Folk Dance Federation of California

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2023-03-11 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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 emceed by Alicia LaFetra and Ellie Wiener!
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 strongly recommended while dancing. 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.
DOWNLOAD and share a flier!
If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.

Annual Red & Black Ball
2023-03-04 19:00 - 22:00 | Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401, United States
We’ll dance to recorded music and live music with Gradina Balkan choral and music group. Don’t forget to wear red & black! $5 for adults, children free, plus tips for singers and musicians.

Laguna Folk Dance Festival 2023
2023-03-03 - 2023-03-05 | 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:
Asya Gorska
Asya Gorska is a Ukrainian-born artist. She is a choreographer and singer. As a singer she performs a variety of musical styles in different languages. She is also a social worker, a volunteer and a community activist. Asya has almost 25 years of dance experience in various dance forms, such as: folk stage, ballet, Bailey dance, and ballroom dance, modern. For the past 12 years, Asya has been the Art director and choreographer of the Ukrainian ensemble “Chervona Kalyna” in Los Angeles. The Ukrainian dance ensemble “Chervona Kalyna” was founded in 1997. Their main goal is to preserve, educate and convey to the modern generation of Ukrainians in America: the history, culture, features and regional origin of Ukrainian dance. Another mission of the ensemble is to introduce and popularize Ukrainian culture and traditions among Americans and immigrants from other countries.
In addition, “Chervona Kalyna” actively participates in various international festivals and concerts and in many charity events supporting Ukrainians in this challenging time.
Svitlana Selska
Svitlana Selska is from a small village in the region of Ternopil (Western Ukraine). She started studying Ukrainian folk dance at the Terebovlya College of Art. Later Svitlana joined the student ensemble “Ternotsvit” and also danced in the regional amateur Ukrainian folk dance ensemble “Chervona Kalyna” in Ternopil. One year later she came to Chicago where she joined the ensemble “Hromovytsia.” She then started to work as a dance teacher in the “Vyshyvanka” school of dance and continued teaching there for 8 years. Svitlana also danced in the ensemble “Horlytsia” and the “Mazurdance” school. In 2020 she moved to Orange county and in 2021 she joined the ensemble Chervona Kalyna in LA.
Besides Ukrainian folk dance, Svitlana has 4 years experience in salsa dance and she is also trained in ballet, ballroom, modern and other styles.
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.
Bill Cope
Sing-alongs & Multi-Instrumentalist
Bill has the honor this year of leading our sing-a-long sessions! For the few folks on the planet who don’t already know too much about him, he is a multi-instrumentalist who is drawn to play music w/o borders, that will get people on their feet, dancing! And in the regard, he hopes to sit in with some of the live bands during our event!
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.
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#). For other options, including assistance regarding roommates, additional hotels or in-home hosts, please contact Shana at ms.winokur@yahoo.com.
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

Register Now

Annual Lunar New Year Festival
2023-02-25 13:00 - 17:30 | Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South Street, Cerritos, CA, 90703, United States
The annual Cerritos Folk Dancers Lunar New Year Festival!
Featuring an East/West Workshop with Tom Bozigian and Sheree King
Suggested donation: $15 per person at the door (non-refundable $12 if prepaid by Feb. 18, 2023)
Finger foods to share are welcome, but not necessary
Download and share a flier!
For more details contact CerritosFolkDancers@gmail.com

Global Folk Dance Party
2023-02-18 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
This month the theme is Red, White, and Pink! Let’s have a great dance party with our Guest Dance leaders Patricia Day Williams, Za McDonnell, plus more to be announced!
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 and requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Festival of the Oaks
2023-02-12 09:00 - 17:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
The 74th annual international Festival of the Oaks features a morning international folk dance workshop, 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.
Schedule
All Day — Institute and Folk Dancing, $30.00

9:00-9:30am
Registration

9:30am-12:00pm
Dance workshop with Farima Berenji, Silk Road folk dance performance by the Simorgh Dance Collective, and contras with Lenore Watson, $18.00

12:00-1:00pm
Hot lunch, $10.00

12:00-1:00pm
Federation membership meeting. Includes lunch provided to Federation members attending.

