Särba Băută (SEHR-bah buh-TOO-tuh) is from the region of Işhi in central Moldavia, the source of many such dances, including Sârba de la Sticlăria, Sârba-n Ciobănăş, and Sârba Flămânzi, also characterized by quick footwork and much stamping. This dance was introduced at Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2007 by Sonia Dion […]
Batuta Munteneasca, a line dance from Muntenia, Romania,was originally taught by Alexandru David who learned it in the Periniţa Ensemble. Also taught by his brother Mihai David. It was presented by Mihai David at the 1974 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
From Maramureș, Romania. Presented by Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu at The Lyrids Folk Dance Festival 2018. The dance name means “Old Man’s Dance”, but it’s part of a tradition where the dancers dress up like caricatures of old people or animals and pantomime dancing like old folks. Alternate Videos […]
Depki Miserlou was arranged by Tom Bozigian from steps he observed from Armenian immigrants from Beirut, who lived in Michigan. The melody was introduced to Tom Bozigian by Ara Bholdoian. Dance notes…
Choreographed by Josien Teuling in the Netherlands based on traditional Croatian dance motifs. Taught by Tineke van Geel at the 2021 virtual Lyrids/Kyklos Festival. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
“C’est une jeunne mariee” means “She was a young wife” and was created by Roman Kozak using steps from French-Canadian line dances. The recording is by “Le Vent du Nord.” Dance notes…
Based on instructions by Samanthi Hewakupuge in 2002. This dance represents the actions of picking tea. Dance notes…
Žensko za raka (ZHEHN-skoh zah RAH-kah), a “women’s dance with hands,” was learned from Sashko Anastasov by Yves Moreau, who taught it at Mendocino Folklore Camp 2007 and the 2009 Stockton Folk Dance Camp held at the University of the Pacific. The music is performed by the famous accordionist and […]
This dance is from the Adjara region of Georgia and is a famous dance in all of Georgia (and outside). Khorumi is a dance of soldiers who are preparing for war. The dance incorporates the themes of search, war, and the celebration of victory as well as courage and glory […]
Arranged by Andrew Carnie using traditional Laz, Georgian and Armenian steps to the song Heyamoli by Kitka. Not to be confused with the authentic dance Heyamo. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Choreographed by Baykal Doğan, but introduced to the US by Roberto Bagnoli. Also taught by Tineke and Maurits van Geel. Alissa is Baykal’s daughter’s name. There is some confusion about the word Tsekva (“dance”) because the widely distributed distributed by Roberto had a typo in them (Tsevka instead of Tsekva), […]
Ogneno Horo is based on material typical for the northwestern part of of Bulgaria from the Vlaški region. Presented by Roberto Bagnoli at the 2016 Lyrids Folk Dance Festival. Adapted and introduced by Eddy Tijssen, July 2012, the dance is a variation on Kulsko Horo. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
This Rusyn dance from the Prešov Region is very close to being a Jewish Bulgar in form, and its origin between the ethnic groups in a toss-up. Again, cross-fertilization of cultures did happen, especially since Jewish musicians (trained as part of military bands) often played for village and town events. […]
Gorani is a style or family of dances, sometimes also called Daronee (or “from Daron”) from the valleys of Moush, Sassoun, and Daron in western Armenia, an area that is now eastern Turkey that was inhabited by Armenians from the 8th century BCE until the Armenian genocide of 1915. As […]
An Albanian-Kosovo dance from a village of the same name. Originally taught by Atanas Kolarovski. Also widely taught by Michael Ginsburg. Dance notes… Additional Video
Music composed by Mario Loiselle. Choreographed by France Bourque-Moreau to a unique nine bar waltz. The title translates as “the waltz of the flying kites.” France choreographed the dance in memory of a dancer friend who had passed away. France describes it as symbolizing “the freedom of those who have […]
Jeitili (also Jeddili) was introduced to the USA by Tom Bozigian at the 1973 Stockton Folk Dance camp. Tom learned the dance from the Lebanese American Community in Los Angeles. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Yaylalar (YIGH-lah-lar), meaning “Mountain Meadows”, is from Elâzığ in Central Eastern Anatolia and is danced throughout Turkey. It represents the happy atmosphere of a village wedding. The tune is also well known. Bora Özkök learned it from Hamit Celimli in Istanbul, Turkey, 1977 and presented it at the 1978 University […]
