Mainewoods Dance Camp
2024-08-18 - 2024-08-31 | Camp Indian Acres, 1712 Main St,, Fryeburg, ME, 04037, United States
Two separate weeks of folk dance workshops, music classes, and evening dance parties. Campers who enjoy singing or playing an instrument can join in music classes. Each evening the professional camp musicians play a live music set. Each day features a different ethnic theme.
2024 Schedule
SESSION 1: August 18 – August 24

Penny Brichta – Israeli
Gergana Panova – Bulgarian
Tom Roby – English
International Folk Musicians – The Pixton-Poirier Band

SESSION 2: August 25 – August 31

Roo Lester – Scandinavian, Basque, and Beyond
Maurits van Geel – Roma and International
Tineke van Geel – Armenian and International
International Folk Musicians – John Matulis and Dottie Yacek-Matulis

More details…
Register

Land Dancers Folk Dance Weekend
2024-08-31 11:00 - 2024-09-02 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cliff’s land in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA-9 & Skyline Blvd, Saratoga, CA, 95070
Please join the Land Dancers this Labor Day weekend August 31 to September 2 for International and Israeli folk dancing and music at The Land. Anyone is welcome. Fun for families. No charge. Held every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. Founded by Cliff Jenkins and friends in 1981.
You can camp out for the whole weekend or just come for the day and enjoy the deck, the creek, the forest, dancing and friends!
We dance outdoors on a big redwood deck where two creeks come together in the Santa Cruz Mountains, off Skyline Blvd near Highway 9. Dancing typically runs from around noon to 11 pm Saturday and Sunday but there isn’t a set schedule. Note map shown is only general vicinity, contact Betsy to RSVP and for directions.
The event is free of charge but we welcome donations to Land Dancers, the 501c(3) organization we created to organize and carry on folk dance weekends at the land. You may bring a check or cash to the land, mail a check to the address shown below, or use this link to make a donation through PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account to donate).
Contact Betsy Moore, eambetsy@gmail.com (408-507-7177) to request a flyer with directions and more info, to ask questions, or to be added to our email list.

International Folk Dance Party
2024-09-06 13:00 - 16:00 | Age Well Center at South Fremont, 47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont, CA, 94539, United States
Join the third anniversary party for International Folk Dance with Rebecca. No partner or experience needed. Enjoy easy and fun dances from around the world. Please wear orange to celebrate the Fall harvest theme.

