Folk Dance Federation of California

Global Folk Dance Party
2022-02-19 15:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online, CA, United States
Our February Global Folk Dance Party’s theme is Pre-Laguna Festival and, in addition to our normal team, we’ll be joined by Lee Otterholt, Marcella Lawson, and Greg Solloway as we dance your favorites from Laguna and other camps. Also join us for the after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends.
We will:

Connect and dance in our own homes
Watch people leading dances from around the world
Submit requests and chat online
See each other; listen and dance to our favorites

Join The Party
By Zoom
Join by Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/600066908 Meeting ID: 600 066 908

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!

To dial in by phone: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
By Facebook Live
Join by Facebook Live
if Zoom is full or you just want to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/PFDCouncil/
For more details and requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Federation Board Meeting
2022-02-20 15:30 - 17:00 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation Board online as they meet for their first 2022 planning meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed. Get to see Federation meetings behind the scenes.
Federation officers include President Marian Snyder, Vice President Ulrike Narins, Treasurer Sabine Zappe, Secretary Clem Dickey, and many other officers and staff. See full list…
Sunday Feb. 20, 3:30-5pm, online
Zoom Meeting ID: 337 297 6475
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

International Folk Dance in Person Party
2022-03-13 14:30 - 17:00 | Redwood City Women’s Club, 149 Clinton Street, Redwood City, CA, 94062, United States
Join the Peninsula Council Folk Dancers for an all-request dance party! We’ve missed dancing with you!
We’ll have dances for all levels, beginning to advanced. Dress comfortably in layers; sneakers or low-heeled dance shoes recommended. Donations to help cover the cost of the hall are welcome. Our MCs will be Becky Beniares and Nancy Kaye, MC-ing their first party since 2019!
We do dances from nearly every country in the world, and the music is incredible.
Health Reminders

We require proof of vaccination. If you haven’t sent it yet, you can email it to us at pfdcparty@gmail.com or bring it with you.
N95 or better masks are required. At the end of March, we will review our rules and let you know of any changes.
If you bring a snack to share (thanks!), please make sure it’s in individual servings instead of a shared bowl.

Send dance requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com
Dances range from beginning to advanced, and all forms (line, couple, and set). If you’d like to bring a snack to share, please make sure they are prepared for individual servings.

Global Folk Dance Party
2022-03-19 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
Our March fun theme is “Everyone’s Birthday.” What better way to get spring rolling?
We will:

Connect and dance in our own homes
Watch people leading dances from around the world
Submit requests and chat online
See each other; listen and dance to our favorites

Also join us for the after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends.
Join The Party
By Zoom
Join by Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/600066908 Meeting ID: 600 066 908

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!

To dial in by phone: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
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.

Bruce Hamilton Dance Workshop
2022-03-24 19:30 - 22:15 | St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 18870 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, California, 95070
English Country Dance workshop with Bruce Hamilton. Sliding scale admission: $10-15
For more details contact Loui Tucker (408) 771-4542
Bruce Hamilton
Bruce Hamilton Bruce Hamilton is a thoughtful and energetic teacher of English and Scottish country dancing. He started dancing in college, and took up teaching in the early 1970s. He founded the San Jose English dance and has taught English country dancing all over the United States and abroad. He is a founding member of the Deer Creek Morris Men, a 15-year participant in The Christmas Revels, and past president of the Country Dance and Song Society. Bruce has been focusing on non-choreographic elements of English Country Dance (ECD). He doesn’t teach many new or complex dances (claims he can’t remember them!) but instead focuses on skills that apply across all dances. He is interested in how the dancers move, how they give weight, how they match the music, how well they work with their partners, etc. In workshops Bruce also reviews the fundamentals of turns, heys, rights and lefts, using dances that will help these people work on those skills. He carries this focus into his sought-after callers’ classes, which he’s done for the last three decades. Training ECD teachers is relatively unexplored territory and it’s very exciting. Learning to teach takes years, but even in a weekend or week-long mini-course he’s been able to point students in useful directions, and some have made great strides. By day, Bruce is a retired computer scientist and now helps out with his wife’s dog and cat rescue organization. He has taught at Mendocino Folklore Camp, Pinewoods Camp, Timber Ridge and Stockton Folk Dance Camp, and in five countries. Read more…

NFO Meeting and Conference 2022
2022-03-30 - 2022-04-03 | Holiday Inn Chicago North, 1501 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL, United States
Join the National Folk Organization in the Chicago area for this year’s annual meeting and conference! Plans are in place for a fun, educational, and energizing event in Evanston this spring.
For registration and details visit http://nfo-usa.org/annual-conference-2022/