Originally introduced by Bora Özkök. Formation: Short lines, shoulders touching, hands joined, arms straight. Sequence is leader called. Dance notes…
Valle Kosovare (VAH-leh koh-soh-VAH-reh) means simply a “dance from Kosovo.” This version was researched and presented by Lisette Langeveld in Amsterdam in 1985, long before the version presented by Lee Otterholt. Lisette Langeveld presents the dance in this recording. Dance notes… Valle Kosovare Music…
Choreographed by Amnon Sha’uli, in 1976. The title translates as “To the candle and spices”. Song for Havdala at the end of Shabbat. There is different dance by this name by Maurice Perez. Dance notes…
Choreographed by Danny Hayman, but widely taught in the US by Shlomo Bachar. Dance notes 1.. Dance notes 2.. Alternate Video
Godečki Čačak, a line dance from the Serbian-Bulgarian border area, was presented by Dick Crum in Chicago in April, 1968. The region which straddles the Serbian-Bulgarian border at the point where it is intersected by the Nisava River, is home to many songs and dances which are identical on both […]
Išu Byala Nedo (EE-shu BYAH-lah NEH-doh) includes the vocal: “Hey, you girl Neda with the beautiful white face.” This women’s dance was learned from Belcho Stanev by Steve Kotansky, who taught it at Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2010. Dance notes…
This line dance (seh-PAHS-tee-ah bahr) from the Lake Van region (far eastern area) of present-day Turkey was learned by Ron Wixman and Steve Glaser from Richard Kassabian, director of the Armenian Folk Dance Society of New York, and was presented by them at the 1976 University of the Pacific Folk […]
The dance is related to the Greek Syrtos. Pomaško means in the style of the Pomaks, who are the Muslim inhabitants of Bulgaria. Dance notes… Additional Videos
Alunelu (ah-loo-NEH-loo) was originally introduced by Daniela Ivanova. This is a dance for both men and women from the village of Vrav in Northwest Bulgaria, the Vidin–Danube river area). “Alunelu” is a Vlach word that means “hazelnut.” There is also an explination that the dance is named after a man […]
Hora de Munte (HOH-rah deh MOON-the) was introduced to North America by Cristian Florescu and Sonia Dion at Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2007. The Hora is danced by both men and women of all ages, at Sunday dances and weddings and is used as an introductory dance: There are various […]
Joc din Rebrișoara (ZHOK deen reh-bree-SHOHAH-rah) from the Bistriţa-Năsăud region, Transylvania, Romania was presented by Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu at the 2015 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes… Rebrişoara is a village in the beautiful mountainous county of Bistriţa-Năsăud, in Transylvania. Its name comes from the Slavic word rebro, […]
Originally taught by France and Yves Moreau, who learned it from Silvio Lorenzato. Dance notes… Additional Videos
Sukačko Kolo is a dance from Prigorje and was performed by Lado, the Croatian National Ensemble. It was introduced by Gordon Engler and Dick Crum in the US in 1968. There is another dance called Sukačica done to the exact same music. Confusingly that dance is sometimes called Sukačko Kolo. […]
Eten Bamidbar was choreographed by Yankale Levy in 1957. The title translates as “I’ll put in the desert”. A different dance by this name was choreographed by Rivka Sturman. The lyrics are from Isaiah 41:19 in the Bible. Dance notes… Additional Videos
Hanter-dro is a native Breton dance from pays vannetais. As the gavotte, this is a dance where the dancers stand firmly and it is a “feet dance” (unlike many vannetaises dances like ridées or an-dro that can be considered as arm dances). Literally, the Breton word “hanter-dro” means about-turn in […]
Hora Nuntașilor (HOH-rah noon-TAH-chee-lohr) was presented by Sonia Dion & Cristian Florescu at the 60th Stockton Folk Dance Camp (2007). Dance notes… The word Nuntașilor¸ means wedding guests. Whether in western Romania (Banat) or any other region in the country, marriage is a commitment that still today is an important […]
Sej Sej Bob (say say bahp), which refers to planting beans, is a type of line-račenica found throughout Dobrudža under various names: Kucata, Brasni Carvul, Pandalas, etc. It was learned from Liliana Zafirova and Stefan Vaglarov, of Sofia, by Yves Moreau, who taught it at the ’81 and ’97 Stockton […]
Dimitrija (dee-mee-TREE-yah), from Sandanski, was learned in Petrich near the Greek-Macedonian border from Kyril Andonov in the summer of 1970 by Yves Moreau, who presented it at SF Kolo’01, Mendocino Folklore’02 and Stockton Folk Dance Camp’04.
