I've been teaching these wonderful dances I learned while I was in Greece:

• Sofka: This lively, flowing dance is from Greek Macedonia.
• Zaramo: Every festival I went to on my trip featured this simple dance from Greek Macedonia, with a basic pattern in 2/4 rhythm and lots of variations called by the leader.
• Hora Samson: This popular Pontic dance is done in the classic flat-footed style with double bounces that travel up through the shoulders.
• Paiduska: Greece has a whole tradition of paidusko-style dances in 5/8 rhythm; this one, from Thrace, has an unusual 11-measure phrasing.
• Dipat: Dances from many regions of Greece are done in 9/8 rhythm; this one is Pontic, with a three-measure phrase, and is wonderfully hypnotic.
• Pontic Halay: The beautiful song for this simple, very slow halay talks about how the Pontic people were exiled from their homes by the Black Sea, and how they yearn to return.
• Zagarios: This dance from Epirus is done in 9/8 rhythm.
• Tsamiko Konitsa: This beautiful, flowing six-measure tsamiko in 3/4 rhythm is also from Epirus. 

You can click on and watch great versions of Dipat, Tsamiko Konitsa, and Sofka in the Dance Videos section of this blog.

I'm just back from a folk dance trip to Greece and Albania - and excited about teaching some of the many dances I learned while I was there. Dances to be taught include Zaramo, one of the most common dances done in Greek Macedonia; a beautiful Greek Pontic Halay; and a lovely Tsamiko from Konitsa.

Here's a photo of our group performing at a glendi in Limno Chori in Greece:

And a photo of a wedding party dancing in the streets in Korca, Albania:

International folk dance classes will be starting up after Labor Day:

• Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., September 12-December 12, Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue Petaluma
• Wednesdays 7-8:15 p.m., September 7-October 5, Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes

I'll also be teaching a new daytime line dance class at the Dance Palace on Fridays 9-10 a.m., September 16-October 7.

Hope to see you all on the dance floor!

Summer folk dancing in Petaluma continues on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma, through August 1. The fall session will start up on September 12 and run through December 12. Every evening will include with a short beginner lesson at 7 p.m., teaching of 2-3 intermediate dances, and lots of dancing to requests plus old and new favorites.

International folk dance classes on Wednesdays 7-8:15 p.m. at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes, will start up on September 7 through October 5. I'll be teaching line dancing at a new morning time on Fridays 9-10 a.m. starting September 16.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I look forward to seeing you all on the dance floor in the fall!

Check out the video of the flash mob I did with my Point Reyes line dance class at the Point Reyes Farmers Market on June 25:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK4Av6LaY9k

Dance: Russian Rumba

Choreographer: Carol Friedman 2011

Music: Malen'ky Malchik by Leningrad

New line dance class session at the Dance Palace on Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m. runs from July 6-20. Summer Dancing in Petaluma on Mondays 7-8:15 p.m. at Herman Sons Hall goes through August 1. Hope to see you all on the dance floor!

Check out the new line dance I've choreographed, called Russian Rumba:

http://www.rgb3d.com/IMGP5577.AVI

Music is by the Ukrainian band Leningrad, from the soundtrack to the movie Everything is Illuminated. I'm also teaching a basic Zydeco Shuffle, Pata Pata (music by Miriam Makeba), Hine Mah Tov 2 (music by the Miami Boys' Choir), and another new one of mine called I've Got News (music by Johnnie Otis). Line classes are at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes, Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m.; newcomers and beginners are always welcome. We've also got a special surprise event planned for June 25 - stay tuned!

New line dancing class starts on June 8! Class is Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m. at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes.  I'll be teaching some Country Western and Israeli classics, the Zydeco Shuffle, the classic Pata Pata, plus some brand-new line dances I  have choreographed. Great fun, great exercise, great music - all ages welcome, and no partner is required. Stay tuned for a special surprise line dance event in the works...

Summer folk dancing (no instruction, just requests and favorites) will return on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., June 6-August 1, at Herman Sons Hall in Petaluma.

Join us for an evening of Turkish food and dance at Afendi's Turkish Grill, 299 N. McDowell Street, Petaluma, on Monday, May 16, 6-8:30 p.m.

Summer dancing in Petaluma will start on June 6 and run through August 1 (no dancing on July 4), Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Herman Sons Hall. No instruction during the summer, just dancing to old and new favorites. Bring your requests, or email them to me at cjay@horizoncable.com.

International folk dance class in Point Reyes continues through June 1 (no class May 16). After that, I'll be offering two 3-week sessions of line dancing June 8- 22 and July 7-21. I'll be teaching a few Country Western classics, the Zydeco Shuffle, the classic Pata Pata from South Africa - plus debuting several new line dances I have choreographed.