Dance Workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
2022-04-05 19:00 - 21:15 | Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, 700 Alma Street, Palo Alto, 94301, United States
The Palomanians host a folk dance workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
For more details e-mail Clem Dickey, clemd@acm.org, 408-537-3352.
Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel,and North America.From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di Luna Italiana (Italian dances); Giro Giro Mondo (dances from around the world);Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances); Mazal Tov (Israeli dances);and Ethnos (international folk dances). He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto has lectured and conducted workshops throughout Europe as well as on numerous occasions in North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Roberto lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Read more…

Dance Workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
2022-04-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Young Ladies Institute, 1400 27th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95816, United States
Kolo Koalition hosts a folk dance workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
For more details e-mail lauraleo524@gmail.com.
Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel,and North America.From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di Luna Italiana (Italian dances); Giro Giro Mondo (dances from around the world);Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances); Mazal Tov (Israeli dances);and Ethnos (international folk dances). He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto has lectured and conducted workshops throughout Europe as well as on numerous occasions in North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Roberto lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Read more…

Dance Workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
2022-04-07 19:30 - 22:30 | St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 18870 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, California, 95070
Saratoga International Folk Dancers hosts a folk dance workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
For more details e-mail loui@louitucker.com.
Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel,and North America.From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di Luna Italiana (Italian dances); Giro Giro Mondo (dances from around the world);Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances); Mazal Tov (Israeli dances);and Ethnos (international folk dances). He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto has lectured and conducted workshops throughout Europe as well as on numerous occasions in North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Roberto lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Read more…

Dance Workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
2022-04-08 19:45 - 21:45 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States
Mark your calendars to help come welcome Roberto Bagnoli for a special dance workshop that marks his return to Berkeley and the Bay Area on April 8. Roberto will teach and lead dance favorites. Fun for all ages! No partner needed.
Attendees must be fully vaccinated, including boosters. KN95 masks required. We will provide KN95 masks for those who do not have them.
For more details e-mail Lone Coleman – lonecoleman3 @ gmail.com
Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel,and North America.From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di Luna Italiana (Italian dances); Giro Giro Mondo (dances from around the world);Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances); Mazal Tov (Israeli dances);and Ethnos (international folk dances). He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto has lectured and conducted workshops throughout Europe as well as on numerous occasions in North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Roberto lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Read more…

Dance Workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
2022-04-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Chico Recreation Community Center, 2320 North Avenue, Chico, CA, 95926, United States
Chico World Dancers host a folk dance workshop with Roberto Bagnoli.
For more details e-mail memok@saber.net.
Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel,and North America.From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di Luna Italiana (Italian dances); Giro Giro Mondo (dances from around the world);Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances); Mazal Tov (Israeli dances);and Ethnos (international folk dances). He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto has lectured and conducted workshops throughout Europe as well as on numerous occasions in North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Roberto lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Read more…

Dance Workshop and Party with Roberto Bagnoli
2022-04-10 15:00 - 20:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Join the fun for a dance workshop and party with Roberto Bagnoli. Roberto will also MC the party.
We look forward to dancing to Roberto’s playlist. We love dancing with him at his online parties and Stockton after parties and are excited about the special treat of dancing with him live, in person as MC.

Event
Time
Donation

Workshop
3:00-5:00pm
$10

Party with Roberto as MC. Send program requests to pfdcparty@gmail.com
5:00-8:00pm
$10

Fun for all ages! No partner needed.

Bring a snack to share.
Vaccinations required – If you haven’t sent in your vaccine card yet, please email it to pfdcparty@gmail.com or bring it with you. Don’t forget!
Masks not required, but strongly recommended.

Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel,and North America.From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di Luna Italiana (Italian dances); Giro Giro Mondo (dances from around the world);Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances); Mazal Tov (Israeli dances);and Ethnos (international folk dances). He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto has lectured and conducted workshops throughout Europe as well as on numerous occasions in North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Roberto lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Read more…