Camp Nirkoda Ba'Kerem 2024
2024-09-12 - 2024-09-15 | DoubleTree Sacramento, 2001 Point W Way, Sacramento, 95815, United States
Set in the relaxed landscape of California wine country, Nirkoda Ba’Kerem is all about community. Come join your friends — some you’ve known for years, and some you’ve yet to meet — for a fun-filled weekend of nonstop Israeli dancing. Don’t miss it!
Staff
Yaron Carmel is back! At NBK 2022, we saw firsthand why he is one of the best-regarded teachers in the Israeli folk dance world! He started dancing at the age of 8, and hasn’t stopped since then. He performed with Dado Kraus’s troupe and danced at sessions led by Meir Shem-Tov, Shuki Terem, and Beber Shushan. Just after completing his military service, he opened his first harkada in 1995 in Karmiel, followed by Mayaan Tzvi and Misgav. Today, he runs five weekly sessions, marthons, special events, and an annual trip to Masada, as well as having been a guest teacher at camps all over the world for more than 20 years!
Ilai Szpiezak is an award-winning producer, choreographer, master of ceremonies, and educator who has performed for audiences all over the world. Half Argentinian, half Israeli, he has been living in London since 2011. In 2020, during the pandemic founded HARKALIVE: the first-ever online Israeli Dance platform, developing a new form of folk dance education. As a choreographer, he has created more than 70 dances as well as numerous stage choreographies and won several awards including 1st place in the Karmiel Festival 2019 for Bereshit. Other dances include Yom Hashishi, Ein Mehushar Mimeni, Fata Morgana, Batuach, Even Al Even, Morocco, and more. His high energy, precise teaching, and friendly smile will keep you dancing all night long!
Her Excellency, Latishya Steele, PhD, returns as our Mistress of the Computer, our Granter of Requests, our Voice Upon the Microphone — in other words, our incomparable DJ and assistant director. She will keep you on your feet all night long — and well into the morning! Latishya started her dancing career in Boston and Chicago, and she is now one of the leaders of the Nirkoda Le’Chayim session in Northern California, where she showcases her incredibly deep repertoire and talent for keeping the party going.
Aaron Alpert is your camp director and host for the weekend. His main job is to ensure that you’re having an awesome time! A second-generation dancer, he was dancing before he could walk. He started teaching in 2007 at the UC Berkeley DeCal class, and then started branching out to the other Bay Area dance events. Today, he runs Nirkoda Le’Chayim with Latishya every Thursday in Palo Alto. Let him know if there’s anything that can make your camp experience better.
Dance Hall
We will dance in the California Ballroom, a modern space with air conditioning and heating, good acoustics, and even a small patio. More importantly, we will dance on a professional wood floor, complete with sprung features to make it easy on the knees.
Food
Lunch and dinner will be catered by the DoubleTree, allowing dancers a choice of gourmet dishes. They can accommodate most dietary needs, but please contact us if you have questions or require a highly specialized diet. Note that breakfast is on-your-own, (i.e., it is not included). However, the hotel has a full restaurant, Twigs, and a coffee bar with items to-go, as well as being very near the Arden West Mall and several other eateries.
Accommodations and Parking
DoubleTree by Hilton, Sacramento is a completely remodeled hotel, with renovations completed in January 2024. The well-appointed, modern rooms feature one king or two queen beds with elegant decor highlighting art from California’s capital city. Each room has a mini fridge, TV, balcony, free in-room WiFi, USB and regular power outlets, toiletries, linens. There is a bright and clean bathroom for each room as well.
Details and Registration
Contact registration@nirkoda.com for answers to any questions.

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2024-09-14 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. This night our MC is the ever-popular Adony Beniares.
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.
Please stay home if you are sick, and please wear a mask if you are unsure or have been exposed to someone with a contagious illness. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Send your dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com along with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.

Memorial Dance for Jerry Gregory
2024-09-26 19:30 - 22:15 | St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 18870 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, California, 95070
Jerry Gregory 1947-2024 Sponsored by the Saratoga Folk Dancers and hosted by Susan Gregory. A low-key but fun dance memorial for Jerry, dancing some of his favorite dances, snacking on some of his favorite Chinese food, sharing memories.
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 $5-10 sliding scale. More details…

Inaugural Ball 2024
2024-09-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Silly in September
Berkeley Folk Dancers welcomes their new and returning officers. These are the people who are providing layers of structure and support that keep the Berkeley Folk Dance club running. Find your “Silly” and welcome the new officers in our Silly in September themed party.
Please bring finger foods to share.

Mosaic Festival Silicon Valley 2024
2024-10-06 10:00 - 18:00 | History Park, Phelan Avenue, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Celebrate our mosaic of American cultures at the fourth annual Mosaic Festival in Silicon Valley. This “destination” event is actually a journey that welcomes each of us to honor our unique history while also co-creating a vision of our shared future of belonging, healing, and harmony. The Mosaic Festival is a time when we ALL come together to create the multicultural American village, a vision of a society where everybody belongs!
Mosaic Festival includes…

Cultural Performances
Workshops
Visual Art
Healing Garden
Food Trucks and Vendors

and more…
The Folk Dance Federation supports the work of Mosaic America to share multicultural and interactive performances and workshops by artists within our community.
Loui Tucker and friends will be leading participants in international folk dances starting at 11:25am at the main Festival stage for 20minutes, and again possibly between 12:30-1PM for another dance.
Artists, Workshops, and Performances
Be sure to register for the free festival before coming.
Register online
We acknowledge this event will be held on Thámien Ohlone Tribal ethnohistoric territory, which is based upon the 18 unratified federal treaties of 1851-1852, includes the unceded ancestral lands of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Folk Dance with Da! Mozhem
2024-10-10 19:00 - 21:30 | Hillside Club, Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
The Hillside Echoes Folk Music Series once again presents Da! Mozhem. Get ready to dance to lively Balkan-style folk music!
Experienced dancer and teacher KAELA FINE will teach and demonstrate many dances. No partners needed.
$15/general $10/senior
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.

