Celebrate April Fool's Day by folk dancing on Monday, April 1, 7-9:15 p.m. at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma! I'll have a few dance surprises for you including a honky tonk version of Dobruzhanska Reka, a Rumanian bunny hop, and a Russian hand jive dance.

During the month of April, we'll continue learning Bicak, a wonderful Bulgarian dance introduced by Yves Moreau, as well as reviewing dances that the band will be playing at our April 13 dance party (including Tropanka, Paidushko, Kopanitsa, and Eleno Mome). I'll also teach Valle e Permetit and Bracno Oro, two lovely Albanian dances.

And don't miss our Annual Spring Folk Dance Party on Saturday, April 13, 8-11 p.m. The evening will feature dancing to old and new recorded favorites, plus live Balkan music by Greg Jenkins, Dena Bjornlie, Lisa Ekstrom, and Mark Jenkins.

Come learn some more wonderful, easy folk dances from around the world at my International Folk Dance Class at College of Marin on Wednesdays 2:10-3:30 p.m., March 27-May 8 (no class April 10). 

The dances are fun, great exercise, and danced to a wonderful assortment of world music.This class is a good way to get started (or to return to) folk dancing in a friendly, energetic and welcoming environment. We'll learn dances from Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, France, and more. 

Course number is 35016EC; cost is $56 for the 6-week session. The class is held at PE#22 on the Kentfield campus. To register, go to: http://www.marin.edu/CommunityEducation/ce-reginfo.html

You can also register by mail (forms available at the Emeritus Center at College of Marin) or I can mail a form to you. I’ll also have registration forms available  at the first class of the new session on March 27.

We've been learning some great dances on Monday nights in Petaluma:

• Pustanka - a lively dance from the Bitola region of Macedonia, in 12/16 rhythm (SQQSQ)
• Agadelcha - a Yemenite-style Israeli dance choreographed by Israel Hakovee in 1979, done to a lovely Shabbat melody
• Kritiki Syrto - a vigorous and fun Cretan syrto variation taught to us by Nadav Nur
• Hora Miresii - a lovely Rumanian women's dance, taught by Gary Anderson
• Troirou - a really fun, arm-swinging Greek circle dance from Boyialiki
• Talima - a two-pattern dance from the Dobrudza region of Bulgaria

Note that videos are posted in the Dance Video section of this blog for Pustanka, Agadelcha, Hora Miresii, Troirou, and Talima.

Coming up this month, I'll be teaching and/or reviewing these dances: Diuzko (Greece), Dipat (Greece), Kolomeyke (Yiddish/Klezmer), Ina Ina (Rumania) and Liljane Mome (Bulgaria).

Beginners and newcomers are always welcome; come join us!

Last night, at our first class of 2013, we danced the Armenian dance Mom Bar in memory of longtime member of Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers Anne Ayala, who passed away on December 20, 2012:

New 2013 folk dance sessions start up in January:

• Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., January 7-May 6, Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma
• Wednesdays 2:10-3:30 p.m., January 30-March 13, College of Marin, PE #22, Kentfield
• Wednesdays 7-8:15 p.m., January 23-February 27, Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes

I'll be teaching new dances and reviewing old favorites including Pustanka (Macedonia), Agadelcha (Israel), Mom Bar (Armenia), Talima (Bulgaria), Paiduskino (Greece) as well as taking time to review basic Balkan party dances (Daichovo, Cetvorno, Triti Puti, Pravo, Syrto, Lesno).

Beginners and newcomers are always welcome! I teach a beginner lesson every week in Petaluma at 7 p.m., and program the evening with easier dances for the first hour; the second hour includes intermediate instruction as well as dancing to more advanced requests and favorites. The College of Marin class is an Emeritus College class with a focus on simple, basic dances anyone can do. 

Note that I will be teaching an Urban Soul Line Dance Workshop on Wednesday, January 23, 7-8 p.m., at the Dance Palace. And mark your calendars now for our Annual Petaluma Spring Holiday Folk Dance Party on Saturday, April 13, 8-11 p.m., at Herman Sons Hall.

We had a great celebrating the third night of Hanukah and dancing at the Annual Petaluma Holiday Folk Dance Party on December 10!

Many thanks to Santa Rosa Vecherinka (Nuri Bal, Barbara Babin, Jim Avera, and Ken Genetti) for the wonderful live music as well as to everyone who brought menorahs, drinks, and snacks.

I hope to see you all when we start our winter/spring session on January 7, running though May 6 - Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma.

Come join Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers for our annual Holiday Folk Dance Party with live music by Santa Rosa Vecherinka!

• When: Monday, December 10, 7-9:30 p.m.
• Where: Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma
• Admission: $7

• Music: 7-8:15 p.m. dancing to recorded favorites; 8:15-9:30 p.m. Bulgarian and Macedonian music by Santa Vecherinka featuring Nuri Bal, percussion; Jim Avera, vocals and gajda, and Barbara Babin, vocals and gadulka.