Dance Workshop with Roberto Bagnoli
2022-04-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA, 95401, United States
Razzmatazz Folk Dance Club hosts a folk dance workshop with Roberto Bagnoli.
For more details e-mail Marilyn Smith, marilynmsmith@sbcglobal.net.
Roberto Bagnoli
Roberto Bagnoli Roberto Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance, eventually taking part in several performances and teaching dance classes. He subsequently studied various forms of folk dance in workshops throughout Europe, Israel,and North America.From 1995 to 2003, he performed as a dancer and choreographer with the Terra di Danza Dance Company and was involved in the production of Raggi di Luna Italiana (Italian dances); Giro Giro Mondo (dances from around the world);Keltic Emotion (Celtic dances); Mazal Tov (Israeli dances);and Ethnos (international folk dances). He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto has lectured and conducted workshops throughout Europe as well as on numerous occasions in North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Roberto lives in Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Read more…

Global Folk Dance Party
2022-04-16 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
Our April party is the Lyrid’s Preview Party!
The Lyrids Folk Dance Festival is a continuation of the wonderful Salt Spring Island Folk Dance Festival organized by Rosemarie Keough for 10 years from 2004 to 2013. The Burnaby International Folk Dancers, among the many dancers who travelled to the festival year after year, were unable to contemplate the end to such a magical event. So that the festival spirit might continue, these dancers decided to bring the festival to Burnaby, next to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Come join us online as we dance yours and Lyrid’s favorite dances. We’ll be joined by Ahmet Lüleci, who has taught at Lyrids as well as by Lori Larsen, Bev Neilsen, Andi Kapplin, and Debbie Jackson.
We will:

Connect and dance in our own homes
Watch people leading dances from around the world
Submit requests and chat online
See each other; listen and dance to our favorites

Join The Party
By Zoom
Join by Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/600066908 Meeting ID: 600 066 908

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!

To dial in by phone: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
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.

2022 Blossom Festival
2022-04-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Miraloma Park Clubhouse, 350 O’Shaughnessey Boulevard (at Del Vale Avenue), San Francisco, CA, 94127, United States
The annual Blossom International Folk Dance Festival includes a folk dance party program for all levels of dancers including beginners. In addition, requests will be taken at the event. Free event! Onsite parking available.
Blossom Festival 2022 DOWNLOAD, print, and share a flier.
Advance registration required. Space limited to the first 60 dancers.
Registration and Covid Protocols
The Blossom Festival requires that participants are fully vaccinated, as defined by the CDC; and boosted against COVID-19 if your last shot was before August 2021. Masks will be required per club policy. We will require proof of vaccination for all attendees, a signed waiver, and will also be collecting your information for contact tracing. Read more…
Register

Federation Board Meeting
2022-04-24 15:30 - 17:00 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation Board online as they meet for their April 2022 planning meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed. Get to see Federation meetings behind the scenes.
Federation officers include President Marian Snyder, Vice President Ulrike Narins, Treasurer Sabine Zappe, Secretary Clem Dickey, and many other officers and staff. This is the last meeting with our 2019-2021 officers. See full list…
Sunday Apr. 24, 3:30-5pm, online
Zoom Meeting ID: 337 297 6475
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

Lyrids Folk Dance Festival
2022-04-30 | Online, CA, United States
The eighth Lyrids Folk Dance Festival, includes dances from Bulgaria & Beyond with Jaap Leegwater, dances from Turkey with Ahmet Lüleci, and dances from Israel with Naomi Taussig. At noon, Yves Moreau and France Bourque Moreau will talk on Traditional Dance of Québec & Beyond. Enjoy singing with Michele Simon and drumming with Polly Tapia Ferber. The evening party will include music with Orkestar Unbound (Bill Cope & friends), dancing your favourite dances, and the day’s dance reviews.
Schedule
View Schedule Online

Time
Event

9:00 AM
Jaap Leegwater – Bulgaria & Beyond

10:30 AM
Ahmet Lüleci – Turkish dance

NOON
Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau culture talk on Traditional Dance of Québec and Beyond

1:00 PM
Jaap Leegwater – Jaap’s Golden Oldies

2:30 PM
Michele Simon – Singing workshop

3:30 PM
Naomi Taussig – Israeli dance

5:00 PM
Polly Tapia Ferber – Drumming workshop

6:00 PM
Dance Party begins with warm-up dances

6:15 PM
Orkestar Unbound with Bill Cope & Friends

7:00 PM
Dancing to Recorded Music

7:30 PM
Orkestar Unbound with Bill Cope & Friends

8:15 PM
Naomi Taussig – Dance Review

8:35 PM
Dancing to Recorded Music

8:45 PM
Orkestar Unbound with Bill Cope & Friends

9:30 PM
Ahmet Lüleci – Dance Review

10:00 PM
Jaap Leegwater – Dance Review

10:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Dancing to Recorded Music