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2024-10-13 19:00 - 22:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Join the Peninsula Council Folk Dancers for an all-request dance party. This night the team from Changs International Folk Dancers are leading and playing requests.
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.
Please stay home if you are sick, and please wear a mask if you are unsure or have been exposed to someone with a contagious illness. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Send your dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com along with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.

Global Folk Dance Party
2024-10-19 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
This month we’ll celebrate with Dances of Light to celebrate the start of Diwali and make the world a brighter place for a few hours. Please join us! Always free, register at the link below. Come dance with our team and our Guests Patricia Day Williams, Za McDonnell, and Susan Jensen.
Connect Globally, Dance Locally. Follow folk dance leaders and dance watching enthusiasts worldwide.
Join The Party
By Zoom
Register by Zoom
We’ve changed Zoom numbers. Here’s what you need to do. Use the registration link above and you’ll get an email from Zoom with your link for the Global Folk Dance Party. Feel free to share the above registration link with your friends, they’ll get their own link to join. With the new registration, you’ll get a reminder email the morning of the Global Folk Dance Party, so you don’t have to look for your link.

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

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

Stanford International Dancers Celebration!
2024-10-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, United States
Da! Mozhem really started out at the Stanford International Dancers group, many long years ago and we are very happy to see they are again sponsoring live music in the South Bay. You are welcome to bring a snack to share, and there will be birthday cake! There’s ample free parking. Easy dances will be taught and demonstrated by Kaela Fine from 7 – 7:30. No partners needed for most dances.
Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto (UUCPA), Main Hall 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto CA 94036
Cost: $10 donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
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.

Federation Board Meeting
2024-10-20 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation online for their board meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, scholarships, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed.
Sunday Oct 20, 3:00pm-4:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 893 5363 4541
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

Saratoga Folk Dancers Halloween Party
2024-10-24 19:30 - 22:15 | St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 18870 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, California, 95070
Celebrate Halloween a week early by a folk dance party with Saratoga International Folk Dancers. Make it Halloween – wear a costume! Refreshments for table are welcome. A $25 prize for the best costume, by a vote of those present.
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! Sliding scale admission $5-10. More details…

North/South Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar
2024-10-25 19:00 - 2024-10-27 13:00 | Monte Toyon, 220 Cloister Lane, Aptos, CA, 95003, United States
Are you a folkdance teacher who would like to hone your skills or a dancer who would like to learn to teach? If so, plan to come to the N/S Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar!
About
North/South Folkdance Teachers’ Seminar is a gathering of teachers focused on improving teaching skills and sharing information and ideas with other teachers. All Folk Dance teachers, both current and prospective, are welcome. Each annual seminar features two master instructors who have specialized knowledge of folk dance.
The 2024 North/South Master Teachers are France Bourque-Moreau and Michael Ginsburg. They will lead workshops on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning, plus cultural or teaching presentations. Both France and Michael are professional teachers with decades of experience in welcoming and retaining dancers in the folk dance world.
Price
$320 with on-site accommodations, $270 off-site; $10 surcharge for credit card / PayPal / Venmo payments; $50 deposit to reserve; Final payment due August 25, 2024. Price includes meals from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch and all activities. On-site accommodation is dorm-style with shared bathrooms.
Featured Instructors
Michael Ginsburg
Michael Ginsburg began teaching Balkan Folk Dance in 1964 at Michael Herman’s Folk Dance House in New York City. He continues to teach a weekly Balkan Dance Class in New York City. He has taught workshops in Balkan Dance all around the United States and Canada, as well as in Brazil, Japan, Israel, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Michael has been on the teaching staff of many folk dance camps and seminars, including Stockton, Kolo Festival in San Francisco, the Annual Balkan Music and Dance Seminars in Mendocino, California, and Rock Hill, New York, as well as the Macedonian Pearl Seminars in Berovo, Macedonia. Also a musician, Michael plays tupan with Cherven Traktor, a band that plays Bulgarian folk music on traditional instruments, and trumpet with Kavala Brass Band, a band that specializes in the brass music of Aegean Macedonia. He is a founding member and lead trumpeter of Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band, formed in 1983. In 1987, they were the first foreign band to appear at the Annual Gathering of Trumpeters in Guca, Serbia. They also represented the United States in the first International Competition at Guca in 2010. Michael also heads the Program Committee of the Golden Festival in Brooklyn, New York, an event that attracts 4,000 participants and features over 60 musical groups each year.
France Bourque-Moreau
France Bourque-Moreau lives in Montreal, Quebec and for the past thirty-five years has been active in Canada and abroad teaching folk dances for children and conducting special seminars to train school teachers in this field. Her current repertoire includes hundreds of dances and rounds from all parts of the world especially designed and adapted to various age and experience levels. Ms. Bourque-Moreau also puts emphasis on the French and French-Canadian repertoire which is widely used in the Canadian school curriculum. She has been a regular consultant to the Montreal School Board. She was also actively involved with Montreal’s annual Children Festival ( La Fête des Enfants de Montréal ) as coordinator of the «Entrons dans la Danse» participatory workshop. Read more…

