Verna Druzhina returns to Herman Sons Hall at 860 Western Avenue in Petaluma on Saturday, April 18, playing their great blend of Bulgarian and Macedonian dance music. This is Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers annual folk dance party; drinks and snacks will be provided by the group. There will be dancing to recorded favorites, old and new, from 8-9:15 p.m., and then live music until 11 p.m. The members of Verna Druzhina are: Dena Bjornlie on gadulka and vocals, Karen Guggenheim on gajda, Mark Jenkins on percussion and vocals, and Jim Oakden on tambura and accordion. Hope to see you all on the dance floor!

 I'm just back from Jerusalem, where I took an Israeli dance class with teacher Maly Cohen. Chaya Glasser, who used to take classes with Ruth Gundelfinger, helped me find my way to the class. I learned several great new dances that I'll be teaching within the next month, including one that is danced to a Passover song (Song of the Sea).

Classes in Petaluma continue on Mondays nights 7-9:15 p.m. New class sessions will be starting at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes the last week in April: ongoing folk dance class Wednesdays 7-8:15 p.m., ballroom dance (salsa, swing, waltz) Tuesdays 6-7 p.m., and a new folk dance class for beginners Wednesdays 6-7 p.m.