The Kurdish people live in eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and northwestern Iran (where there is a region called Kurdistan). Their highly rhythmic dances are traditionally done at all festivals including birthdays, circumcisions, weddings, and religious ceremonies. Unlike other neighboring Muslim populations, the dances are generally mixed-gender. They are done in lines, in pinky hold or shoulder hold, with the dancers very close together; the knees are easy, with a regular bouncing that carries through the shoulders. Two of the dances I learned in Turkey that I have been teaching this month - Keje and Gudi - are Kurdish dances. You can click on the Kurdish Dancing/Keje link to the right (under Dance Videos) to view an absolutely wonderful video of a group of teenage girls doing a medley of Kurdish dances.

I've just returned from a two-week folk dance tour of Turkey, which included classes taught by four different Turkish dance teachers. On the border between Europe and the Middle East, Turkey's wide variety of dances reflects its ancient and complicated culture. Each region has its own particular style and rhythm. Bar dances are found in the northeastern region, performed side by side, with different versions for men and women. Horon (meaning "round dance") is typical of the Black Sea coastal area; traditionally done by men dressed in black in 7/16 rhythm, these dances feature very fast and vigorous footwork. Zeybek dances symbolize courage and heroism; done in 9/4 or 9/8 rhythm, they are from the Western Anatolia region. Halay was originally done by men at weddings, in southeastern Turkey, but has become the national dance of Turkey and is danced in many different versions and at many different occasions. Throughout the next month, I'll be teaching several dances I learned on the trip, including Atabari, Keje, Koceri, and Harmandali. The photo in this post is of a class of children learning a dance at their school; we met their teacher, and danced a Halay with them.

Tsamiko is one of the national dances of Greece, done in 3/4 rhythm; the name means "dance of the Chams." The Chams were Albanians who originally landed in the coastal region of Epirus in northwestern Greece. The national anthem of Greece is in Tsamiko rhythm, making it one of the few national anthems in the world that can be danced. Many versions and variations are done throughout Greece; most are the traditional men's Tsamiko that starts stepping to the right with the right foot. If you google Tsamiko on Youtube you will see many wonderful versions ranging from highly professional dance troupes to cell phone videos of parties. The variation I am teaching, which I learned from Joe Graziosi at Balkan Camp, starts crossing over with the left foot.

The rumba originated in Cuba (where it is called bolero-son), and combines the musical traditions of Spanish canción with African rhythms and percussion. The dance became wildly popular in the 1930's, and is the slowest of five competition Latin ballroom dances. Many of the people who played Latin music in the U.S. were Jewish musicians rooted in the Klezmer tradition, including the marvelous pianist Irving Fields; from this evolved a wonderful repertoire of traditional Yiddish songs done in the SQQ rumba rhythm (including My Yiddishe Mama and Shein Vi Di Levone, songs we are dancing to in the ballroom class to learn rumba basics).

In both folk dance classes, we'll be reviewing Cicovata (also known as Vidinska Chichovata). I learned this dance first from Steve Kotansky, and then again this summer at Balkan Camp from Yuli Yordanuv. Yuli called the dance "the pravo of Northwest Bulgaria."

Two dances we're learning in both Point Reyes and Petaluma folk dance classes pose an interesting conundrum: Gruchkoto is from Bulgaria, but moves and feels like a Greek dance while Troirou is a Greek dance with the energy, music, and swinging arms of Bulgaria. You can view a video of Troirou in the sidebar entitled "dance videos."

In the Latin ballroom dance class, we're learning basic Merengue moves. Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic (and is danced as well in the neighboring island of Haiti). A combination of two dances, the African and the French Minuet, it originated in late 1700's. Black slaves saw the ballroom dances in the Big Houses and started mimicking them at their own festivities - but over time, they added a special upbeat provided by the drums. It is possible the name came from the confection made of sugar and egg whites due to the light and frothy character of the dance. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Merengue was very popular not only in the Dominican Republic but throughout the Caribbean and South America.

Time to dance again!

Folk dance classes start up in Point Reyes on September 9 (Wednesdays 7-9:15 p.m.) and in Petaluma on September 14 (Mondays 7-9:15 p.m.). I'll be teaching a mix of new and old dances, many of which I learned at Balkan Music and Dance Camp. Gruchkoto is a Bulgarian dance taught by Yulivan Yordanuv that is very popular all over Bulgaria right now. Gruchkoto means "the Greek one," and the styling is a charming mixture of Greek and Bulgarian elements. Zensko Pousteno Oro is a hypnotic Macedonian dance originally introduced by Pece Atanaovski, with a typically quirky rhythm (SQQQQ or 11/8). Tzel Midbar ("shadow of the desert") is a beautiful, three-part Israeli dance choreographed by Bonnie Piya in 2005.

Ballroom classes in Point Reyes start the week of September 8, with the adult class on Tuesdays 6-7 p.m. and the teen class on Wednesdays 6-7 p.m. In the adult class, we will be focusing on Latin dances: salsa, merengue, and rhumba. In the teen class, I'll be teaching basic waltz, swing, and salsa moves.

Newcomers, and dancers of all levels are always welcome; no partner is necessary (in the ballroom class we will rotate partners so everyone gets a chance to dance).

Summer dancing in Petaluma will be rolling to an end on August 10; come with requests for your favorite dances in the next two weeks on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. Classes in both Petaluma and Point Reyes will resume after Labor Day; I'll be teaching great new folk dances I learned at Balkan Music & Dance Camp.

Fall class schedule:
Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers Folk Dance Class - Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., September 14-December 14, at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma
International Folk Dance Class - Wednesdays 7-8:15 p.m., September 9-October 14 & November 4-December 9, at the Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes
Ballroom Dance Classes at the Dance Palace - For adults, Tuesdays 6-7 p.m., September 8-October 13; For teens, Wednesdays 6-7 p.m., September 9-October 14