Monte Toyon Camp & Conference Center
Helgesson Hall, Monte Toyon
Monte Toyon Camp & Conference Center is an idyllic oasis right in the heart of Aptos, California. Just a short drive from the west coast beaches you’ll head inland on a road that meanders through a beautiful wooded forest opening to our doorstep. Situated in a gorgeous and refreshing redwood forest setting, there are short nature trails that circle the camp for a peaceful walk in forest beauty. Monte Toyon is a short drive to nearby Nisene Marks State Park, Seacliff State Beach, and Santa Cruz Beaches and Boardwalk. Wi-Fi is available in meeting areas. Read more…
Register
Visit our Facebook event page for additional details and discussion.

Dance Around the World 2024
2024-10-27 14:30 - 16:30 | Our Lady of Guadalupe School Parish, 40382 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA, 94538, United States
A fundraiser of world folk dance performances followed by a folk dance workshop for all to participate! Includes refreshments and party.
Hosted by the FC Dancers, Repentance Prayer Community, the Aloha Hula Dancers, Laura Noel, Fr. Gabriel Augustine, and Folklorico Santa Paula.
Master Instructors

Rebecca Tasi
Raul Herrera
Janice Gonzalves
Fr. Gabriel Augustine

Tickets
DOWNLOAD, print, or share a flier.

Dance Party with Da! Mozhem
2024-11-03 14:00 - 16:30 | Strawberry Recreation Center, 118 E. Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley, CA, 94941, United States
Dance to your favorite international tunes with Da! Mozhem and Kopachka Folk Dancers.
$15 general admittance, students $7, kids free with supervision. Doors open at 1:30pm.
Be sure to bring tips for the band.
Covid protocol: Vax and boosters highly encouraged. Mask required if not (N95, KN95, KF94).
Da! Mozhem
Da! Mozhem at the San Francisco Free Folk Festival 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.

Festivals of Light
2024-11-07 19:00 - 21:00 | J. B. Gale Theater, 1 Tiger Way, Roseville, 95678, United States
Come join a celebration of traditions from around the world! This year’s presentations include dances and songs from India, Spain, Quebec, Peru, Mexico, Italy, Scandinavia, and Ukraine. There will also be dances from the United States including clogging. This is the 5th annual Festivals of Light.
Two shows: 7:00 pm November 7th and 3:00pm November 8th. Tickets online or at the door.
Purchase tickets
International Dance Arts Collective
The mission of the International Dance Arts Collective is to foster peace, love and appreciation of all peoples and cultures within our local community and beyond. We achieve this by providing education and performance opportunities for children and youth through world, cultural, and historical dance and music. More details…

