The spring session of Monday night folk dancing in Petaluma continues through May 3. During the next two weeks, I will be reviewing all the dances I've taught this session:

• Valle Pogonishte, Moj Maro Moj Marine -- Albania
• Papuri - Armenia
• Sandansko Horo, Bucimis, Trite Pati, Dzangurica - Bulgaria
• Lo Brisa Pe - France
• Sfarlis - Greece
• Erev Shel Shoshanim, Klezmer, Hashoshana Parochat, Bat Teiman - Israel
• Cimpoi, Rustemul, Hora Fetelor, Hora Lautarilor - Rumania
• Djurdevka, Pljeskavac Kolo- Serbia
• Ordu, Oropa - Turkey

The last Petaluma class on May 3 will be our traditional end-of-session party. I will teach a 5-week session in Point Reyes on Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m. from May 19-June 12. Summer Dancing in Petaluma will start on June 7 and continue through August 9.

New three-week class sessions will be starting up in Point Reyes on Wednesday, April 7-21. From 6-7 p.m., I'll be teaching Salsa - basic rhythms, simple moves, leading and following techniques. From 7:15-8:30 p.m., the focus will be dances from Bulgaria, Rumania, and Serbia (including both a Thracian and Shope racenica, U Cest, and Rustemul). Beginners and newcomers are always welcome; no need to come with a partner.

Monday night classes continue in Petaluma through May 3. In the next few weeks, I'll be teaching Bat Teiman (Israel) and Dzangurica (Bulgaria), and reviewing all the dances we've learned this session. Drop-ins are always welcome.

And I hope to see you all at our annual Petaluma Folk Dance Party on Saturday, April 10, 8-11 p.m. at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma. The first hour will be dancing to old and new recorded favorites; after that, there will be wonderful live Balkan music with Verna Druzhina.

We're learning Valle Pogonishte in both Point Reyes and Petaluma. This is a dance to Albanian music, choreographed by Yves Moreau (a wonderful folk dance teacher who primarily focuses on Bulgarian dance). The dance is based on the traditional Albanian pogonishte step - very much like a Greek sta dyo, in SQQ rhythm, but with a lighter and bouncier style.

There has been much discussion recently in Let's Dance magazine about the value of dancing choreographed dances versus traditional classic dances (though the distinction between one and the other is often subjective). My focus in teaching is find dances that I love, done to wonderful music, whether they be absolutely traditional or not. This dance is indeed choreographed, to great music, and it's wonderfully fun to do.

We are currently learning four dances from Rumania: Rustemul, Cimpoi, Hora Fetelor, and Hora Lautarilor.

Rustemul ("Rustem style") and Cimpoi ("Bagpipe") are Rustem dances from southern Rumania; these line dances are in 5/8 rhythm (QS) and featuring low swinging arms, crossing steps, and galloping.

Hora Fetelor ("Girls' Dance") and Hora Lautarilor ("Fiddlers' Dance") are Hora dances. These large circle dances in 4/4 rhythm are found in many variations throughout the country; they feature walking, leaps, stamps, and grapevine steps and frequently move first to the right and then to the left.

Bucimis and Sandansko Horo are both classic Bulgarian dances with wonderfully complex rhythms.

Bucimis is a Thracian dance from the Pazardzik region of central Bulgaria. Dance styling is low and flat footed, with small steps and a constant bounce. The rhythm is 15/16 (QQQQSQQ) - four quick beats followed by a standard shirto (SQQ) rhythm.

Sandansko Horo is from the town of Sandanski in the Pirin (Macedonian) region located in the southeast corner of Bulgaria. The knees have a slight bend, the upper body is erect, steps are small and light. The rhythm is 22/16 (QQQSQQQSQQ) - two standard daichovo (QQQS) phrases followed by two quick beats.

These are challenging, quirky, driving rhythms - fast and relentless, but so very fun and exciting to dance!

Happy new year!

Folk dance classes will start up again in the new year at Herman Sons Hall in Petaluma on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., January 11-May 3 (no class March 29) and at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes on Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m., January 13-February 17. Ballroom dance classes are scheduled for Wednesdays 6-7 p.m., at the Dance Palace; the first session January 13-February 17 will focus on salsa, cha cha, and rumba.

Folk dances taught this session will include a few more from Turkey (Ordu, Oropa), a couple learned from Yves Moreau at the 2009 Kolo Festival (Pravo Cepalarkso Oro, Proletni Buenek, Zensko Zapansko), some classics that it would be nice to put back into the repertoire (Bucimis, Sandansko Oro, Kokice, Hora Fetelor, Vidinsko Oro, Zensko Pousteno Oro), and a couple of my favorite Israeli dances (Eilat, Bat Teiman, She'Keshe'Navo).

The beginning of the new year is a great time to start dancing! Bring your friends and come join us. Beginners, newcomers, drop-ins, intermediate/advanced dancers are all welcome, and no partner is necessary.

There will be two more weeks of folk dance classes in Point Reyes and Petaluma before we take a break for the holidays. We'll be reviewing the dances that have been taught throughout the fall: Agir Halay, Atabari, Bat Teiman, Bucimis, Gudi, Keje, Koritsa, Narino, Yeni Hamam, Zensko Pousteno Oro (Point Reyes): Atabari, Cicovata, Gruchkoto, Gudi, Hora de Langesti, Keje, Koritsa, Perdhika, Pravo Ceplarsko Horo, Troirou, Tsamiko Variation, Tzel Midbar, Zervothexios (Petaluma). You can view videos of many of these dances (plus a short video of some wonderful spontaneous street dancing from my trip to Turkey) by going to the Dance Videos section of the blog. The last class in Petaluma on December 14 will be our annual class party, with drinks and snacks.

Classes will start up again in the new year at Herman Sons Hall in Petaluma scheduled on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., January 11-May 3 (no class March 29) and at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes on Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m., January 13-February 17.