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.

The final class of the current session of Monday night folk dancing in Petaluma is Monday, May 2, 7-9:15 p.m. We'll celebrate the coming of spring and the session's end with an informal party, dancing to requests and old and new favorites. Summer dancing will start on June 6 and go through August 1.

Folk dance classes in Point Reyes continue on Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m. through June 1 (no class on May 18). We're learning these great dances: Romanalul de la Bolitin and Joc Batranesc (Rumania), Indiske Cocek (Rom), Sedi Donka and Drijanovska Racenica (Bulgaria), and a new line dance I've choreographed to music by the Ukrainian band Leningrad that I'm calling Russian Rumba. In June and July, I'll be offering two 3-week line dance workshops in Point Reyes, introducing more new dances I've choreographed plus teaching a wide variety of line dances from around the world.

And do mark your calendars for another fun night of Turkish food and dancing on Monday, May 16, 6-8:30 p.m., at Afendi's Turkish Grill, 499 N. McDowell, Petaluma.

Monday night folk dancing in Petaluma continues through May 2 as follows:

• April 11 - Teach/review Eilat, Kak Po Logu, Melnik
• April 18 - no class
• April 25 - Review of all the dances taught this session
• May 2 - End of session party
• Summer session - June 6-August 1 (no dancing July 4)

Here's the Point Reyes class schedule:

• April 20-June 2 (no class May 19) - New folk dance session on Wednesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m.
• April 12, May 3 & 17 - Swing & Salsa on Tuesdays 7:15-8:30 p.m.
• New summer line dance classes will be starting in June (featuring new lines dances I have choregraphed to a great variety of music)!

And be sure to come to our Annual Petaluma Folk Dance Party on Saturday, April 16, 8-11 p.m., at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma. The evening features dancing to new and old recorded favorites plus live music by Verna Druzhina.

We've been a 7/8 rhythm roll in class, learning Tik, Laz Bar, Cretan Syrto, Thracian Racenica, and Kyustendilska Racenica. This coming month, I'll be teaching these dances:

• Mardi Gras Mambo: this is a fun one-wall line dance, to music by The Meters, that I recently choreographed.
• Dedo Mili Dedo: this Macedonian dance from the Kumanovo region is in 2/4 meter, with two parts.
• Eilat: this lyrical Israeli dance was choreographed by Shmulik Gov Ari in 1992; the title refers to the southern-most city in Israel.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming annual Petaluma Folk Dance Party on Saturday, April 16, 8-11 p.m., at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma. The evening will include dancing to recorded favorites, plus wonderful live Balkan music with Verna Druzhina.

Here are the dances I'll be teaching in the next month:

• Tesko Velesko: this beautiful Macedonian dance in 12/16 rhythm (SQQSQ) is danced to a song about unrequited love entitled Tri Godini Stana.

• Thracian Racenica: the Thracian version of the racenica, in 7/8 rhythm (QQS), is generally slower and danced with a lower, heavier styling than the Sop version more commonly danced at Bay Area parties.

• Tik: this lively and popular Pontian Greek dance can be done in a variety of rhythms, but most commonly 7/8 (QQS).

• Laz Bar: This is an Armenian fisherman's dance from the Black Sea region, also in 7/8 rhythm; I'll be teaching a lovely, basic village version.

 We'll also be brushing up on all of our Greek dances in preparation for our upcoming dance get-together at Papa's Taverna (5688 Lakeville, Petaluma) on Sunday, March 20 at 4 p.m. 

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.