Festivals of Light
2024-11-08 - 2024-11-09 | Del Oro High School Theater, 3301 Taylor Road, Loomis, CA, 95677, United States
Multiple cultures are represented in this folk dance performance with both adults and children performing. This is the 4th annual Festivals of Light.
Two shows: 7:00 pm November 8th and 2:30pm November 9th
Purchase tickets
International Dance Arts Collective
The mission of the International Dance Arts Collective is to foster peace, love and appreciation of all peoples and cultures within our local community through exposure, education, and performance opportunities for children and youth through world, cultural, and historical dance and music. More details…

Peninsula Folk Dance Party
2024-11-09 15:30 - 18:30 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Join the Peninsula Council Folk Dancers for an all-request dance party! Rebecca Tsai has volunteered to be MC this night.
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.
Please stay home if you are sick, and please wear a mask if you are unsure or have been exposed to someone with a contagious illness. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Send your dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com along with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.

Hungarian Folk Dance Afternoon/Open Practice
2024-11-10 16:00 - 18:00 | Hungarian Cultural Center, 35660 Cedar Boulevard, Newark, CA, 94560, United States
Eszterlánc presents an afternoon of Hungarian folk dance lessons for adults and open dance. All levels welcome, no partner needed. Suggested donation is $10.

Desperado Ball
2024-11-15 19:30 - 22:30 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Berkeley Folk Dancers Advanced Class is hosting a desperado theme folk dance party Nov. 15. Everyone welcome! Admission is $12. Or in their own words:
WANTEDCALLING ALL BANDITS, BRIGANDS AND EVERYDAY BADDIES!!
WE’RE HAVIN’ A BALL! MOSEY ALONG TO THE DESPERADO SALOON AND KICK UP THOSE HEELS FOR SOME FAST-SHOOTIN’, FOOT-BUSTIN’ ACTION ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15, 7:30pm SHARP. SHHH — DON’T LET THEM DANGED’ LOCAL SHERIFFS, BOUNTY HUNTERS OR VEEJEELANTEES GET WIND OF THIS. IT’S A LAWLESS-ONLY AFFAIR — WE’LL BE CHECKING YOUR GANG BADGES AT THE DOOR.

Officers Ball 2024
2024-11-17 13:00 - 22:00 | Veterans Memorial Building, Pleasanton, 301 Main Street, Pleasanton, CA, 94566, United States
The Folk Dance Federation’s annual festival of folk dance with workshops, on-site dinner, dance party, and special attractions returns! This year’s theme is Joining Hands Across the Years! Save the date!
Schedule

Price
Time (pm)
Event

1:00
Doors open

$25
1:30-5:30
Dance workshops

$20
5:30-7:00
On-site dinner with the always popular sing-along with Bill Cope (for those registered in advance)

$25
7:00-10:00
Evening celebration, dances from the workshop and your requests.

Workshop
The afternoon workshop will again feature a program of new and classic folk dances taught by local teachers

Aaron Alpert – Mechankot (Israel)
Julie East – Chalypso (US)
Pete Galanais – Koljovo Horo (Bulgarian)
Marija Hillis – Oige ja Vasemba (Estonian)
Judy Kropp – Joc de Leagane (Romanian)
Kamrin MacKnight – Mist on the Mountain (Scottish)
Lothar Narins – Rakkas (Turkish)
Lenore Watson – Contras (US)

The Annual 50/50 Drawing is also a popular event: buy tickets for $1 each and, if your ticket is drawn, you receive 50% of the total ticket sales.
Registration
Officers Ball 2024 Registration Form Register by November 14, 2024 to obtain the special all event package pricing (workshop, on-site dinner, and evening party) of $55 and save $15. On-site dinner registration is not available after November 14. New members with coupon pay for dinner only.
Option 1: Mail-In Registration
Download and complete registration form.
Make checks payable to the FOLK DANCE FEDERATION.
Mail the check and registration form to:
Laura Richardson
1343 Rosalia Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087

