Damat Halayı translates as Groom Dance, and indeed it is a popular dance at Turkish weddings. It is also popular in general – as a party dance, and a children’s dance taught in schools. Most Turks think of it as a dance from Trakya (European Turkey); some Trakyans say it […]
De Valse Zeeman (duh VAHL-seh ZAY-mahn) was choreographed by Sibylle Helmer to a song by the same name from an album entitled Dorothea, recorded in 2000 by the Flemish group Lais. It was taught at the Folk Dance Federation of California Statewide Festival in Redding, California, by Roberto Bagnoli in […]
This basic and popular Rodopsko Horo is traditionally performed to the accompaniment of a capella singing by the dancers themselves or to a kaba gajda ( a low piched bagpipe). Dance notes…
Haskovsko (hahs-KOHV-skoh) (Indze Prez Gora Varvese) The name translates as “line dance from the region of the town of Haskovo” in Iztocna Trakia or Eastern Thrace, Bulgaria. Haskovsko, like many other slow Pravo type of dances from Trakia, is done to the accompaniment of a song. Characteristic for the performance […]
“‘t Smidge (the Smithy) is this decade’s Macarena”, says California Folkdance Federation’s Loui Tucker. It’s exceptionally popular throughout Europe. The music is from a 2009 CD “Documenta”, by the folk-rock band Lais. Many of Lais’ lyrics are taken from centuries-old Flemish folk songs. ’t Smidge is about a young medieval […]
Bâčvanka is arranged from traditional steps by Jaap Leegwater. This is a woman’s dance based on steps from the Vidin and Kula districts. The title translates as “wooden barrel”. Dance notes… Alternate Video
From the Muntenia region of southeastern Romania. The villages of Romania’s southern plainland (along the Danube) are the richest repository for the “classical” type of circle dance known as the hora. Dances in this category number in the hundreds; they are usually large circles of men and women with hands […]
Krajdunaysko Horo (krigh-DOO-nahv-skoh hoh-ROH), meaning Dance from the Danube River Region, is a collection of variations that are popular among the Vlachs of Northwestern Bulgaria. Originally a nomadic tribe, the Vlachs (for Wallachia, a province of Romania) have settled in many regions of the Balkans. Dances with Vlach influence, often […]
Originally taught and arranged by Jaap Leegwater. The title translates as “Kirčo is sitting on the porch”. It is a variant of the dance Širto. Dance notes…
This dance, which is essentially identical to the Greek dance Syrtos. Is commonly done in Bulgaria and Macedonia to music in 7/8 time as an alternative to the Lesnoto. Dance notes…
Taught by Iliana Bozhanova at the 2021 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. She learned it from Mitko Ivanov. This is an usual Bulgarian dance in that it leads to the left (progresses CW). Dances done this reversed way celebrate the dead. The dance is from the Pleven area. It is now […]
Pontic Greek dance taught by Kyriakos Moisidis at a 2021 virtual EEFC class. Also taught by Michael Ginsburg. Joe Graziosi, Nikos Savvidis. The title translates as “little widow”. Dance notes…
Originally taught in the US by Jaap Leegwater, who learned it form Jordan Jordanov in 1976. Dance notes…
Laz work song from the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Heyamo was collected and arranged by Birol Topaloglu translated by Brenna Maccrimmon. Birol is a Turkish Laz musician. The Laz people are a minority group who live in the mountainous regions of eastern Turkey around the Black Sea. Their […]
The name means “bewildered” or “silly.” Introduced at the 2001 Stockton Folk Dance Camp by Ahmet Lüleci. Dance notes…
Arabım Fellahi (AH-rah-buhm feh-lah-HEE ) means “my Arabic farmer.” This dance is from Southern Anatolia and has an Arabic influence. It was first taught in Japan in 2018, and subsequently in the Bay Area. It was presented by Ahmet Luleci at the 2020 Stockton Virtual Folkdance Camp held on Zoom. […]
Kircali Ali, Turkish dance, introduced by Ahmet Luleci.
