Folk Dance Federation of California

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2023-02-05 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! 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.

Cafe Shalom Dance Party
2023-02-11 19:30 - 23:30, 2023-03-11 19:30 - 23:30, 2023-04-08 19:30 - 23:30, 2023-05-13 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…

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

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.

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

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 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.

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2023-03-11 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 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.

Advanced/Intermediate Class Fun Night
2023-03-12 19:30 - 22:30 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
All classes are welcome. More details coming…

Global Folk Dance Party
2023-03-18 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
This month it’s Global Dance Party’s third anniversary and “Everybody’s Birthday!” We’ll be joined by Boël Denne-Hinnov, Catherine Rudin, andmore as we feature dances we’ve shared over the last three years and celebrate together.
Have a snack or beverage ready to celebrate your and everybody’s birthday!
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.

Dance Party with Zabava
2023-03-19 14:00 - 16:30 | Strawberry Recreation Center, 118 E. Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley, CA, 94941, United States
Dance to your favorite international tunes with Zabava and Kopachka Folk Dancers!
$15 general admittance, $7 students. Doors open at 7:30pm.
Covid protocols: proof of vaccination with booster and masks required (KF94, KN95, and N95).
Be sure to bring tips for the band.
Bill Cope
Zabava
Energetic, soulful, and rhythmically dazzling music played from the center of the dance floor.
Asaf Ophir: sax, clarinet, kaval
Ralph Iverson: gadulka, tambura, violin
Dan Auvil: percussion
Bill Cope: gajda, bouzouki, tambura, accordion (and more?)
More details…

Federation Board Meeting
2023-03-19 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation Board online as they meet for their March 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 March 19, 3pm-4:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 821 4223 9442
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

NFO Conference 2023
2023-03-29 - 2023-04-02 | Concord Scout House, 74 Walden St, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Annual NFO Meeting and Conference 2023
March 29 – April 2, 2023 in Concord Massachusetts
Coming this spring at the NFO 2023 Conference – networking, moving, and lots of live music! Just what you all asked for at the end of the 2022 Conference. If you have a passion for folk arts, come meet, learn, and mingle with others that feel the same way.
This year, we’ll have a special focus on dance musicians speaking on our theme of musician/dancer communication. What do musicians and dancers need to know about each other to have successful events?
Presentations with Tony Parkes, Michael Ginsburg, Jacqueline Schwab and others.
Reports on NFO projects and grants – Dance parties every night – Lots of live music
Venues will be the Concord Scout House and the Trinitarian Congregational Church next door.
Hotel reservation block set up at Concord’s Colonial Inn.
Schedule
Details and Registration

Saratoga Folk Dancers End-of-Quarter Party
2023-03-30 19:30 - 22:15 | St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 18870 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, California, 95070
It’s Easy Being Green
Celebrate the end of first quarter 2023 with the Saratoga International Folk Dancers. Live music with Da! Mozhem and recorded music during the band’s breaks.
Warmup and dances for beginners between 7:30 and 8:15pm. Da! Mozhem will then play for 45 minutes or so. Recorded music for 15-20 minutes while the band takes a break. Da! Mozhem will play and close the evening until 10:00-10:15.

Why Green Theme?

St. Patrick’s Day is in March and we associate green with that holiday.
Tax preparation is in full swing and money is green .
Spring is around the corner and the trees will be leafing out with new green leaves
Earth Day is coming soon and that’s all about being green.
People would be green with envy if they knew how much we enjoy dancing together.

This is a large, friendly group; you won’t be disappointed! Drop in fee $8, seniors $6, and first visit free. More details…
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.

Balkan Plus Folk Dance Party
2023-04-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States
Balkan Plus Folk Dance Party
in memory of Gary Anderson
Balkan Plus 2023 program Join us for an afternoon of dancing to a program inspired by Gary’s parties.
Hosted by Gary’s children Eric & Jean and family
Contact: Bill Croft, wcroft@unm.edu, txt 505-234-4177
Light refreshments & donations welcome (no glass containers or alcohol)
Masks encouraged, vax and boosters encouraged
Admission free; donations welcome
See www.ashkenaz.com for info on parking, health & safety, etc.

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2023-04-02 15:00 - 18:00 | 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 emceed by Changs!
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 during 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.

Global Folk Dance Party
2023-04-15 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
This month we’re presenting a little preview of the upcoming June Camp. We welcome June Camp regulars Mady Newfield, Jennifer Forbes-Baily, Kathleen Mazurek, Barbara Bleisch, Michael Kuharski and Catherine Rudin as our guest leaders. Along with our regular team, they will lead some favorite June Camp dances from years past.
Join at 2:30pm for fun pre-show music. And stay 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!