Option 2: Online Registration
Register online

Fall Camp 2024
2024-11-22 - 2024-11-24 | Brandeis-Bardin Campus, 1101 Peppertree Lane, Brandeis, CA, 93064, United States
Fall Camp 2024 promises to be another vibrant, fun-filled weekend with workshops by master instructors Genci Kastrati (Albanian) and Ira Weisburd (International), dance parties, and other fun activities, including the Pot Luck Band, happy hours, night sky viewing, an ice cream sundae bar, and more! The only thing that would make it better is if you attend! You can fly into beautiful downtown Burbank, instead of LAX. Like before, it will serve as both a quiet retreat where you can relax with some very nice people and a weekend dance camp where you can learn from master teachers. You can find out more and download registration forms (and waivers) at http://FallCamp.org.
Fall Camp 2023
Comfort
Fall Camp, nestled in a woodsy alcove near Simi Valley, is a lovely place where you can enjoy being close to nature while still having the creature comforts of excellent meals (upgraded from previous years), motel-style rooms (with private bathrooms, heat, and air conditioning), and more. You can dance when you feel like it, and when you don’t, do other things such as catching up with friends, playing Scrabble, working on a jigsaw puzzle with others, getting a massage, completing a craft project, going for a walk in nature, reading a good book, meditating, or doing nothing at all. You don’t have to get on a plane or drive treacherous mountain roads to be with nature, and WiFi is available too!
Fall Camp will no longer require masks or vaccinations, but we still encourage best health practices. Because the fall weather is so difficult to predict, we are doing all of our dancing in a beautiful, heated and air-conditioned building, where many of our other activities will also take place. Although we are installing the largest wood floor possible to fit the dance room, it is smaller than the largest room we used in previous years, so we are limiting the number of campers to around 60. This also means that dancers will have more access to our two master teachers. The dining menu has been upgraded in quality, and Sunday lunch is included in the registration price. There will be two happy hours with wine.
Register

