her vocal talents Donka serves as Bulgarika’s manager and has organized 12 national tours for the bands Kabile’, Cherven Traktor, Bulgarika and the Kolev Family Ensemble.
Stoyan Kostov
Stoyan Kostov (vocals, tambura)
Stoyan Kostov has been playing the Bulgarian tambura for over 40 years. He graduated from the National Music School “Filip Koutev” and the Bulgarian National Conservatory. Stoyan performed with Ensemble Trakiya and played tambura with Harmanliska Troika, and guitar with the Ograzhden ensemble in Sandanski, where he also directed the “N. Vaptsarov” Folk Ensemble. Stoyan lives in Pittsburgh PA.

Michael Ginsburg
Michael Ginsburg (tapan)
Michael Ginsburg began teaching Balkan folk-dance in 1964 in New York City and now teaches a weekly dance class there. He plays tapan with Cherven Traktor, a band that plays Bulgarian folk music on traditional instruments. He also plays trumpet with Kavala Brass Band, a band specializing in the Brass music of Aegean Macedonia. He is a founding member and lead trumpeter of Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band, formed in 1983. In 1987 they were the first foreign band to appear at the world-famous Brass Band festival in Guca, Serbia. Michael additionally serves as the head of the Program Committee of the Golden Festival in Brooklyn, New York, an annual event attracting thousands of participants and featuring dozens of musical groups.

Officers Ball 2018
2018-10-20 13:00 - 22:30 | Veterans Memorial Building, Pleasanton, 301 Main Street, Pleasanton, CA, 94566, United States
The Folk Dance Federation’s annual festival of folk dance with workshops, dinner, dance party, and special attractions! This year’s theme: Octoberfest!
Please note the location this year is the Pleasanton Veterans Memorial Hall, Pleasanton.
Schedule

Price
Time (pm)
Event

1:00
Doors open

$20
1:30-5:30
Dance workshops

$10
5:30-7:00
On-site dinner with entertainment by Bill Cope (if registered by October 12)

$20
7:00-10:30
Evening celebration, dances from the workshop and your requests.

Workshop
The afternoon workshop will again feature new and classic folk dances taught by local teachers including Katherine Abbott, Marija Hillis, Kaela Fine, Denise Heenan, Gigi and Warren Jensen, Yvonne and Andre Couvillion, Bruce Mitchell, and Lenore Frigo.
Registration
Register by Friday October 12, 2018 to obtain the special all event package pricing (workshop, on-site dinner, and evening party) of $40 and save $10. On-site dinner registration is not available after October 12.
Online Registration

Order your tickets now!

Register and pay online at http://officersball.bpt.me. Badges will be available by will-call.

Mail-In Registration
DOWNLOAD Registration Form and Flier
Download and complete registration form.
Make checks payable to the FOLK DANCE FEDERATION.
Mail the check and registration form to:
Laura Douglass
226 Alameda de las Pugas
Redwood City, CA 94062

Questions?
Contact Loui Tucker or Lucy Chang for answers.