Register
For more details e-mail info@lyridsfolkdancefestival.org

13th Annual Cerritos Festival
2022-05-14 13:00 - 17:40 | Cerritos Senior Center, 12340 South Street, Cerritos, CA, 90703, United States
Celebrate the 13th anniversary of the Cerritos Folk Dancers with dance! Each group is welcome to lead, and/or request one or more dances. The Cerritos Folk Dancers (CFD) have skipped two lunar new year folk dance festivals and two anniversary festivals since March 2020. They welcome having a festival in-person again!
The theme is “East Meets West.” A draft copy of the schedule for the event is attached for your information.
There will be no teaching in this festival. We will have fun dancing together. Each individual may request dances he/she likes. Each group is welcome to perform a dance and/or lead a dance.
There is no strict regulation to follow. But we wish the attendees could wear masks and have full vaccination for the Covid-19. And we’ll ask them to sign wavers prepared by the Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc. Whether to keep a social distance is up to the individual. Please don’t come if you catch fever or if you are coughing.
Program…

Folk Dance and Tea Party
2022-05-14 14:30 - 18:00 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
Come join the Peninsula Council for their annual Afternoon Tea and Dance party! Share your favorite brew, tea time stories, and folk dances with your friends!
Our emcees will be Hollis Radin, Lesley Bone, and Becky Beniares. There will be three hours of International Folk Dancing plus a 1/2 hour break for delicious teatime snacks and hot tea in Becky’s beautiful china cups! Iced herbal tea will also be available.
This is not a potluck – snacks will be provided by the PFDC team.
NOTE: This is a day change from our earlier listing for Sunday May 15. A conflict in scheduling with St. Bede’s required us to move the party to Saturday May 14.
To submit a request for our dance program, or to volunteer to help, please contact pfdcparty@gmail.com

Cafe Shalom Dance Party
2022-05-14 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.
$10.00 Adult, $5.00 Student

Cafe Shalom COVID-19 Guidelines
Cafe Shalom’s event will generally follow San Francisco country and California guidelines. Given our wide variety of age population – from people in their 20’s to others in their 90’s year young – we are extra careful about COVID and applied few minor modifications. Modifications were made after conversions with other dance classes and teachers who started to run their classes in person. We hope you understand.
Vaccine/Vaccination cards:
Please make sure you either bring your vaccination card or have vaccination confirmation on your phone with the bar code. Vaccine verification will be checked at the door. Roster of attendees’ names will be taken at the door.
The only purpose of that roster is for contact tracing — in case we will need to notify people about unfortuate infection after the event.
It is also encouraged (not required) to test yourself ahead of the event. Knowing you had negative results using home kit or PCR would be reassuring and helpful for others. Testing will not be verified at the door although recommended for everyone’s peace of mind.
Masks:
We encourage everyone to wear a mask so everyone on the floor will feel safer. Especially if you are immunocompromized. Remember – we wear masks not only for ourselves, we wear it for everyone else’s safety as well.
Food & snacks:
The kitchen is a Kosher kitchen and we are not permitted to use it. If you choose to bring something to share, please make it is already pre-cut or individually packaged so it will be ready to be served. Cupcakes are welcome, big sheet of cake to be cut will not be handled on site. Due to COVID we will not provide snacks (no popcorn, almonds or peanuts).
Water:
It is highly recommended to bring your own water bottle. You will be allowed to refill it using the kitchen faucet. If you do not have a water bottle you should be comfortable using a paper cup filled up from a pitcher of water.

Statewide 2022
2022-05-20 18:30 - 2022-05-22 18:00 | Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma, CA, 94952, United States
Statewide 2022 – Pastoral Fandango “Pastoral Fandango” is a weekend festival of folk dance workshops and parties including

Dance workshops with Ahmet Lüleci, Gergana Panova and Bruce Hamilton
Live Music Played by Chubritza
Dance performances by Gradina, Chinese Performance Group with Rebecca Tsai, and more..
Parties and Luncheon
Request Dancing
Middle Eastern dinner catered by The River Front Cafe
Meeting friends – Old and New

All events take place at the Hermann Sons Hall, Petaluma, CA.
All participants will need to show proof of vaccination or results for an FDA approved COVID test taken each day attended. Masks will be mandatory while inside the hall with the exception of teachers, band members, and performers. This decision is guided by our commitment to the health and peace of mind of our community.
Register