Reyhan is a girl’s name meaning “sweet basil.” This Azeri-Turkish dance was introduced by Ercüment Kiliç in May 1979 in New Orleans, Louisiana then taught at Stockton Folk Dance Camp in 1983. Ercüment learned the dance as a child. Dance notes… Additional Videos
Originally arranged and taught by Atanas Kolarovski. Recently retaught by Fusae Carrol at a virtual dance at the LA L.I.F.E. Balkan dancers. The dance is from the Povadarie (Vardar valley) region of Macedonia. Dance notes…
Choreographed by Arian Butel. The song and dance were inspired by the 2020 Covid lockdown. The name is a contraction of “J’aime aller” or “I (would) like to go” and is about all the the places the singer wants to go once lockdown is over. Dance notes… Additional Videos
Tankō Bushi (Coal Miner’s Dance) was brought to the US by Jerry Joris Lindsav. Madelynne Greene introduced Tankō Bushi at the 1959 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Additional Videos
Choreographed by Amnon Sha’uli in 1983. Also taught by Ya’akov Eden. The title translates as “the disaster on Mount Hamor.” Moshiko Halevy taught a different dance to this same song. Index 359 at israelidance.com. Dance notes…
Ovčepolsko (ohv-cheh-POHL-skoh), or Ovčepolsko Oro, is a dance form of the northern Ovčepole(sheep’s field) dance region, centered east of the Vardar River approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Skopje. Coinciding roughly with the Ovčepole plain, this is bounded on the northwest by Sveti Nicole, on the northeast by Kratovo, on the […]
Originally taught in the USA by Marianne Herman and Dick Crum. Karapyet is a nickname for people who come from the Caucasus. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Theodor Vasilescu reconstructed this dance from the musicologist Anton Pann’s description of a hora from Muntenia. The song was published in the Anton Pann Collecton in 1852. The dance is also called “Hora Anton Pann” and very confusingly Hora Veche (which is also the name of a different dance choreographed […]
Taught by Theodor and Lia Vasilescu. Also taught by Nico Hilferink and Daniel Sandu. A different version of this dance by this name was taught by Daniel Sandu. The song this dance is set to was notated by Anton Pann in the mid-19th century. This version of the dance comes […]
Introduced to the US by Rickey Holden. The song was sung by Roger Mgrdichian and the Gomides Band and released in 1920. There is another dance done to this music called Hooshig Mooshig. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Originally taught by Theodor Vasilescu. Also taught by Bianca de Jong. The dance was originally called Jianul de la Slanic. Vasilescu renamed the dance Hora Libertatea after the December Revolution of the 1990s. Slănic is name of a town in Muntenia. Dance notes…
Joc batranesc din Niculitel (ZHOHK buh-trah-NESK deen nee-koo-lee-TSEL) was taught by Theodor Vasilescu at the 1995 University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp in Stockton, California. Joc means “dance,” bAtr&nesc means “ancient” and Niculitel is a village in Dobrogea near the Black Sea. Dance notes…
Razvivaj Dobro freely translates into “may life unfold well” and can be considered a wish for fertility, growth and prosperity. It is a dance song associated with local Lent customs from the Rhodope Mountain Region in Southern Bulgaria. Razvivaj Dobro is a Horovodna Pesen (a song accompanying a dance) and […]
A Tropanka variation from the villages west of Varna in Dobrudža taught by Yves Moreau. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Siriu is the name of a small river crossing the wonderful region of Siriu Mountain. In the local folklore of Buzau region where this river and mountain are to be found, there is also a well-known song and a dance wearing the same name. The dance accompanying the Siriu song […]
Taught by Theodor Vasilescu and Michael Ginsburg. The title means “Romani dance”. Dance notes…
From Prigorje, Croatia. Popularized by the Aman ensemble in Los Angeles. Dance notes…
Introduced by Yoav Ashriel. Also taught by Loui Tucker and Shlomo Bachar. Dance notes…
This version origially taught by Theodor Vasilescu. Also taught by Maurits van Geel and Sunni Bloland. The Motocs taught a different dance by this same name. Dance notes…
Arranged by Bianca de Jong in 2011 out of traditional steps to fit this recording. Taught by Bianca de Jong at the Winter Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2021 and by Roberto Bagnoli at various events.
This belongs to the category of modern, choreographed folk dances such as Ciganskoto or Kupondjisko Horo which are quite popular in the Bulgarian dance movement in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Diaspora. Dance notes…
De Boca Del Dyo (meaning From the Mouth of God). Introduced by Jim Gold in Judeo/Bosnian folk dance style. Sung in Ladino language. Formation: Open circle, low hands, V position.