Facebook Live
On Facebook Live at: 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.

Lyrids Folk Dance Festival
2023-04-21 - 2023-04-23 | Peretz Center, 6184 Ash Street, Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Canada
Save the date for the nineth Lyrids Folk Dance Festival 2023 featuring folk dances taught by Steve Kotansky (Balkan) and Genci Kastrati (Albanian). Live music with Orkestar RTW during the Saturday dance party.
Register
For more details e-mail info@lyridsfolkdancefestival.org

Bay Area Dance Week
2023-04-21 - 2023-04-30 | CA
To help promote folk dance, several Bay Area Folk Dance Federation member groups are generously opening their folk dance classes free to the public during Bay Area Dance Week, April 21 to 30, 2023.
Bay Area Dance Week
Bay Area Dance Week, an inclusive celebration of movement and dance, returns in 2023 after a three-year hiatus. Over its 22 year history the Bay Area Dance community opened its doors and invited the public to experience its rich and vibrant dance scene, completely free of charge. Bay Area Dance Week (BADW) is the largest, most vibrant dance week celebration in the country with free dance performances, workshops, classes, lectures, and open houses during its 10-day celebration. The Bay Area possesses one of the largest active and thriving dance communities of the country. In fact, the Bay Area has the largest per capita concentration of dancers in America. Now in it’s 22nd year, Bay Area Dance Week invites participants and volunteers to celebrate dance, offering hundreds of free events representing the diversity of dance forms practiced in the region. From established company programs to one-time events, Bay Area Dance Week provides an opportunity for dance-lovers of all ages and experience-levels to take a grand tour of the many movement styles. This year’s festival will feature hundreds of events, including workshops, performances, classes, open rehearsals, and more. Whether Bolivian folkloric dance, Tahitian dance, Ballet, Congolese Dance, Hula, Jazz, Modern, or Hip Hop, there is something for every adult and kid to discover at Bay Area Dance Week.
Find BADW free events…
Participating Folk Dance Events
Click an event link below for location and details of a free folk dance event

Day
Time
Location
Event
Presenter

Fri. April 21
7:45-9:45pm
Berkeley
International Folk Dance Request Night
Berkeley Folk Dancers

Sat. April 22
12:30-5:00pm
San Francisco
Blossom International Folk Dance Festival
Folk Dance Federation of CA, N

Sun. April 23
7:00-9:30pm
Fremont
Smile Folk Dancers
Smile Folk Dancers

Tue. April 25
11:00am-1:00pm
Fremont
International Folk dance with Rebecca Tsai
Rebecca Tsai

1:30-3:00pm
Berkeley
International Folk Dance Class
Berkeley Folk Dancers

Thu. April 27
11:00am-1:00pm
Fremont
International Folk dance with Rebecca Tsai
Rebecca Tsai

7:30-10:00pm
Saratoga
International Folk Dances
Saratoga International Dance

7:45-9:30pm
Berkeley
Folk Dance Beginner Class
Berkeley Folk Dancers

Fri. April 28
7:45-9:45pm
Berkeley
International Folk Dance Request Night
Berkeley Folk Dancers

2023 Blossom Festival
2023-04-22 12:30 - 17:00 | City College of San Francisco, Wellness Center, 50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA, 94112, United States
Blossom Festival 2023 The annual Blossom Festival includes a folk dance party, short dance workshops, and more. Free!
Dance activities will be held in the Wellness Center, 3rd Floor, Studio 301
Schedule

Time
Activity

12:30 – 1:30 PM
Dancing for All Ages

1:30 – 5:00 PM
General Dancing

COVID policy
Vaccinations and all boosters required. Masks strongly encouraged but not required.
Parking
Because of parking limitations, you may want to consider carpooling or public transportation. Campus parking information

Kopachka Blast
2023-04-28 19:00 - 21:30 | Almonte Clubhouse, 105 Wisteria Way, Mill Valley, CA, 94941, United States
Schedule

Time
Activity

7-7:30 pm
Requests

7:30-8pm
Susie Shoaf will review the Macedonian dance, Malisorka, a Kopachka favorite, as learned from Yves Moreau. Nadav Nur will review the beautiful Albanian dance, Vallja e Rrajcës, as learned from Steve Kotansky.