Schedule
All events take place at the Hermann Sons Hall, Petaluma, CA.
Statewide 2022 Schedule
Instructors and Band
Ahmet Lüleci
Ahmet Lüleci A native of Turkey, Ahmet started dancing at a very young age and joined award winning dance ensembles when he was only 8 years old. Over the next 30 years, his dance ensembles participated in both national and international competitions throughout Europe and appeared in multiple broadcasts in both Europe, Canada, and the USA. His love for folk songs made him pursue a college major in Music and Voice, and a second degree in Fine Arts. He has thoroughly researched Anatolian culture, and separately conducted academic research into Spoon Dances, and into the historical, social, and cultural background/ customs of the people of the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. His 400-page research paper was rewarded first place by the Turkish Ministry in a 1985 national competition. Ahmet arrived in the USA in 1985 and has taught numerous workshops all over the Americas, Europe, Japan, Asia, etc. as well as choreographed and worked with many well-known performing ensembles. (Aman, BYU, Budlet, Les Sortileges, Vinod, Hoytur, Turhoy, Anadolu University) Among many other dances, Ahmet has introduced us to: Ali Pasa, Agir Halay, Kelekvan, Hozanki, Duz Halay, Kara Tren, Narino, Ordu, Oy Memo, Heyamo, Inaduna, Aslan Mustafam, Esmer, Helef, Lacin, and Tesi Duz Halay.
Currently, Ahmet is the Artistic Director of Collage Dance Ensemble in Boston. His goal for this ensemble is to: “Showcase the beauty and passion of neglected dance forms and their cultural heritage.” He is also an adjudicator of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod held yearly in Wales. Read more…
Dr. Gergana Panova-Tekath
Gergana Panova Dr. Gergana Panova-Tekath was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. From 1988 to 1993, she danced with the Filip Kutev Bulgarian National Folk Ensemble. She studied dance ethnology in Bulgaria and obtained her Ph.D. in dance from Dortmund University (Germany). She regularly commutes between Bulgaria, where she heads the Ethnochoreology Department at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and Germany, where she is Professor of Dance at Folkwang University in Essen.
She graduated in Dance Pedagogy, Ethnochoreology, Choreography and Direction (Bulgaria), and Kinetography and Communicative Sciences (Germany) and has completed a Doctorate with “Summa cum laude” and awarded the prize “Dissertation 2004” from the Technical University of Dortmund (Germany) in the area of Cultural Philosophy. The title of her thesis is “Dance after Perestroika. The Communication between Eastern and Western Europe through the Bulgarian Folkdances.” Gergana qualified in Ethnochoreology and Communication in 2011 in Sofia.
She performed as a solo dancer and choreographer at the National Ensemble for Folksongs and Folkdances (Philip Koutev) in Sofia from 1988 to 1994, was a Choreographer for different Bulgarian and international Theater Projects, was a Senior Fellow and Associate Professor for Ethnochoreology at the Institute for Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, and has lectured at the Technical University of Dortmund, the Humboldt University, Berlin, the University in Zurich, the University of Music, Vienna, and the New Bulgarian University, Sofia.
Starting in 1994, she has conducted over 300 seminars and summer academies in folk dances in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.
She has published numerous articles and has written two books on various aspects of Bulgarian traditional dance. Besides organizing annual summer seminars in Bulgaria, Gergana has taught workshops in many countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Israel, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina and North America. Read more…
Bruce Hamilton
Bruce Hamilton Bruce Hamilton is a thoughtful and energetic teacher of English and Scottish country dancing. He started dancing in college, and took up teaching in the early 1970s. He founded the San Jose English dance and has taught English country dancing all over the United States and abroad. He is a founding member of the Deer Creek Morris Men, a 15-year participant in The Christmas Revels, and past president of the Country Dance and Song Society. Bruce has been focusing on non-choreographic elements of English Country Dance (ECD). He doesn’t teach many new or complex dances (claims he can’t remember them!) but instead focuses on skills that apply across all dances. He is interested in how the dancers move, how they give weight, how they match the music, how well they work with their partners, etc. In workshops Bruce also reviews the fundamentals of turns, heys, rights and lefts, using dances that will help these people work on those skills. He carries this focus into his sought-after callers’ classes, which he’s done for the last three decades. Training ECD teachers is relatively unexplored territory and it’s very exciting. Learning to teach takes years, but even in a weekend or week-long mini-course he’s been able to point students in useful directions, and some have made great strides. By day, Bruce is a retired computer scientist and now helps out with his wife’s dog and cat rescue organization. He has taught at Mendocino Folklore Camp, Pinewoods Camp, Timber Ridge and Stockton Folk Dance Camp, and in five countries. Read more…

