GreekFeet Year-End Party
2018-12-17 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

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.

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!

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.

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).

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.

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)

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

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.”
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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/

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

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.

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.

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!

"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.

End of Winter Dance Party
2019-03-27 19:45 - 22:00 | 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.

Camellia Festival 2019
2019-03-29 - 2019-03-30 | Polish-American Hall, 327 Main Street, Roseville, CA, 95678, United States
The 62nd annual Camellia International Dance Festival with folk dance workshops, dance parties, and surprise performances!
Schedule

Price
Date
Time (pm)
Event

$10
Friday, March 29
7:00-10:00
Opening party

$15
Saturday, March 30
1:00-2:50
Balkan workshop

$15
3:10-5:00
Irish partner workshop

5:00-7:00
Dinner break (many nearby restaurants)

$10
7:00-10:00
Dance party

DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
Instructors

Lee Otterholt
Lee Otterholt is a master teacher of International Folk Dance, teaching at workshops, festivals and seminars all over the USA and Canada. He is a leader of Folk Dance tours all over the world and leads and performs with the International Folk Dance ensemble “SYRTAKI”. He is also the lead singer in the BalkanBeat band “Zimzala”. Read more…

Bridget Floyd
Bridget Floyd has been ceili dancing for over 20 years, since she was 7 years old, and is also an accomplished Irish step dancer. She serves as instructor for Sacramento Irish Folk Dance.

Directions and Lodging
Directions & motel info
For more details contact Cynthia Lambert or call 916-333-2785

5th Friday Party with Da! Mozhem
2019-03-29 19:30 - 22:30 | Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, 31st Ave. and Clement St., San Francisco, California, 94121, United States
Celebrate the 5th Friday with dancing to the live Balkan music of Da! Mozhem. We meet at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, 31st Ave. and Clement St. Enter on 31st Ave.
$5 plus tips for the band. Bring snacks to share.
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
2019-03-30 19:30 - 23:00 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin, 240 Channing Way, San Rafael, CA, 94903, United States
A Balkan Plus Folk Dance Party hosted by the Advanced Balkan Dancers!
Lots of free parking and a fine wood floor. Please bring snacks to share.
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
For more details contact

Spring Folk Dance Party
2019-04-06 19:30 - 22:30 | Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma, CA, 94952, United States
The annual Petaluma spring folk dance party featuring live music by Staro Vino. The first hour will feature dancing to old and new recorded favorites followed by a live music set with Staro Vino playing lively and beautiful Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Greek music. Everyone is welcome to come dance and/or just listen to the fabulous music.
For information, contact Carol Friedman at 415-663-9512.
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
Staro Vino
Staro Vino Staro Vino plays dance tunes and table songs from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia. The members of Staro Vino are: Greg Jenkins on clarinet and vocals; Mark Jenkins on percussion and vocals, Peter Bonos on trumpet, and Balder ten Cate on accordion and vocals.

April Folk Dance Party
2019-04-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Garden House, 400 University Ave., Los Altos, CA, United States
Peninsula Council Folk Dance Party

7:00-7:30pm
Tatyana Teodorovich of Russia House Kedry will teach two 19th century Russian dances and a third ancient dance if there is time. Here are the details on the dances:
In An Orchard, In A Garden (Vo Sahdoo Li…)
The song is known since the last part of the 18 century.
It was mentioned in one of poetic fairy tales by the Russian poet, A.S. Pushkin at the beginning of the 19 century.
The dance movements appear to be a late 19 century choreography, akin the style of European country rounds. It uses elements of a circle dance as well as part ner dancing.
Six-some (ShestyOrah)
Being a late 19 century dance, it is a variation on a European quadrille style of dances. It is danced in a formation of a three couples set. Repetitive figures in the formation are elaborated by various arm positions of partners.
Steel-Blue Falcon (Siz-Sukolik)
This circle song-dance is an example of a more archaic form of a folk dance. It is similar in footwork to many Balkan dances. This slower, almost meditative song-dance has a powerful feeling of a circular ritualistic movement.