Kolo Festival 2024
2024-11-29 09:00 - 2024-12-01 00:00 | Croatian Cultural Center, 60 Onondaga Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94708, United States
2024 will be the 73nd annual Kolo Festival! Kolo Festival includes dance, vocal, and instrumental classes, along with dancing, sing-alongs, culture corners, instrumental jam sessions, kafanas and parties, brass, Bitov, Izvorno bands and more!
Musicians from around the world playing folk dance music from Albania, Bosnis, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Norway, Romany communities, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States.
Schedule
Friday, November 29 | Saturday, November 30 | Sunday, Dec 1
Dance Instructors
Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu
Romanian Folk Dance
Cristian and Sonia have been guest performers with the Collage International Dance Ensemble of Boston, have been regular teachers at l’ École supérieure de danse du Québec and have been selected to be part of the Artists in the Schools program sponsored by the Québec Ministry of Education. In recent years, they have developed a specific interest in working with recreational folk dance groups in Canada and the United States, Mexico and Brazil. They have been teaching in Europa (Austria, England, Poland, Germany, Italy,  Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France) in Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia) and Australia  to share their love of Romanian folk traditions.
In recent years, Cristian and Sonia have developed a specific interest in working with recreational folk dance groups. They’ve been teaching in Brazil, Canada and the United States, Europe (Austria, Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands), Asia (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan) to share their love of Romanian folk traditions. They have taught workshops in Canada and the United States and choreographed Romanian suites for performing groups, including the world-renowned BYU Folk Dance Ensemble in Utah.Read more…
Anna Angelova
Bulgarian Dances
Anna grew up in a small town in Northern Bulgaria where the lively local festivities (sabors) and traditional ceremonies kindled her interest in folklore at an early age. Anna’s dance adventures started when she joined the town’s folk dance ensemble where she learned from esteemed choreographers and performed along experienced dancers throughout her youth years.
Upon coming to Boston to further her education, Anna got introduced to the internationally acclaimed Ahmet Luleci’s Collage Dance Ensemble: a unique experience that unlocked passion and appreciation for the greater Balkan magic, and beyond. The 8 years Anna spent performing with Collage on local and national stages were instrumental for her growth as a dancer – from professional attitude to stage presence to polished style to authentic connection with our ancestors through Ahmet’s vibrant choreographies. In 2022, Anna was honored to teach Bulgarian Dance at Ahmet Luleci’s annual World Camp in Rock Hill, New York.
With the start of her own family in Boston, Anna felt the need to be more involved in the local Bulgarian community. This is when she joined Ludo Mlado, a Bulgarian folk ensemble led by Pepi Petrov and Marieta Mircheva. Anna connected with Ludo Mlado’s mission to preserve the rich dance traditions of Bulgaria. An outstanding moment with Ludo Mlado was the opportunity to participate in the Chicago Folk Festival VEREA. Read more…
John Morovich
John Morovich John Morovich, born in 1965, grew up in Seattle’s sizable Croatian community. Since 1973, he has studied, taught, and performed traditional music and dance of Croatia and other parts of Southeastern Europe. He was awarded the prestigious Washington State Arts Commission Folk Arts Fellowship for 2001.
He is currently the artistic director of the Seattle Junior Tamburitzans, a 50-member youth ensemble of which he was a performer from 1974 through 1987 and since 2013 has directed Tamburaski Orkestar Kisobran. He conducted the Jele Croatian Women’s Choir and Klapa Ruzmarin in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He was selected as Guest Conductor for the Croatian Fraternal Union of America Junior Cultural Federation Festival held in Chicago, in July 2005.
John has taught at many camps and seminars, including the California Kolo Festival in San Francisco, the Balkana Seattle Balkan Camp, the Texas Camp, the East European Folklife Center’s Balkan Music & Dance Workshops, and the Seattle Folk Dance Festival. John has also worked with many folklore ensembles across the United States and Canada. He most recently choreographed for the Ban Jelačić Croatian Dance Ensemble of Penticton, B.C., Canada; Hrvatski Vitezovi; Sarajevo of Vancouver; and Zagreb of Victoria, B.C., Canada, and Ethnic Dance Theatre of Minneapolis. MN. Dances John has taught include Kabanica i Seksera, Grizlica, H’ajd Na Lievo, Mazulka, Okrani Se Moje Kolo Malo, Repa, Sad Moi Dragi u Šumi Kod Koza, Saljsko Kolo, Slavonsko Kukunješče, Sroteš, Sˇ’tiri Snehe, Tanac po Susasko, Veloluški Tanac, and Žena Ide Na Gosti.
Michael Ginsburg
Michael Ginsburg Michael Ginsburg began teaching Balkan folk-dance in 1964 in New York City and now teaches a weekly dance class there. He plays tapan with Cherven Traktor, a band that plays Bulgarian folk music on traditional instruments. He also plays trumpet with Kavala Brass Band, a band specializing in the Brass music of Aegean Macedonia. Michael has been director and lead trumpet player of Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band since 1983. He accompanied ZU to brass festivals in Guča, Serbia, three times between 1987 and 1990, as well as in 2003 and 2005, where he and ZU were able to play and party with local brass bands and experience the music in its natural setting. Michael and Zlatne Uste worked with Ekrem Sajdić and Zlatni Prsti brass band in 2003, and in 2005 with Vranjski Biseri, both in Vranjska Banja, Serbia. Michael performed in the summer of 2010 with Zlatne Uste at the first competition of international bands at the Sabor Trubača in Guča, Serbia, representing the United States.
Yannis Konstantinou
Yannis Konstantinou Yannis Konstantinou, is an internationally recognized teacher and researcher of Greek Macedonian Dances and culture. He has taught workshops extensively throughout Europe and the USA. Yannis is the current president of the highly respected dance association “Lygkistes” which has performed extensively throughout Europe. Yannis also served as the artistic director and instructor for Lykeion Ellinidion Florinas, teaching over 200 dancers of all ages on a weekly basis, as well as teaching at many Cultural Associations
Yannis’ passion for traditional music and dance began in his childhood, dancing with his family in his parents’ villages of Alona and Akrites in the Florina region of Greece. He is deeply committed to preserving and sharing the rich traditions, culture, music and dance of this region.
For details visit http://kolofestival.org
Registration

Special pricing:

Entire Festival Pre-Registration Package (until 11/23/2024) – $180
First-time Kolo Festival attendees may take $30 off the package price
Students may take a one-time 50% discount on the package or any single event