Chubritza – Traditional Balkan and International Folk Music
Chubritza Chubritza is well known throughout California as they have been featured in several dance camps as well as past Statewide Festivals. They are known for their variety and mixture of international musical tastes and textures, while retaining a Balkan and Eastern European emphasis. Chubritza is Janet Finney-Krull, Meadow Lo, Jim Case, Linnea Mandell, Rick Kruse, and Craig Kurumada.
Read more…
Hotels
Statewide 2022 will be happening in Petaluma the weekend prior Memorial Day Weekend. Motel prices will be going through the roof on that weekend so please book your rooms early. Only one hotel has been willing to contract with us (so far)
Hampton Inn and Suites
The Hampton Inn and Suites in Rohnert Park for $195/night is a high-end hotel with beautiful rooms, and it includes free wi-fi, a fridge, a microwave, a couple of free upgrades to a king suite with a pull-out couch, and a complete hot breakfast (eggs, waffles, fruit, juice, yoghurt, oatmeal, etc.). The breakfast is self-serve in a motel style manner, since the hotel does not have a restaurant. To reserve, call 855-283-5831 or use the button below. Mention discount code “FDF” when you call.
Rates for May 19 through May 24 will honored until one month before the event, April 19th.
Hampton Inn Reservations
Others
Other hotels close to Petaluma that we researched and visited and are still available at reasonable rates (search the Internet for the best rates) if booked early. Unfortunately, the only hotel within walking distance is Hotel Petaluma on Kentucky Street.

Hotel Petaluma – 707-559-3393
Metro Hotel and Cafe in Petaluma – 707-773-4900
America’s Best Value Inn in Petaluma – 707-795-9000
The Days Inn in Novato – 415-897-7111
Budget Inn in Rohnert Park – 707-584-1305
America’s Best Value Inn in Novato – 415-892-7500
Motel 6 in Petaluma – 707-765-0333

Visit Petaluma
Statewide 2021 will be held in the charming town of Petaluma in Northern California’s Sonoma County. Petaluma, once known as “the egg basket of the world”, continues to have a strong connection to its farming past—more recently, with the planting of vineyards which produce some of the finest wines in the world. Petaluma, and the larger Sonoma County of which it is a part, is just an hour north of San Francisco, and offers visitors so many options to enjoy “the bounty of the County” that you may want to enjoy an extended stay—or plan a time to revisit this beautiful part of the world.
If you saw the movies American Graffiti or Peggy Sue Got Married, then you have seen a bit of Petaluma. And if you are a Hitchcock fan, then a trip to the towns of Bodega and Bodega Bay may suit you fine—come see the birds!—or visit the library in Santa Rosa, where Uncle Charlie left a “shadow of a doubt“.
Sonoma County extends from just west of Napa all the way to the Pacific Ocean. You can visit the ocean and the redwoods easily in one afternoon. Armstrong Redwoods has very accessible trails, and a stroll among these ancient giants can be enjoyed by all ages. Or, if you prefer some retail therapy, coupled with charming restaurants, visit the town of Healdsburg a half-hour north.

Historic Petaluma
Tour historic Petaluma.

Local Wineries
Visit a local winery.

Local Parks
Visit a local park.

Things to Do
Plan a trip to the coast, the redwoods, beer tasting, places to hike or more.

Driving Directions to Hermann Sons Hall, Petaluma
Statewide 2022 Driving directions
Easiest: Hwy 101 to Washington St. to N. Webster St. to HSH
From the South
Exit Hwy 101 at East Washington St. / Central Petaluma
Turn left at the stop light, continue straight on Washington St. (becomes Bodega Ave) for 1.8 miles to N. Webster St.
Turn left on N. Webster St., continue 0.3 miles to intersection with Western Ave.
HSH is on the corner of Western and N. Webster
From the North
Exit Hwy 101 at East Washington St. / Central Petaluma
Turn right at the stop light, continue straight on Washington St. (becomes Bodega Ave) for 1.8 miles to N. Webster St.
Turn left on N. Webster St., continue 0.3 miles to intersection with Western Ave.
HSH is on the corner of Western and N. Webster
Alternate route: From Hwy 101 via Petaluma Boulevard
From the South
Exit Hwy 101 at exit 427A – Petaluma Blvd. South
Turn right at first stop light, then immediately left at the second stop light
Continue straight on Petaluma Blvd S. for 2.1 miles to Western Ave
Turn left on Western Ave and continue for 0.6 miles
HSH is on the corner of Western and N. Webster
From the North
Exit Hwy 101 at exit 476 – Petaluma Blvd. North / Penngrove
Turn right at stop light, continue straight on Petaluma Blvd N. for 3.0 miles to Washington St.
Turn right onto Washington St.
Continue straight on Washington St (becomes Bodega Ave) for 0.7 mi to N. Webster St.
Turn left on N. Webster St. and continue 0.3 miles to intersection with Western Ave.
HSH is on the corner of Western and N Webster