7:30-10:30pm
ALL-REQUEST PARTY. MC’d by Lesley Bone and Hollis Radin

E-mail requests to Lesley. She will incorporate your awesome requests into the program!
Dances range from beginning to advanced and all forms (line, couple, set). Bring a snack to share!
DOWLOAD, print, and share a flier.

Greek Glendi with Édessa and Guest Yanni Konstantinou
2019-04-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Albany Recreation Center, 1247 Marin Ave, Albany, CA, United States
This is going to be a great dance party of course with our local band Edessa but to have Yanni lead us in dance is a special treat!
Easy parking on the street or in the adjacent parking lot.
Édessa
Édessa Édessa is one of the Bay Area’s premier Balkan dance bands, devoting decades to the study and performance of the rich cultural expressions of the southern Balkans. They play with a deep understanding of the connection between dance and music. Using both traditional and modern instruments, they perform in a variety of styles, featuring long sets that interweave melodies, improvisation, and beats with dancers in mind. Édessa is George Chittenden on clarinet, gaida (bagpipe), zurna (shawm), and guitar, Lise Liepman on santouri (hammered dulcimer) and accordion, Ari Langer on violin, and Sean Tergis on percussion.

Yannis Kostantinou
Yannis Konstantinou Yannis Konstantinou has been dancing from childhood alongside his parents, family and friends in the villages of Florina located in northwest Greece. He has a deep passion and commitment to preserving and sharing the local traditions / culture of the various ethnic groups living in the region and has studied the cross-border influences of neighboring communities on dance and music along the northern border of Greece. Yannis has studied and researched extensively the dances and cultural influence of this area. He has taught at dance workshops and seminars throughout Europe, Japan and North America as well as in Greece.

English and Scottish Country Dance Workshop and Party with David Newitt and Alan Thwigg
2019-04-14 14:30 - 20:30 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
The Moveable Feet group features an English and Scottish country dance workshop with the charismic, fun-loving David Hewitt and Alan Twhigg. Live music for dancing by Susan Worland, strings, and Lyle Ramshaw, piano.

2:30 pm
Doors open, chatting, warm ups/stretching

3 – 6 pm
Workshop, alternating English and Scottish dances at all levels
For the Workshop, teachers David Newitt and Alan Twhigg plan to teach, as time permits, from the following list of dances:
English: Jack’s Health, Knole Park, Red and All Red, The De’il’s Awa wi’ the Exciseman, The Homecoming, When Laura Smiles, and Wibsey Roundabout
Scottish: Cranberry Tart, Granville Market, Memories of Lyon, Orpington Caledonians, and Red House

6 – 7 pm
Potluck dinner, bring your favorite dishes. Snacks for the workshop also appreciated. No oven but refrigerator and microwave oven available

7 – 8:30 pm
Dancing to our English and Scottish favorites.
For the Evening Party, David and Alan plan to do quick talk-throughs for many of our favorites and any of the workshop dances, as time permits:
English Party: Emma’s Commencement, Good Man of Cambridge, Levi Jackson Rag, Sapphire Sea, Turning by Threes, and Winter Solstice
Scottish Party: Belle o’Bon Accord, Bratach Bana, Broadway, Shiftin Bobbins, Terrace Loggers Jig, and Welcome