Hayde Gidelum, Turkish Black Sea dance from Ahmet Lulec. The title translates as “Let’s Go.” Dance notes…
Spoon dance from Konya in central Turkey, originally taught by Ahmet Luleci. This was traditionally a women’s dance. Dance notes…
Bingeol (BIHN-guhl) is the name of a village in former West Armenia (now the Anatolia region of Turkey). The village, written Bingöl in Turkish, is located 10 kilometers east of Sivas. The lyrics were written by Avedik Isahakian (1875-1957), a native of the city of Gumri in northern Armenia in […]
Čerešničky (CHAIR-esh-neech-kee) was originally a women’s dance from southeast Moravia. It was presented at the 1979 University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp and other camps and workshops in the summer of 1979 by František Bonuš, who taught it as a mixed circle dance with couple and small group variations. […]
Taught by Ahmet Luleci at the virtual 2021 World Spring Camp. The title translates as “Boy, Boy”. Dance notes…
Translates as “My one with Blue” Originally taught by Ahmet Luleci at the 2014 Lyrids Folk Dance Festival. Dance notes…
Rapatma (RAH-paht-mah) is from an area northeast of Anatolia. It is from the Black Sea region and typical Horon style. Rahpet means “rat.” Presented by Ahmet Lüleci at the 2010 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Rakkas means “female dancer.” Presented by Ahmet Lüleci at the 1999 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Originally taught by Ahmet Lüleci. Sıksara means “often cross”. Dance notes…
Gulli (guh-LEEH) is a woman’s name translated as “the one with the rose.” This Kurdish halay (a widespread popular dance in the Middle East) is from eastern Anatolia, and consists of two separate dances combined as one. It was introduced by Ahmet Lidleci at the Kolo Festival in San Francisco, […]
Ìnaduna (IHN-nah DOO-nah) means “against the will or nevertheless” and is a women’s dance from northern Anatolia in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It was presented by Evren Soytopcu Kiyak at the 2016 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. It has also been taught at various dance workshops and camps such […]
Manastır (mah-nahs-tur) means Monastery. Manastır was the old Turkish name for Bitola, the city in the current day Republic of North Macedonia, which is featured in the song. The dance is from Thrace in the Northwestern Turkey. It was first taught in Japan in 2018, and subsequently at the 2019 […]
Papatya (pah-PAHT-yah), meaning “Wildflower,” is a women’s dance from NE Turkey. The influence of nearby Georgia shows in the posture, arm positions, and soft movement on the balls of the feet. The dance was presented by Ahmet Luleci at the San Francisco Kolo Festival 2000 and the 2001 University of […]
The name of the music and dance means simply “(round) dance from Blagoevgrad,” a town in this region of Bulgaria. Presented by Lee Otterholt at the 2003 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Taught in the USA by Lee Otterholt and Steve Kotansky, who learned it from Andrea Kokeri in Tirana. The dance name translates as Tosk Dance. The Tosk are the southern Albanians. Dance Notes…
Originally taught by Mihai David. The title translates as “Little Lemon”. The dance is from the region of Muntenia. Dance Notes…
Choreographed by Lee Otterholt, based on traditional steps he learned while dancing with various Vlach people in the 1970s. There is another dance called Vlaško Oro done to the same music, so this one is sometimes called Oro Vlaška II). The dance name means Vlach dance. Dance Notes…
Maurits van Geel choreographed the dance based on traditional steps for a performance of his International Dance Theater. Dance Notes… Alternate Recording
Ne klepeæi nanulama (Neh kleh-PET-shee nah-noo-LAH-mah) means “Don’t make that noise.” “Ne klepeæi nanulama” is a typical Bosnian “sevda” melody, a song about strong emotions, especially sadness, in this case sadness over the loss of the singer’s mother. This song, one of the biggest hits in the history of Yugoslav […]
Originally taught by Ciga Despotovic, but recently retaught widely by Lee Otterholt. Dance Notes…
Choreographed by Ben Koopmanschap, also taught by Lee Otterholt. Dance Notes…
Not to be confused with Hora Din Mahala, which is a different dance done to different music. This dance was introduced by Alexandru David, who observed it at a wedding in Bucharest in 2007. Lee Otterholt and Mihai David have taught it widely in the USA. Dance Notes…
Originally taught by Tineke van Geel. Also widely taught by Lee Otterholt. Dance Notes…
Originally taught by Željko Jergan. The dance name translates as “the girl gathers”. Dance Notes… Alternate video
The title translates as “The Basil”. This dance was taught at the Phoenix Folk Dance in November 2018, by Lee Otterholt. It was also taught by Sally Fletcher. Dance Notes…
Svatba (SVAHT-bah) means “wedding.” The source for this dance is Belcho Stanev, one of Bulgaria’s foremost dance teachers, from Varna, Bulgaria. The music is the Macedonian song “Svadba Golema” or “Big Wedding,” originally recorded by Vojo Stojanovski in Macedonia. Dance Notes…
Taught by Lee Otterholt, originally taught (choreographed?) by Ventzi Sotirov. Samodivas are woodland nymphs. The song is by the popular Bulgarian singer Rayna. Dance Notes…
E Shukar Romnji (A Beautiful Woman), a Roma (Gypsy) dance taught by Lee Otterholt.