Registration
Statewide Covid Liability Wavier – Print, sign, and bring with you. Lodging should be purchased separately. Recommended group pricing available at Hampton Inn and Suites, Rohnert Park.
Children under 13 are admitted free with a paying adult. Young adults aged 13-21 will receive a 50% discount, but may be required to volunteer from 1-2 hours during the festival. Work scholarships available. For details contact Marina Troost.
Register Online

Mail-In Registration
Print and Mail Registration Form
Print and complete registration form and send with your check (made payable to Folk Dance Federation) to:
Statewide Registrar
Sabine Zappe
153 Race Street
San Jose, CA 95126.

Global Folk Dance Party
2022-05-21 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
We’ll be giving you a preview of June Camp this Global Folk Dance Party. Afterwards join us for the after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends.
We will:

Connect and dance in our own homes
Watch people leading dances from around the world
Submit requests and chat online
See each other; listen and dance to our favorites

Join The Party
By Zoom
Join by Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/600066908 Meeting ID: 600 066 908

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!

To dial in by phone: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
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.

Land Dancers Folk Dance Weekend
2022-05-28 11:00 - 2022-05-30 18:00 | Cliff’s land in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA-9 & Skyline Blvd, Saratoga, CA, 95070
Please join the Land Dancers this Memorial Day weekend for International and Israeli folk dancing and music at The Land. Come for the day Saturday or Sunday, or camp out for the whole weekend. Anyone is welcome. Fun for families. No charge. Held every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. Founded by Cliff Jenkins and friends in 1981.
Wonderful activities for everyone! Hiking trails, camping, bicycling, dancing, live music and more..
We dance outdoors on a big redwood deck where two creeks come together in the Santa Cruz Mountains, off Skyline Blvd near Highway 9. Come as early as 11am Saturday May 28 to set up camp. There isn’t a set time to begin dancing Saturday.
Organizer: Land Dancers
Cost: free of charge, donations encouraged
Contact Betsy Moore, eambetsy@gmail.com, (408-507-7177) to request a flyer with directions and more info.
COVID-19 Precautions
We ask that attendees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including booster, if eligible. Please get tested if you’ve been exposed and don’t attend if you are feeling ill. With respect to masking and other restrictions, we will follow the guidelines of the County of San Mateo. Currently there are no restrictions in place.
We’ll have a simplified version of the COVID comfort level necklaces we used last year. You may choose to wear a red necklace if you wish to have people ask your consent before hugging, holding hands while dancing, sharing food, etc.

Razzmatazz Folk Dance Weekend
2022-06-03 - 2022-06-05 | Mendocino Woodlands Camp, 39350 Little Lake Rd, Mendocino, CA, 95460, United States
Annual Razzmatazz Folk Dance Weekend at Mendocino Woodlands Camp #1
After missing the last two years of Razzmatazz Weekend at Mendocino Woodlands due to the Covid pandemic, we are going to hold our Weekend camp in person again (fingers crossed) on June 3,4,5, 2022! This will be our 43rd year and our final Razzmatazz Weekend. We will be celebrating 43 years together in the magical Mendocino Woodlands, with the incomparable music of Édessa, outstanding guest teachers, and joyful campers.
We are so happy to announce our staff for this final year:

Teachers: Michael Ginsburg, Joe Graziosi, Steve Kotansky
Édessa, the heart and soul of camp, with Christos Govetas
True Life Trio and Joe Finn
Our chef: Nicole Saadeh and her staff

We will be donating all “Above & Beyond” monies directly to the Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association in appreciation for taking such good care of the Woodlands all these years.
This year’s camp is partially underwritten by a generous donation from Jim Kaumeyer, a long time folk dancer in our Santa Rosa group.
Registration for the weekend is now open. Everyone must be fully vaccinated to attend. For a registration form, email: razzmatazzfolkdanceclub@gmail.com