Hora din Giurgiuleşti is from the village of Giurgiuleşti in southern Moldova. Hora is a national dance that requires a relatively large group of people to hold hands and form a circle. There can be several circles one inside of the other, all moving in opposite directions. This dance was […]
Oj Ti Momče Ohrigjanče (OY tee MOHM-cheh OH-ree-DJAHN-cheh) translates to “Hey, you Ohrid lad.” Stephen Kotansky learned this dance from Filip Arilon, a musician and dance teacher from Macedonia. The song has been recorded by many recording artists. The dance is a choreography. Stephen Kotansky taught this dance at the […]
Originally taught by Lia and Theodor Vasilescu. From the Banat region, the title translates as “Dance of the Girls”. Vesilescu’s original notes say: “Joc de fete” means dance of girls. Such dances are encountered all over Romania. Originally, they had a ritual meaning as premarital girl dances and they were […]
Originally taught by Theodora and Lia Vasilescu. The title translates as “In John’s Garden.” Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Circle dance from Russia. Danced with a V hold. Introduced by Bianca de Jong at Maine Folk Dance Camp, 1990. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Taught by Ahmet Lüleci. Not to be confused with the Macedonian dance Arap, although both titles mean “Arab.” Dance notes…
U Kruševo Ogin Gori (In Krusevo a fire burns) was introduced by Dennis Boxell but also has been taught by Yves Morea, Michael Ginsburg, and others. A different dance was taught to the same music by Atanas Kolarovski. The dance Mečkin Kamen is nearly identical but came much later. Dance […]
This is a version of the traditional dance Širto choreographed by Iliana Bozhanova. Dance notes…
Choreographed and taught by Tineke and Maurits Van Geel. The title translates as “life”. Dance notes…
Introduced by Steve Kotansky, this dance is based on steps done in Kastoria Greece by the Sephardic Jewish residents. Presented by Steve Kotansky at Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2006. The song is sung in Ladino by Savina Yannatou. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Vikivaki, the national dance of Iceland, is an old ring dance that has been celebrated throughout the Nordic Region from the Middle Ages until today and has been a crucial part of Icelandic society since its earliest times. Dance notes… Alternate Video
Bal in da Straat (BARE uhn dad STRAHT) is a progressive dance from Belgium. It was first written as a round dance by Dot and Date Foster of Decatur, Illinois, under the name “Dancing in the Street” (a literal translation of the Belgian title). The round dance has two progressions […]
This Scottish dance was composed in Canada by Prudence Edwards of Fredericton, NB. It was the winning dance in the competition to select a Scottish country dance to commemorate Canada’s Centennial in 1967. C. Stewart Smith introduced it at the Folk Dance Federation of California, Inc. Statewide Institute, Oakland, California, […]
Originally taught by Edward Gollar, who learned it at the Festival in Uddevala of the Svenska Ungdomsringen fro Bygdekultur Dance notes… Alternate Videos
This dance is popular in upper‑Brittany and is a variant of the Laridé dance type. Presented by Yves Moreau at the 1977 Mendocino Folklore Camp. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Ersko Kolo (AIR-skoh KOH-loh) was introduced at the University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp in 1955 by Richard Crum, who learned it in (the former) Yugoslavia. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
Ankeliini (AHN-keh-lee-nee) is a 19th century couple dance from south Finland. It was taught by Jussi Aronen and Lennu Ylaneva at the 1999 Stockton Folk Dance Camp held at the University of the Pacific. Dance notes… Alternate Videos
W Moim Ogródecku (VUH MO-yem oh-gruh-DETS-kuh), also spelled W Moim Ogródeczku, means “In My Garden.” The group that sings this song is Rokiczanka, based in Rokitno near Lubartow in Lubelskie county in Poland. This dance was choreographed and first taught by Ira Weisburd at Margate, Florida in 2014. It has […]
Tzadik Katamar (tsah-DEEK kah-tah-MAR) is translated as “Righteousness shall flourish”. The music is by A. Neiman, the choreography by Jonathon Gabait, and the dance was presented by Shlomo Bachar at the 1973 University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
A variation on the basic Pravo Rodopsko Horo from the region around the town of Čepelare. Observed by Yves Moreau at the Rožen Pee Festival in July 1972. The dance has a typical 10-meas structure which is typical of many Rhodope folk songs. The song used here is Pena e […]
The music of Körtánc (KOOR-tants) is from Nyitra County, now politically part of western Slovakia. The dance was arranged by Kálmán Magyar. It was presented by Kálmán and Judith Magyar at the 1981 University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Originally taught by Nico Hilferink. Nico taught the dance under both the names Joc Batrânesc and Dado La Dado. Dance notes