8-9:30pm
General Dancing

COVID Safety Protocol
Vax/booster proof required – show once – bivalent booster encouraged. Mask N95, KN95 or KF94 required. (We have extra masks). No food allowed. Please bring your own water bottle.
Directions
Park below on Almonte Blvd. (use flashlight to walk up ~200ft). Very limited parking at clubhouse. Details…

14th Annual Cerritos Festival
2023-05-06 13:00 - 17:30 | Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South Street, Cerritos, CA, 90703, United States
Help the Cerritos Folk Dancers celebrate their 14th anniversary with dance, cake, and your presence!
Finger foods to share are welcome, but not necessary. Your traditional or special costume will add splendid color to the party.
Each group is welcome to perform, lead, and/or request one or more dances.
Party Play List

Federation Board Meeting
2023-05-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation Board online as they meet for their May 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 May 7, 3pm-4:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 821 4223 9442
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

Folk Dance and Tea Party
2023-05-13 15:30 - 18:30 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Come join the Peninsula Council for their an afternoon tea and dance party! Share your favorite brew, tea time stories, and folk dances with your friends!

Schedule

Time
Event

3:30 – 4:15pm
TEA PARTY

4:15 – 6:30pm
DANCING

Death on the Nile Dance Party
2023-05-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Theme: “Death on the Nile” sponsored by BFD intermediate dancers. Be inspired! Come dressed for: Sleuthing, Adventure, Travel, or as Villain, Belly Dancer, Pharaoh, Tomb Raider, Egyptian …
Please bring finger foods to share
Register online

Statewide 2023
2023-05-19 18:30 - 2023-05-21 18:00 | Wigwam Hall, 543 Shepherd St., San Pedro, CA, 90731, United States
The 2023 Statewide Folk Dance Festival, HARBOR VIEW, is a weekend festival of folk dance and parties on May 19 to 21, 2023 including:

Dance workshops with Bata Marčetić (Serbian) and Joan Hantman (Israeli)
Live Music Played by Sans Frontières (Friday), Veselba (Friday), and Tzidia (Saturday)
Dance performances by Bata’s 15-member youth ensemble (The Academy of Serbian Folk Dancing) from Toronto
A Sea Shanty sing-along will be led by musician and dancer Toti O’Brien.
Parties and Luncheon
Request Dancing
Optional Excursions
Meeting friends – Old and New

Register

Schedule
Statewide 2023 Schedule Wigwam Hall All events take place at the Wigmam Hall, San Pedro, CA.
Live music playlist

Instructors
Bata Marčetić
Bata Marčetić .Miroslav Bata Marcetic was a leading performer, soloist and choreographer, with the Serbian National Folk Ensemble “Kolo” in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro (former Yugoslavia) for seventeen years and is the recipient of several awards for his artistic work. He has attended almost all folk dance seminars held in former Yugoslavia and eventually, he became the instructor of several workshops held in former Yugoslavia, Japan, Israel and currently in Canada and the USA. As a well-known choreographer, he was chosen by the Folk Dance Association of Serbia to be a judge at folklore competitions that were taking place in Serbia and Montenegro from 1980 to 1993.
In Canada, Miroslav works in several dance associations and ensembles: Kralj Petar II from Winona since 1993, , Serbian Club “Kordun” since 2004 and he worked in S.C.A. “Oplenac” in Mississauga from 1993 until 2004 and in Folk Dance Ensemble “Hajduk Veljko” from Toronto from 1999 until 2006. Due to his long-term, dedicated and victorious work in the Canadian Serbian community, on December 26th 2005 Miroslav was awarded the Golden Plaque by the Cultural-Academic State Association of Serbia.
In 2004, Miroslav established his own school of dance, “Academy of Serbian Folk Dancing” which includes more than 300 dancers of all ages, and a folk band instructed and directed by Mica Petrovic, a music coach par excellence, whose last forty years of his adult life have been dedicated to publicizing and promoting Serbian folk music. The Academy of Serbian Folk Dancing is the winner of the many artistic awards. More details…
Introducing Miroslav “Bata” Marčetić
Joan Hantman
Joan Hantman Joan Hantman began classical dance at the age of three and was performing “on pointe” on stage in downtown Boston by the age of eight. She was introduced to Israeli dance at Brandeis University, and thus began the start of a lasting relationship. She has studied with most of the major choreographers and has been teaching and performing Israeli dance ever since.
Within Israeli dance, Joan has danced with the performing groups Keren Shemesh, Screaming Sa’adya and the Electric Camels, Zikukim, Parparim (with whom she performed at the Mets stadium in New York), and Bustan Boston (with whom she performed in the first Karniel festival in Israel). Joan was the coordinator and an instructor of the MIT Folk Dance Club’s Israeli dancing for more than a quarter century, and was on the board of Directors for the Boston Israeli Folk Dance Festival. Joan has also been on the staff of Sababa camp in New York, and now co-organizes the IFC camp in New York as well.
While dancing at MIT, Joan caught sight of International and Balkan dancing and a new passion ensued. She began attending workshops in the United States, and then attended many dance seminars in Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey. She complemented Ercüment Kılıc’s teaching in the United States and has demonstrated dances with Israel Yakovee, Shlomo Maman, Avner Naim, and Moshiko. International performing groups included Collage led by Ahmet Luleci and the Mandala Folk Dance Ensemble as both a dancer and artistic director, (with which she performed throughout the northeast and in England and Hungary). Joan has also performed vocally at the prestigious Pirin Pee and Koprivštica festivals in Bulgaria. She currently sings with the Balkan band Veselba and with the Bulgarian chorus Superdevoijce.
In her spare dance time, Joan can also be seen doing swing, salsa, and clogging dance, or appearing as background in various movies and Internet or television shows. In real life, Joan works as a nurse at UCLA’s Santa Monica Hospital.
Introducing Joan Hantman
Hotels
Statewide 2023 will be happening in San Pedro the weekend prior Memorial Day Weekend. San Pedro offers two upscale hotels and several basic motels (ranked by price). Our host motel is Studio 6, 525 S. Harbor, San Pedro, CA.
Sadly, the inn within walking distance of Wigwam Hall is not recommended.