Originally taught in the US by Lee Otterholt, who learned it from Ben Koopmanschap. The name of the tune is Opa Cupa, but there are two other dances done to other tunes by this name. Dance Notes…
Mia Kori (Thracian Greece) Mia Kori (Mia Kori mia Diavatissa) is a simple three-measure dance (a little like a Pousteno step, but done in 9/8) from the Thracian region of Greece, here with a simple in-and-out refrain added. Presented by Lee Otterholt at the Laguna Folkdancers Festival 2007 Dance notes…
Gugutkino Oro, both dance and song, is from the northern part of Macedonia. This is an example of a “orovodna pesna” (a dance accompanying song). Or the other way around: it is a singing dance; the girls accompany themselves by singing. Presented by Paul Mulders at the 2006 Stockton Folk […]
Davorike Dajke was presented by Miroslav Marcetio at Mainwoods Dance Camp 2001. He learned the dance from the Zagubica Village Dance Camp. The dance comes from the Vlach area. Dance notes…
Choreographed by Rivka Sturman, 1950. Hashual (The Fox). Surrey International Folk Dancers of Surrey, BC, Canada demonstrate Hashual, an Israeli dance, at the Harvest Festival in Sunrise Pavilion in Surrey on October 16, 2004. Dance notes…
This dance is choreographed in a Roma style with music played by Taraful din Clejani (Viorica și Ioniță de la Clejani). Introduced by Daniel Sandu (2009) and presented by Roberto Bagnoli at the 2017 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Bogatym from Spisz is another example of folk music being brought into the present day by young singers and bands from the mountain regions of Poland. After many skirmishes and treaties with Czechoslovakia during the first half of the 20th century, the majority of the region of Spisz finds itself […]
The Salty Dog Rag is an American schottische dance described by the lyrics of the 1952 hit tune Salty Dog Rag by Red Foley. It is usually a traveling dance, often performed synchronously by multiple couples, who circumnavigate the room in a counter-clockwise direction. It can also be done in-place […]
The song (MYAH-tah-loh LEHN-cheh) tells of young Lenche, who is determined to select her husband by throwing apples at random. The dance was learned from Belcho Stanev by Michael Ginsburg, who taught it at the 2006 Mendocino Folklore Camp and at the 2006 North-South Folk Dance Teachers’ Symposium. Dance notes…
Mihai David presented Ciuleandra (choo-LAN-druh) at the 1972 Kolo Festival in San Francisco, and again at the 1973 University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp. He learned the dance while performing with the Romanian State Folk Dance Ensemble during the years 1963-65. The dance comes from the region of Oltenia […]
Zensko Kapansko Horo (ZHEHN-skoh KAH-pahn-skoh Hoh-ROH) A dance from Northeastern Bulgaria based on traditional Pravo steps from Northeastern Bulgaria arranged by Yves Moreau to the popular song Ovdovjala Lisiekata (the widowed fox). Introduced at the 2011 Statewide Festival. Dance notes…
“Two young people in love” is a Bulgarian tune best known as “Le retour des grues” (The Return of the Cranes) used in the 2001 documentary film ‘Winged Migration’. This is a revised demonstration video at higher resolution and with a slight correction of one step. This version is performed […]
This dance is from the village of Kosovo in the Vidin region of northern Bulgaria. The name of the dance derives from the movement of a horse or donkey called a Kloca. The way the kicks are done in this dance imitates this kicking. The dance was created by Nicolaj […]
Dance Name: Etze Li Ha’Shuka (The Market Song) Creation Year: 2019 Shape: Circle Choreographers: Gadi Biton Israeli singer Shefita’s version to a Nostalgic Israeli children’s song “Etze Li Ha’Suka” (The Market Song)
Draganinata, circle dance from Trakia region, Bulgaria. Presented by the Dunav folk dancers
Rusternul (Roo-STEH-mool) is from the region of Muntenia, southern Romania. It was learned by Mihai David during the years 1963-65 while dancing with the Romanian State Folk Dance Ensemble and presented by him at the 1972 Kolo Festival in San Francisco and then again at the 1974 University Of the […]