For both the Workshop and Evening Party dances, there are some easier and some harder dances so there are options for everyone. Most of the dances can be viewed, and descriptions are available, online. Come for the whole or part of the event:
Send your requests for both the workshop and party dances to Lucy or Karen. No partners needed. We change partners after each dance. All dancers welcome however basic knowledge of English and Scottish dance fundamentals is beneficial.
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
David Newitt
David arrived at Swarthmore College in 1976 and was shocked and dismayed to discover a two year physical education requirement. Faced with the alternatives of football and “folk and square dancing” the choice was clear, and he has been dancing international folk dance, English and Scottish Country, Morris and sword teams, and contra dancing ever since. All are wonderful community activities and sharing them has been his passion for over 40 years.
Along with his fiddling wife Heather MacKay, David also loves playing music for English and Scottish dancing. They are founding members of the Humuhumumkunuku Apua’a and Strathspey Society Band—the world’s best Hawaiian-themed Scottish and English Country Dance band.
When not dancing, David studies pictures of people’s insides, doing research utilizing MRI,and specializing in body parts that start with “b.”
Alan Thwigg
With Scottish heritage on both sides of his family, Alan developed a love for Scottish traditional music at an early age. His parents danced with the Reel & Strathspey Club that preceded the formation of the San Francisco Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. They often took him to the Highland games and pipe band concerts as a child.
Alan discovered Scottish Country Dancing as a college student, amongst other dance forms such as ballroom and international folk. The music resonated with some early memories, and the intricate patterns of SCD stood out from the other styles. He soon sought out a weekly class, then two…
Alan passed both of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society teaching exams at St. Andrews in the 1980s, and has been teaching regular weekly classes at various levels ever since. He has served as a guest instructor at weekend workshops across North America and tutored candidates for teaching exams. He also continues to participate in Scottish Country Dance performances, chiefly with the Red Thistle Dancers. Favorite memories include choreographing and performing a sword dance for the San Francisco Opera as well as teaching and performing in Norway, the Czech Republic, and Russia.
In addition to Scottish country dancing, Alan is an accomplished Highland dancer and performs frequently in public. He does both Scottish country dance and Highland dance with the Red Thistle Dancers, a performance group based in Palo Alto. Alan frequently travels to Scotland to attend dance training schools, and broaden his knowledge of the culture.

Greek Dance Workshop with Yanni Konstantinou
2019-04-15 19:00 - 21:30 | Joe Goode Annex, 401 Alabama at 17th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
GreekFeet is delighted to have our friend and internationally recognized teacher, Yannis Konstantinou teach us traditional dances from Macedonia, Greece.
Please join us for this very special opportunity. If you like, please reserve some time to go out after class.
Note: Ring the bell at the gate to enter
Yannis Kostantinou
Yannis Konstantinou YANNIS KONSTANTINOU has been dancing from childhood alongside his parents, family and friends in the villages of Florina located in northwest Greece. He has a deep passion and commitment to preserving and sharing the local traditions / culture of the various ethnic groups living in the region and has studied the cross-border influences of neighboring communities on dance and music along the northern border of Greece. Yannis has studied and researched extensively the dances and cultural influence of this area. He has taught at dance workshops and seminars throughout Europe, Japan and North America as well as in Greece.

Bay Area Dance Week
2019-04-26 - 2019-05-05 | San Francisco Bay Area, CA, United States
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 26 to May 5, 2019.
Bay Area Dance Week
Bay Area Dance Week (BADW) is the largest, most vibrant dance week celebration in the country with over 400 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 21st 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, including Argentine tango, classical Indian, jazz, hip hop, ballet, traditional hula, fire dance, Samba, modern, Chinese classical, belly dance, aerial dance, West African, contact improvisation, and more. Find more free events…
DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier!
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 26
7:30-10:00pm
Palo Alto
Join Hands for World Dance
Stanford International Dancers

7:30-10:30pm
Mill Valley
Ethnic Dances from the Balkans and Beyond
Kopachka Folk Dancers

7:30-10:30pm
San Francisco
Dances for Everyone!
Changs Folk Dancers

7:45-9:45pm
Berkeley
International Folk Dance Party
Berkeley Folk Dancers

Sun. April 28
12:30-5:00pm
San Francisco
Blossom International Folk Dance Festival
Folk Dance Federation of CA, N

Mon. April 29
7:00-9:30pm
San Francisco
Step into the World of Greek Dance
Greek Feet

Tue. April 30
1:30-3:00pm
Berkeley
International Dance in the Afternoon
Berkeley Folk Dancers

7:45-9:45pm
Berkeley
International Folk Dance for Beginners
Berkeley Folk Dancers

7:00-9:00pm
Santa Rosa
Pre-May Day Balkan Dance Celebration!
Razzmatazz Folk Dance Club

10:45am-12:15pm
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa International Folk Dance
Santa Rosa Folk Dancers

Wed. May 1
10:45am-12:15pm
San Francisco
International Folk Dance
San Francisco Dance Circle

Thu. May 2
7:30-10:00pm
Saratoga
Introduction to International Dance
Saratoga International Dance