Bulgarika - Bulgarian Folk Dance Party
2018-10-19 20:00 - 22:30 | Strawberry Recreation Center, 118 E. Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley, CA, 94941, United States
Join us for BULGARIKA’s first stop in the Bay Area on their national tour! Come dance to the haunting melodies and fiery dance tempos of four master musicians, all steeped in Bulgarian music and rhythms from a young age.
Admission: $15. Students half-price, kids free with adult.
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
Bulgarika
Bulgarika presents traditional Bulgarian songs and tunes. The band is led by husband and wife team, Nikolay (gadulka, a fiddle) and Donka Kolev (vocalist), award-winning performers from Folk Music Conservatories in Bulgaria. They are joined by Stoyan Kostov (tambura and vocals) and Michael Ginsburg (tapan).
Nikolay Kolev
Nikolay Kolev (gadulka)
Nikolay Kolev is a native of the Thracian Rose Valley village of Karavelovo, has been playing gadulka since age 10. After graduating from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, he performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. In 1984 he founded the orchestra “Sopot”. In 1985 he formed the wedding-music ensemble “Rozova Dolina” and in 1992 the prize-winning ensemble “Balkanski Glasove”. In 1994 and 1995 the latter group took first prizes at the Varna Festival. Nikolay has accompanied many well-known singers including Vulkana Stojanova, Roumen Rodopski and Todor Kozhuharov. He has also taught many students at a number of Balkan camps in the U.S. In 1999, Nikolay was the first Bulgarian to be recognized by the Slavic Heritage Council of America for his outstanding contributions to music.
Donka Koleva
Donka Koleva (vocals)
Donka Koleva is a native of the village of Tuzha in the Stara Zagora region of Thrace. She graduated from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, and performed for three years with the Sliven Folk Dance and Music Ensemble. She was director of the Folk Song Chorus of Sopot, has been a featured soloist on Bulgarian Radio-TV, has participated in numerous singing competitions in Bulgaria and Europe and has been featured on numerous recordings. In 1997 her recording of Javore was named “Song of the Year” in the Bulgarian national radio competition. Since immigrating to the U.S. she has taught and performed widely across N. America, both privately and at numerous camps, festivals and other events. In addition to her vocal talents Donka serves as Bulgarika’s manager and has organized 12 national tours for the bands Kabile’, Cherven Traktor, Bulgarika and the Kolev Family Ensemble.
Stoyan Kostov
Stoyan Kostov (vocals, tambura)
Stoyan Kostov has been playing the Bulgarian tambura for over 40 years. He graduated from the National Music School “Filip Koutev” and the Bulgarian National Conservatory. Stoyan performed with Ensemble Trakiya and played tambura with Harmanliska Troika, and guitar with the Ograzhden ensemble in Sandanski, where he also directed the “N. Vaptsarov” Folk Ensemble. Stoyan lives in Pittsburgh PA.

Michael Ginsburg
Michael Ginsburg (tapan)
Michael Ginsburg began teaching Balkan folk-dance in 1964 in New York City and now teaches a weekly dance class there. He plays tapan with Cherven Traktor, a band that plays Bulgarian folk music on traditional instruments. He also plays trumpet with Kavala Brass Band, a band specializing in the Brass music of Aegean Macedonia. He is a founding member and lead trumpeter of Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band, formed in 1983. In 1987 they were the first foreign band to appear at the world-famous Brass Band festival in Guca, Serbia. Michael additionally serves as the head of the Program Committee of the Golden Festival in Brooklyn, New York, an annual event attracting thousands of participants and featuring dozens of musical groups.

October Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2018-10-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Garden House, 400 University Ave., Los Altos, CA, United States
Adony Beniares will teach Melnishko Horo, a Bulgarian folk dance, and, if time permits, Talava (Kosovo-Albanian) during the FREE pre-party workshop from 7:00-7:30pm.
Loui Tucker will emcee the all request party from 8:00-10:30pm.
Dances range from beginning to advanced and all forms (line, couple, set). Come dance on a great wood floor! Bring a snack to share!
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Scandinavian Dance Party
2018-10-06 19:30 - 22:00 | First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, United States
Teaching 7:30-8:30pm, followed by a dance party.

Dance Party with Mosaic
2018-10-05 19:30 - 22:00 | Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, United States
Mosiac Mosaic brings their own unique take on the music of the Balkans, Scandinavia, and elsewhere. The members are:
Tony Canavarro (gaida, guitar), Barry Gregory (flugelhorn, trumpet), Phillip Cline (soprano saxophone), Fran Van Atta (bass guitar), and Randa Jacobs (flute, pennywhistle).
Bring some light refreshments and non-alcoholic beverages to help make it a party, and tips for the band!

Folk Dance Reunion Party
2018-09-22 17:30 - 22:30 | Chico Womens Club, 592 E. 3rd Street, near Pine, Chico, CA, 95927, United States
Dance Program Come see friends old and new at the Chico World Dancers reunion party. Bring your dancing shoes and dance to our old favorites.
5:30 – 7:00 PM Potluck.
Bring dish or beverage to share. We’ll have utensils, plates, and cups.
7:30 – 10:30 PM Dancing.
Volunteers needed to help set up and take down.
Questions? Contact Alison
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