Vu1pita (voo1-PEE-tsah) meaning”The Little Fox,”comes from the Oltenia region of Romania. Sunni Blo1and learned it from a colleague, Marius Karpelof Schiedam, Holland who is a leading researcher and teacher of Romanian dance. Sunni presented Vu1pita at the International Folkdance Seminars, Stanford University, February 1975. Dance notes…
Sarna is a dance done by the Żywiec “gorale” (mountaineers) from the Beskid Mountains. As is typical of all the mountain regions of Poland, much of the traditional music has been brought into the 21st century and kept very much alive by a whole new generation of Poles. The accompanying […]
France Bourque-Moreau teaches La Laine des Moutons, a traditional action-song popular in France and Quebec. This is an excerpt from the 2017 Lyrids Folk Dance Festival. Full dance begins at 4:38. Also presented at the 2017 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Joc Bătrânesc de la Niculiţel (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,” Bătrânesc means “ancient” and Niculitel is a village in Dobrogea near the Black Sea. Dance notes…
Idam, ne Idam (EE-dahm, neh EE-dahrn) was choreographed by Yves Moreau using traditional Lesnoto (Pravoto) and Sirto steps from Pirin-Macedonia. The song is a popular one throughout Macedonia, known as “Oj ela mi, Felid2e” or “Idam, ne Idam.” Mr. Moreau presented the dance at the Statewide Institute in San Francisco, […]
Koga Me Mama Rodila (koh-GAH meh MAH-mah roh-DEE-lah) is a basic Pravo Trakijsko variation adapted by Yves Moreau to this well-known folk song. It was presented by Yves Moreau at the 2004 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Tâkanata (TUH-kah-nah-tah), observed at the August 1971 Koprivsvtica Festival, is fromThe village of Bjala Reka near Veliko Târnovo in northeastern Bulgaria. The dance wastaught by Yves Moreau at the 2006 San Francisco Kolo Festival, the 2007 MendocinoFolklore Camp and the 2007 Stockton Folk Dance Camp. Dance notes…
Vidinsko horo (VEE-deen-skoh hoh-ROH), is an arrangement of traditional steps from N.W. Bulgaria of the Vlach dance type known as Sitno Vlasko. Learned from the State Folk Ensemble, Vidin 1970, this dance was taught at the 1998 Stockton Folk Dance Camp by Yves Moreau. The Vlachs are a Romanian-speaking minority […]
Momino Horo (moh-MEE-noh hoh-ROH) is an arrangement by Yves Moreau based on traditional Vlach women’s dance steps from the region of Lom on the Danube in Northwest Bulgaria. Translation: Young women’s dance Music: 2/4 meter Yves Moreau. Taught at Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2013. Dance notes…
This women’s dance is from Trakya in the northwestern part of Turkey, done by immigrants from Macedonia. Presented by Ahmet Luleci at Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2016. Dance notes…
A type of “Krivo” (mixed rhythm) dance from the region of Ihtiman in West Thrace close to the Shope area where such dances are also widespread. The steps are similar to the ones found in such forms as Petrunino Horo, Cone Milo tedo and Jove. The tune used here is […]
Sitna Baluca (SEET-nah bah-LOO-tsah) or “a little meddling” acknowledges the cultural influences from Serbia and Romania on such dances, which are common in NW Bulgaria. Yves Moreau learned the dance in Novo Selo, February, 1970 and taught it at S.F. Kolo 2006, Mendocino Folklore Camp 2007, and Stockton Folk Dance […]
Louisiana Saturday Night (USA) performed for fun & entertainment at the 2013 Pasadena Earth & Arts Festival. Courtesy http://PasadenaFolkDanceCoop.org.
France Bourque-Moreau and Yves Moreau teach the Taiwanese dance, High Green Mountain, at the 2013 Salt Spring Island Folk Dance Festival. This is an excerpt from the festival DVD. Dance to recorded music begins at 6:13.
Taught by Yves Moreau
Macedonian Dance choreographed and taught by Yves Moreau. The music is similar to Paraliokos.
Choreographer: Yuval Tabashi 2018 Composer: Antashi Friadman Singer: Levy Falkowitz Taught by Aaron Alpert at the 2020 virtual Stockton Folk Dance Camp
Imate Li Vino (EE-mah-teh lee VEE-noh) is a popular song from the Strumica region of Eastern Macedonia and is usually sung in succession with other melodies in the same 7/8 meter. The dance, presented by Atanas Kolarovski at the 1982 University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp, is lyrical, elegant […]