So many wonderful dances to learn! During the next month, I'll be teaching these dances in Petaluma:

• Duz Halay - a beautiful 3-part dance from eastern Turkey, taught by Ahmet Luleci
• Ikariotikos - a lively dance done in shoulder hold that I learned and danced at many parties on the island of Ikaria in Greece
• Tresenica - this dance from eastern Serbia, taught by Dennis Boxell, has mixed Rumanian and Serbian styling
• Tri Godini Kate - a sweet Macedonian dance in 2 parts, to lovely music sung by Dragi Spasovski who teaches at Balkan Camp

Swing and Salsa classes continue in Point Reyes on the first and third Tuesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m.; next class is February 1. We'll work on the basic rhythms and steps of both dances, and learn some cool turns. Newcomers and beginners are always welcome.

Monday nights in Petaluma we are learning three new dances:

• Hozanki - a lively Kurdish dance from southeastern Turkey that was taught by Ahmet Luleci at the 2010 Kolo Festival
• Yareach Limon (Lemon Moon) - an Israeli circle dance choregraphed by Kobi Michaeli in 2000
• Cumbia Semana - a one-wall line dance choreographed by Ira Weisburd to a tune from Colombia entitled Fin de Semana, performed by Texas musician Fito Olivares
  

Wednesdays nights in Point Reyes we are learning:

• Adje Jano and Gori Mare from Serbia, Ciuleandra and Joc de Leagane from Rumania, Ikariatikos from Greece, and Zorba which is an Israeli line dance choreographed by Kobi Michaeli to a contemporary version of theme music from the movie Zorba the Greek

Swing & Salsa classes start on Tuesday, January 18, 7:15-8:30 p.m. at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street in Point Reyes. Newcomers, beginners, drop-ins are always welcome at all classes.

Happy new year! This is a great time to make a new year's resolution to start dancing - for fitness and fun. Did you know that:

• Mayo Clinic researchers report that dancing helps to reduce stress, increase energy, improve strength, and increase muscle tone and coordination.
• The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says that dancing lowers your risk of heart disease, decreases blood pressure, and strengthens your bones.
• As an exercise form, dancing is unique because it not only provides the heart-healthy benefits of aerobic exercise - it is also a wonderful social activity that’s just plain fun.

Come join a class: International Folk Dance on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., January 10-May 2, at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue Petaluma and on Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m., January 12-February 16, at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes; Swing & Salsa on the first and third Tuesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m., January 18-May 16, at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes.

A great time was had by all at the Petaluma Snap-Dancers Holiday Dance Party!

Very special thanks to Nuri Bal, Natalie Hicks, Jim Avera, and Barbara Babin of Santa Rosa Vecherinka for the fabulous live music.

You are all invited to an evening of Turkish food and dancing on Monday, December 20, 6-8 p.m., at Afendi's Turkish Grill, 299 North McDowell, Petaluma.

Classes will resume after the holidays -- International Folk Dance at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma, on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. starting January 10-May 2; International Folk Dance at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes, on Wednesdays 7:15-9:30 p.m., January 12-February 16; Swing & Salsa at the Dance Palace on the first and third Tuesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m. starting January 18.

Happy holidays to you all!

You are all invited to come to the Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers Holiday Folk Dance Party on Monday, December 13, 7-9:30 p.m.! The evening will feature dancing to favorite recorded music, as well as live music by Santa Rosa Vecherinka (Nuri Bal, Barbara Babin, Natalie Hicks, and Jim Avera).

During the month of November, I will be teaching Padez Cacak, a lively Serbian dance that Michael Ginsburg led at a Balkan Camp evening party; Iste Hendek, a classic from Turkey; Severnjasko Paidusko, a Paidusko-style dance in three parts; Garoon, from the Armenian-American community; and Hora de Mina, a dance from Rumania done to new music by Les Yeux Noirs.

On December 6 in Petaluma, I will be reviewing all of the dances we have learned this fall. We'll be taking a break after our end-of-the year party for the holidays, resuming classes on January 10 through May 2. Classes in Point Reyes will continue through December 15, and resume in the new year on January 12.

In both the Point Reyes and Petaluma folk dances classes, we are learning Aj Lipo Ti Je, a beautiful Croatian circle dance in front basket hold. The dance was taught by Zeljko Jergan at the Statewide Festival in June. The song is sung while talking to and from a field or party; the lyrics say "it's nice to seed wheat but nicer when you see two in love."

We're also learning two dances from Macedonia (Changulovo and Elerinka), a very aerobic dance taught by Yuli Yordunav at Balkan Camp (Boaliysko Horo), a Rumanian classic (Vulpuita), two Israeli dances (Al Sadenu and Maria), and a lively Serbian cacak that was danced by Michael Ginsburg at a Balkan Camp party (Padez Cacak).

From 7-7:15 p.m. in Petaluma, I am teaching/reviewing one beginning dance from the repertoire each week. So far, I've gone over Setnja, Rumalaj, Vodeno Horo, and Gori Mare. The week of October 18, I'll be teaching the lovely Rumanian Dance, Hora Mare. Beginners and newcomers are always welcome to join both classes.