7:30-10:30pm
San Francisco
Mostly Balkan Dance Party
Mandala Folk Dance

1:30-3:00pm
Berkeley
International Dance in the Afternoon
Berkeley Folk Dancers

7:45-9:45pm
Berkeley
Intermediate International Folk Dance
Berkeley Folk Dancers

Fri. May 3
7:30-10:30pm
San Francisco
Dances of the World
Changs Folk Dancers

7:45-9:45pm
Berkeley
International Folk Dance Request Party
Berkeley Folk Dancers

Sat. May 4
7:30-11:00pm
Menlo Park
Nordic Dance Party
Nordic Footnotes

Sun. May 5
1:00-2:15pm
San Leandro
Intro to Argentine Tango
Tango & More Dance

2:30-3:15pm
How Elvis Presley & Jazz Changed Argentine Tango

3:30-5:00pm
International Folk Dance Fun

2019 Blossom Festival
2019-04-28 12:30 - 17:00 | City College of San Francisco, Wellness Center, 50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA, 94112, United States
Blossom Festival 2019 The annual Blossom Festival, a featured event of Bay Area Dance Week, includes a folk dance party, short dance workshops, and dance performance by guest company. Free!
Dance activities will be held in the Wellness Center, 3rd Floor, Studio 301
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Balkan Dance Party with Zabava International
2019-05-03 19:30 - 22:00 | Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, United States
Live Balkan music and dancing to Bill Cope and Zabava International! It’s a party night, so snacks and drinks are welcome, as are tips for the band.
Bill Cope
Zabava International!
Energetic, soulful, and rhythmically dazzling music played from the center of the dance floor–music from Albania, America, Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Norway, the Romani, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden and Turkey traditions. The musicians recreate the vibrant interplay of traditional music and dance from the cultural crossroads.
Anastasia Barkett (violin)
Noa Laniakea (bass)
Michele Simon (vocals, tupan, hand drum)
Tom Farris (tambura, guitar)
Bill Cope (gajda, bouzouki, tambura, accordion, vocals, and more)
More details…

Ocho de Mayo Party
2019-05-08 19:45 - 22:00 | Holbrook Palmer Park, Carriage House, 150 Watkins Avenue, Atherton, CA, 94027, United States
Join Suzanne Rocca-Butler and the Carriage House Folk Dancers for an Ocho de Mayo (May 8th) Party. Snacks or beverages to share are also appreciated if you are able to bring them.
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.

Balkan Dance Party with Édessa
2019-05-10 20:00 - 22:30 | Strawberry Recreation Center, 118 E. Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley, CA, 94941, United States
Come dance to the exciting music of Édessa, one of the Bay Area’s premier Balkan dance bands.
Dance on our spacious sprung wood floor. Lots of free parking. Please consider bringing refreshments to share.
Édessa
Édessa is comprised of musicians who have devoted decades to the study and performance of the rich cultural expression of the southern Balkans, with music from Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Armenia, Turkey, and Balkan Roma (Gypsy). Édessa is George Chittenden on clarinet, gaida (bagpipe), zurna (shawm), and guitar, Lise Liepman on santouri (hammered dulcimer) and accordion, Ari Langer on violin, Sean Tergis on percussion, and bassist Paul Brown.
For more details contact president@kopachkafolkdancers.com or 415-497-4890.

Café Shalom Founder Celebration
2019-05-11 17:30 - 23:30 | St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 1399 43rd Ave, at Judah St., San Francisco, CA, 94122, United States
Cafe Shalom Birthday Celebration On Saturday, May 11, Café Shalom of San Francisco will celebrate the 90th birthday of their founder, RUTH BROWNS GUNDELFINGER, and the group’s 50th year, with a potluck dinner and dance party.
This will be a chance to honor Ruth’s passion for Israeli dance and the joy she has brought to her teaching as well as to celebrate the Café Shalom community she envisioned 50 years ago.
Potluck 5:30pm, dance party 7:30-11:30 pm
Dessert will be provided, so please bring other food to share for dinner along with serving utensils (no pork, shellfish or alcohol please).
Contact Info: Tirtza Pearl 415-595-4492 or e-mail
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