Hotel/Motel
Distance from hall
Parking
Amenities

Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel 3
601 S. Palos Verdes St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-519-8200
Online Reservations
2.8 miles
$15/day
Blu restaurant on site serves breakfast, brunch, dinner, dessert, beer on tap, wine, pool, and is smoke free. Two double beds is $245 + taxes/night

Double Tree
2800 Via Cabrillo Marina
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-514-3344
Online Reservations
2 miles
$15/day
On-site restaurant, pool (located on Marina), coffee maker. Two standard queen beds is $257 + taxes/night

Motel 6 (New owner)
354 W. 9th St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-935-2772
Online Reservations
2.8 miles
No parking
One king bed is $76 + taxes/night
Inspected by John Lang

Vagabond Inn
215 S. Gaffey St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-831-8911
Online Reservations
2.8 miles
Free
Lobby recently remodeled, some rooms have new floor, micro wave, fridge, pool, no coffee maker. Coffee and pastries served Saturday and Sunday AM.
Room with two queen beds is $124 + taxes/night. 15% discount for seniors and AAA members

Guest Harbor Inn
411 S. Pacific Ave.
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-831-0195
Online Reservations
2.4 miles
Free (enter parking lot from Pacific)
Rooms recently remodeled, mini fridge, micro wave, coffee maker. Room with two queen beds is $135 + taxes/night

Studio 6 (Our Host Motel)
525 S. Harbor
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-548-1080
Online Reservations
2.8 miles
Free
Mini fridge and micro wave in all rooms, pool, no coffee maker
Two full beds is $140 + taxes/night
Across Harbor Blvd. from Maritime Museum

Americas Best Value Inn Rancho Palos Verdes
29601 South Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
310-519-9900
Online Reservations
5 miles
Free
Restaurant on site
Two double beds is $150 + taxes/night. Inspected by John Lang.

View document of hotel/motels near hall
Nearby Restaurants and Attractions
List of nearby restaurants
List of San Pedro attractions
15 Best Things to Do in San Pedro

Registration
Lodging should be purchased separately. Children under 18 are admitted free with a paying adult. Young adults aged 19-21 can receive a 50% discount if they volunteer for 1-2 hours. Work scholarships are available.
The full festival package is $125 for all workshops and parties if registered by May 7. The final day to pre-register is May 7, 2023. The Saturday only full package is $75, or $85 at the door. Individual events may be registered for $25 apiece or $30 at the door.
Additional offerings include a Saturday lunch or evening dinner, a commemorative T-shirt.
Online Registration
Register online
Mail-In Registration Form
Mail-In Registration
Please download and print the Registration form, then complete it and make your check or money order payable to: Folk Dance Federation of CA, South. Send your form and check or money order to:
Statewide Registrar, Stefanie Holzman
5702 Kern Dr., Huntington Beach, CA 92649.
More Details…
Visit the Statewide 2023 webpage at https://socalfolkdance.org/statewide.htm for the latest information about schedule, opportunities for cultural excursions, post festival Sunday afternoon gathering, teachers, music (bands & playlists), hotels, restaurants, parking, directions, etc. Mask and proof of vaccination requirements will follow CDC, State, and County COVID regulations at the time of the event.
All details
For more details also contact: Diane Baker 949-244-0666 or e-mail diane.baker@diandden.net.

Global Folk Dance Party
2023-05-20 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
As always, thank you for coming to our party and sharing your day with us. I and the Global Party team look forward to continuing our parties with all of you on the third Saturday of each month.
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.