12:30-4:30pm
Pre-owned folk dance costume sale

1:00pm
Brief presentation by Tahitian Dance Company Te Mana O Te Ra

1:00-5:00pm
International dance party. Dances from around the world and institute reviews. $17.00

Free refreshments will be served all afternoon.
To send dance requests for the afternoon party, or for more info, e-mail a request to rg94610@gmail.com or to yvonneprovaznik@comcast.net.

Farima Berenji
Farima Berenji
Farima is an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, instructor, dance ethnologist, and archaeologist. She specializes in sacred, classical, and folkloric dances of the Silk Road. She is a third generation artist – her devotion to the world of arts was inspired by both her mother and grandmother – performing artists, poets, and musicians of Azerbaijani heritage. Farima has spent her lifetime studying Persian/Iranian and Central Asian dance, culture, and history. Recognized as one of the few world scholarly experts of ancient and mystical dance ethnology, she travels worldwide to record, research, lecture, perform, educate, and to inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance and movement.
Farima has lectured, facilitated research projects, collaborated, choreographed, & performed for highly acclaimed internationally renowned companies and institutions such as Avaz Dance Company, Mosaic America (formerly Sangam Arts), ODC, World Dance Fusion of San Francisco, Istanbul Conservatory of the Arts, Vienna Conservatory of the Arts, the National Folk
Organization (NFO), the Unique Circle of Manchester, the Tumata Organization of Turkey, UNESCO, SF City Hall, Kansas State University, University of Manchester, University of London, Istanbul University, Stanford University, San Francisco State University, San Francisco City Hall, the Iranian National Museum and Conservatory and many more. Farima is the founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, Assistant Director and Program Director of Eastern Arts, and advisory council member of Mosaic America. She is honored to be the first Iranian-American woman TEDx lecturer and performer in the field of dance. The Simorgh Dance Collective was the first Iranian dance company, directed by an Iranian woman to perform during a reception for President Obama and President Biden. Recognized as one of few world experts and scholars of Persian dance history, Farima infuses spirituality into her dance and teachings to impassion, empower, and inspire. For more details and media visit http://farimadance.com
Lenore Watson
Lenore started folk dancing and contra dance in college. She has taught international folk dance since the early 2000’s with Redding International Folk Dance. And she has been calling contra dances since 2014 in Redding and Chico, as well as at special events – weddings, festivals, etc. She has called contras in previous years at the Festival of the Oaks and at other events in Northern California, including the Officers Ball and Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Lenore loves calling contras, and seeing the how the dancers connect and collaborate to make it work and have fun. Her favorite explanation of contra dance is that it’s like “an amusement park ride that we all create together.”

Download and print a flier to share with others.
Register and pay in advance
Attendees must be fully vaccinated, including boosters. KN-95 or N-95 masks required.
Register

Cafe Shalom Dance Party
2023-02-11 19:30 - 23:30, 2023-01-14 19:30 - 23:30, 2022-12-10 19:30 - 23:30, 2022-11-12 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.
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…

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2023-02-05 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! Lon Radin will emcee.
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 are required. 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.

Stockton Folk Dance Camp Winter Weekend
2023-01-27 - 2023-01-30 | 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 2023 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.