Register
Online Viewing
Many have asked if California Kolo Festival 2024 will be on Zoom this year.
The simple answer: YES!! The parties on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon will show selected segments both from the Main Hall and the Kafana. If you want to get a taste of Kolo Festival, register and join online here:
View online segments
Update
The SF Russian Center has canceled our reservation for Kolo Festival this year but our friends at the Croatian American Cultural Center are welcoming us back and Kolo Festival will return there this year. The full program that we have promised you for months will still happen! In order to do that, we are expanding the festival to 3 days: Friday/Saturday/Sunday, November 29-30 & December 1. Despite adding another day to the festival, we are not changing the registration cost for the full package. If you want to register for the whole weekend, it will still be $180 advance registration until 11/23. If you wish to pay by the individual session, adding Sunday will cost you $60. Please register today!
For those who responded to our June request to donate additional funds to move to the Russian Center, we will be in touch with you via email soon.
We’re going to have a festival this year with everything that we have promised and more. Five superb teachers, 35+ musicians, three full days of Kolo Festival music and dance! And all at the same price. Sometimes, bad news ain’t so bad.
If you have questions, please contact Bill Cope, Festival director: Bill@KoloFestival.org
Thank you for your consideration!
The California Kolo Festival Board
https://KoloFestival.org

Dance Workshop with Yannis Konstantinou
2024-12-04 18:30 - 21:30 | Young Ladies Institute, 1400 27th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95816, United States
Yannis dancing with his children Simos and Xenia Kolo Koalition hosts a Greek folk dance and music workshop with renowned instructor Yannis Konstantinou and his son Simos on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00pm. Arrive by 6:30pm for warm up dances.
For more details e-mail lauraleo524@gmail.com or call or text 916-549-7093.

Yannis Konstantinou
Yannis Konstantinou Yannis Konstantinou, is an internationally recognized teacher and researcher of Greek Macedonian Dances and culture. He has taught workshops extensively throughout Europe and the USA. Yannis is the current president of the highly respected dance association “Lygkistes” which has performed extensively throughout Europe. Yannis also served as the artistic director and instructor for Lykeion Ellinidion Florinas, teaching over 200 dancers of all ages on a weekly basis, as well as teaching at many Cultural Associations
Yannis’ passion for traditional music and dance began in his childhood, dancing with his family in his parents’ villages of Alona and Akrites in the Florina region of Greece. He is deeply committed to preserving and sharing the rich traditions, culture, music and dance of this region.

International Folk Dance Party
2024-12-13 13:30 - 16:00 | Age Well Center at South Fremont, 47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont, CA, 94539, United States
Celebrate the holidays and join this International Folk Dance party with Rebecca. No partner or experience needed. Enjoy easy and fun dances from around the world. Wear red and white to be festive.

Palomanians Pie Party
2024-12-14 15:30 - 18:30 | 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. Denise Heenan is MC.
Nothing to bring, all pies, ice cream, and refreshments will be supplied by the Palomanians. Dances range from beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set).
Email your requests or questions to pfdcparty@gmail.com
Proof of up to date vaccinations are required. If you’ve been to our parties in the past, we’ve marked you as vaccinated. If this is your first party, please bring proof of vaccination or email us proof at pfdcparty@gmail.com. Masks optional.

Razzmatazz Holiday Party
2024-12-14 19:00 - 22:00 | Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401, United States
Join the Razzmatzz Folk Dancers for their ‘Tis the Season Holiday Folk Dance Party on Saturday, December 14 from 7:00pm – 10:00pm at Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. Doors open at 6:30pm. Admission: $5. Tips for the musicians and singers are greatly appreciated.
The evening will begin with recorded dance favorites from 7pm – 8pm, followed by a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” and Hanukkah songs. The rest of the evening will feature live music with GRADINA, local Balkan choral group and YABULKA playing Bulgarian dance tunes on traditional instruments.
Snacks for our refreshment table are welcome. We hope you can be there!

Federation Board Meeting
2024-12-15 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation online for their board meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, scholarships, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed.
Sunday Dec 15, 2:00pm-3:30pm, online
Meeting ID: 834 7018 9967
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online