Berkeley Folk Dance's Birthday Ball
2022-06-05 13:00 - 17:00 | Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman), Berkeley, CA, 94709 , United States

Scandia Camp 2022
2022-06-11 - 2022-06-13 | Online, CA, United States
Free virtual camp via Zoom
The Scandia Camp Mendocino 2022 program will feature dance, music, and more from Norway and Sweden, presented by instructors from those countries and the United States including:
Dance Classes

Polsdans fra Finnskogen a popular dance found on both sides of the border between Norway and Sweden (about Finnskogen)
Dances from Hälsingland and Dalarna, areas of Sweden with various dance traditions (about Hälsingland) (about Dalarna)
Gammeldans a collection of what we call old time dances from Norway (What is gammeldans?)
Scandinavian dance fundamentals, including Hambo and waltz

Music Classes

Norwegian Fiddle, featuring tunes to accompany dance traditions being taught
Swedish Fiddle, featuring some of the teacher’s favorite tunes.
Beginning Scandinavian Fiddle
Hardanger Fiddle, a uniquely Norwegian fiddle with understrings (more information)
Nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle), the national folk instrument of Sweden (more information)
Group Playing (allspel/samspel) all instruments welcome – Learn the most common/popular tunes for dances and play along at the parties.
Cow Horn, a wind instrument made from a cow horn
Singing, with emphasis on songs from Foldal

Additional Activities

Welcome Session
Crafts
Culture Sessions
Chat Rooms and Scandinavian Videos
Dance Parties
Jam Sessions

The mission of Scandia Camp Mendocino is to provide culturally unique enriching opportunities to learn about and actively experience the dance, music and cultural traditions of Scandinavia (primarily Norway and Sweden) in a welcoming community.
Schedule, list of instructors, and more at http://scandiacamp.org
Register

Palomanians Ice Cream Social
2022-06-12 15:30 - 18:30 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
The Palomanians Ice Cream Social featuring request dancing, refreshments, and of course ice cream! Our MC is Denise Heenan.
A tradition for decades, the Palomanians will provide all the ingredients for an Ice Cream Social and Dance Party! With lots of toppings, fresh and stewed fruit, sprinkles, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and more! Punch, water and coffee also provided. More dancing afterwards to work it all off. Nothing to bring besides your dance shoes.
To submit a request for our dance program, or to volunteer to help, please contact pfdcparty@gmail.com
As a reminder, vaccinated dancers only. If you’ve been to our parties in the past, we’ve marked you as vaccinated. If this is your first party, please bring proof of vaccination. Per county guidelines, masks are not required but recommended.

Global Folk Dance Party
2022-06-18 15:00 - 18:30 | Online, CA, United States
At this month’s Global Folk Dance Party, we’re excited to be dancing with Ira Weisburd. In addition, we’re sharing Ira’s ‘Prayer for Ukraine’, the Global Dance event Ira’s putting on to raise money to help out people in Ukraine.

At our party, we’ll let you know how you can help. Keep passing the word to your friends. Afterwards join us for the after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends
Join The Party
By Zoom
Join by Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/600066908 Meeting ID: 600 066 908

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!

To dial in by phone: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
By Facebook Live
Join by Facebook Live
if Zoom is full or you just want to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/PFDCouncil/
For more details and requests e-mail us at virtualfolkdance@gmail.com. Alicia La Fetra, Lisa Michael, and Stacy Rose will be happy to help.

Federation Board Meeting
2022-07-09 11:00 - 12:30 | Online, CA, United States
Join the Folk Dance Federation Board online as they meet for their July 2022 planning meeting. Various topics such as event planning, membership, publicity, insurance, and budget are discussed. Get to see Federation meetings behind the scenes.
This is the first meeting with our 2022-2023 officers. See full list…
Sunday July 9, 11am-12:30pm, online
Zoom Meeting ID: 337 297 6475
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Join Online

PFDC (Peninsula Folk Dance Council) Annual Meeting
2022-07-10 15:00 - 15:15 | St. Bede’s Church Hall, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, United States
The Peninsula Folk Dance Council will have its annual meeting July 10, 3pm at St. Bede’s event hall in Menlo Park. The meeting will be immediately followed by the monthly party.
All who have assisted with PFDC events during the past year are eligible to vote.
Agenda items for this short meeting are:

Election of Offcers
Resolution to dissolve the PFDC and to transfer its assets to Peninsula Folk Dance

See details of meeting notice below.
Be sure to stay for the PFDC dance party afterward.