This, along with our great MCs and Techs, will make it a wonderful weekend.
READ ARTIST BIOS…
Visit http://folkdancecamp.org for emerging details…
Schedule
View Winter Weekend Camp Schedule

Global Folk Dance Party
2023-01-21 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
What’s more fun than dancing at the Pre-Stockton Party? Nothing is, of course! Come to our Pre-Stockton Global Folk Dance Party on Saturday January 21 from 3:00-6:30pm US Pacific time (PST). Afterwards join the after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends. See the flyer below for details.
This month our GFDParty guest dance leaders are Roo Lester, Steve Kotansky, Alix Cordray, and Clem Dickey. Roo will also be teaching at Stockton online Winter Weekend, and Steve will be leading a Dance with the Teachers session.
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 and requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Federation Board Meeting
2023-01-15 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation Board online as they meet for their January 2023 planning meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed. Get to see Federation meetings behind the scenes!
Sunday January 15, 3pm-4:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 821 4223 9442
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2023-01-14 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! We’ve missed dancing with you!
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 required. 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 print or share a flier for this event

Berkeley Folk Dance's Birthday Ball
2023-01-08 13:00 - 17:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Celebrate 82 Years of Berkeley Folk Dance
Come dressed as your favorite movie star or character!
You can get dance tickets online or even at the door, but your lunch must be ordered by Thursday, January 5, per the mandate from M&M Catering.
Register

Schedule

Time
Event
Price

12:00-1:00pm
Lunch
$12

1:00-4:00pm
Dancing
$10

Proof of vaccination, including boosters and N-95 or KN-95 masks required
Dance Program
1. Setnja Kolo (Serbia) B NP
2. Tzadik Katamar (Israel) B NP
3. Skater’s Tango (USA) B C
4. Emma’s Commencement (England) B Set
5. Ini Vitui (Romania) B NP
6. Tehuantepec (Mexico/USA) A C
7. Cumberland Reel (Scotland) B Set
8. Maxixe II (Brazil/France) AI C
9. Bavno Oro (N. Macedonia) I NP
10. Horehronsky Cardas (Slovakia) AI NP
11. Corrido (Mexico) B C
12. Korobushka (Russia) B M
13. Gatij ed goi (France) B M
14. Mayim (Israel) B NP
15. Our Brief Encounters (England) I Set
16. Passu Torrau (Italy) B NP
17. Syrtos (Greece) B NP
18. De Valse Zeeman (Netherlands) I C
19. Bannielou Lambaol (France) B NP
20. Garry Strathspey (Scotland) A Set
21. Mindrele (Romania) AI NP
22. Mona’s Festvals (Sweden) I M
23. Milondita Tango (USA/Latin) B C
24. Grand Square (USA) B Set
25. ‘T Smidge (Belgium) B M
26. Imate li Vino (N. Macedonia) AI NP
27. Swedish Finn Mixer (Sweden) B M
28. Teton Mt. Stomp (USA) I M
29. Chilili (Bolivia) B C
30. Joc de Leagane (Romania) I NP
31. Talgoxen (Finland) B M
32. Dorozhka (Russia) A NP
33. Ajde Jano (Serbia) B NP
34. Broadway (Scotland) AI Set
35. Folsom Prison Blues (USA) AI C
36. Niguno Shel Yossi (Israel) B M
37. Cetvorno Horo (Bulgaria) A NP
38. Picking Up Sticks (England) AI Set
39. La Cotriade (France) A C
40. Chef (Romania/Rom) A NP
41. Jovano Jovanke (N. Macedonia) I NP
42. Lesnoto (N. Macedonia) B NP

New Years Eve Dance Party
2022-12-31 21:00 - 2023-01-01 00:30 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Ring in the New Year dancing with the Berkeley Folk Dancers in this New Years Eve Dance Party!
Attendees should be prepared to show proof of vaccination.

New Years Eve Dance Party and Second Harvest Fundraiser
2022-12-31 19:00 - 2023-01-01 00:15 | All Saints’ Episcopal, 555 Waverley St., Palo Alto, CA, 94301, United States
Come help Moveable Feet celebrate the arrival of 2023 with an in-person potluck supper and dance party while raising money for a local food bank!
Download a flier
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. A donation of $5 per person will cover the cost of room rental. Once again it will be held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 555 Waverley Street, Palo Alto. Loui Tucker will emcee and DJ the party.
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.
Moveable Feet has set a $6,000 fundraising goal for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.
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.
Donate
( https://impact.shfb.org/Moveable-Feet )
Attendees should be prepared to show proof of vaccination; masks appreciated.
Request more details…

Christmas Night Dance Party
2022-12-25 19:00 - 22:30 | 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 15th annual Christmas dance party.
Download and share a flier.
Bring a snack to share
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. Per county guidelines, masks are not required but recommended.

Saratoga Folk Dancers Holiday Party
2022-12-22 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. The holiday party theme is Oh, My Stars! Come dressed in a star-studded costume for the chance of winning a prize as voted by all dancers in attendance.
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
2022-12-17 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
This month’s Global Folk Dance Party theme is “Decorate for December”. We’re celebrating all the December holidays; show us your holiday spirit by decorating your dance space! Afterwards, join us for the after-party hosted by Paul Collins and friends — we’ll post the link for the after party during the GFDParty.
Join The Party
By Zoom
Register by Zoom
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 and requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Palomanians Pie Party
2022-12-10 19:00 - 22:30 | 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 will be supplied by a group of the Palomanians. Dances range from beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set). Denise Heenan will be our MC.
Email your requests 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. Per county guidelines, masks are not required but recommended.
Download and share a flier.

Texas Camp - Kolo Festival 2022
2022-11-24 - 2022-11-27 | Croatian Cultural Center, 60 Onondaga Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94708, United States
On-site in California & Texas with globally inclusive Zoom sessions
Thanksgiving Weekend, November 24-27, 2022

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!
On Site Registration
Kolo Festival

2022 will be the 71st annual Kolo Festival! For the health and safety of attendees, the number of on-site participants will be limited. Register early to reserve your spot! Covid safety protocols.
Dance Instructors

Sonia Dion & Cristian Florescu – Romanian Dances
Michael Ginsburg – Bulgarian-Macedonian Dances

More details on instructors…
Kolo Festival On Site Registration
For details visit http://kolofestival.org
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 your donation will have twice the impact. An anonymous donor has generously offered to match all donations, up to a total of $10,000, made directly to Kolo Festival. This offer expires November 30th.
Thank you for your consideration!
The California Kolo Festival Board

of
Texas Camp
Texas Camp is held at Greene Family Camp, 1192 Smith Lane in Bruceville, Texas, just south of Waco. The closest major airports are in Austin (AUS) and Dallas (DFW). Proof of vaccination must be submitted prior to camp. Covid safety protocols.
Dance Instructors

Ahmet Lüleci – Turkish Dances
Roo Lester & Larry Harding – Swedish Dances

and special guests Yves Moreau and France Bourque Moreau. Bruce Sagan as guest musician.
Texas Camp On Site Registration
For details visit https://tifd.org/2022-about-texas-camp/

Federation Board Meeting
2022-11-20 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation Board online as they meet for their November 2022 planning meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed. Get to see Federation meetings behind the scenes!
Sunday November 20, 3pm-4:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 813 8859 5294
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

Global Folk Dance Party
2022-11-19 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
This month the Global Folk Dance Party features the dances of Dennis Boxell, Dick Crum, and Anatol Joukowsky.
Join our normal team, as well as Franklin Houston, Mady Newfield, and Sherry Cochran, as we feature dances from these master teachers. Also, as a special bonus, Yves Moreau is recording intros about each of these magnificent teachers that we’ll play throughout the party.
The party playlist may be found at https://bit.ly/vfdlist .
After us, the party continues with Paul Collins and Friends. That link will be posted during our party.
Next month’s Global Party will be Saturday, December 17, 2022 and every third Saturday after that.
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, ideas, and requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com.

Advanced Class Fun Night
2022-11-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
All classes are welcome. More details coming…

Live Music Dance Party with Da! Mozhem
2022-11-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Dance to your favorite international tunes with Da! Mozhem and Berkeley Folk Dancers!
Be sure to bring tips for the band,
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.

Fall Camp 2022
2022-11-11 - 2022-11-13 | Brandeis-Bardin Campus, 1101 Peppertree Lane, Brandeis, CA, 93064, United States
Fall Camp 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) and a beautiful rural setting.
Fall Camp 2022 will feature master teachers Steve Kotansky and Roberto Bagnoli. In addition to their regular teaching of great new dances, each will teach additional sessions of fun but less challenging dances. This will appeal both to people who want to learn as much as possible from them and to those who are may be interested in other camp activities and want some light teaching sessions.
For the first time, one of Fall Camp’s dance rooms will be air conditioned and have a wood floor. Camp will offer many attractions, including dance parties, happy hours, the opportunity to participate in Terry’s “potluck band,” craft projects (including decorating T-shirts with Sandy), morning stretches with Mady, morning nature walks with Jan, star gazing with Marc, and more.
In the interest of the well-being of all campers (and others), all participants must provide proof of full vaccination and boosts. (The staff at Brandeis-Bardin will be fully vaccinated and boosted as well.) Other health measures (including the likely need for masks) are described here. If the pandemic forces camp to be canceled, you will receive a full refund.
It isn’t hype to say camp may fill up quite soon. Space at camp is more limited this year than in previous years, and we expect to sell out.
— read more at fallcamp.org or send an e-mail to Dance@FallCamp.org.
Registration and details…

Festivals of Light
2022-11-05 15:30 - 20:30 | Del Oro High School Theater, 3301 Taylor Road, Loomis, CA, 95677, United States
Last year I started a non-profit called International Dance Arts Collective. We have many cultures represented in this folk dance performance with both adults and children performing. Cristian Floresci and Sonia Dion came during the summer and choreographed our Romania suite. Please join us. It’s going to be a wonderful show.
Alexandra Shadle
Director, International Dance Arts Collective
Two shows: 3:30pm and 6:30pm
Purchase tickets

Al Lisin Remembrance and Dance
2022-10-29 15:30 - 19:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Circle your calendar for Saturday, October 29, from 3:30pm to 7:00pm. We will be holding an Al Lisin party at St. Bede’s; a mixture of memories of Al and his and Pat’s favorite dances. Come join Al’s folk dance and non-folk dance friends as we remember one of our great friends. This event will be free of charge and sponsored by the Lisin Family, the Peninsula Folk Dance Council, and The Palomanians.

Folk Dance Performance with Ensemble International

Al & Pat with Ensemble International

Al & Pat with Ensemble International

Al and Pat in the ’70s

Al & Pat & Denise

Al and Pat dedicating the Lisen Family Grove along the Skyline to Sea trail

Al & Pat hikinig with daughter Cheryl and husband Steve

Tentative Schedule
3:15 pm – Doors Open – Welcome and chatting
3:30 pm – Remembrances, videos and pictures
5:00 pm – Dance party set-up
5:15 pm – Dance party MC’d by Denise Heenan
7:00 pm – Closing
Al Lisen 1932 – 2022
Al Lisen 1932 – 2022
Alexander Vladimir Lisin passed away peacefully on the night of April 4, 2022. He will be remembered by his friends and family for his smart and kind demeanor, and his many joys in life – his wife Pat, their folk dancing endeavors, his running and hiking activities, his education and engineering career, and his love of people and the outdoors.
Born in 1932 in the Russian community of Harbin, China, his family immigrated to San Francisco in 1936. Al is survived by his four children and five grandchildren, his cousin and her three children and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Patricia.
One friend commented, “He was the real deal…always one to ‘do the right thing’ and think beyond himself when it came to people and the planet.”
Read more…
As a reminder, vaccinated dancers only. 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. Per county guidelines, masks are not required but recommended.
For more details contact Adony & Becky
