Going Greek this Month

This month in Petaluma I'm focusing on teaching Greek dances that illustrate the breadth of different styles and rhythms from four regions in the small country of Greece:

• Chaniotikos is a lively and fun Cretan syrto that I learned when I was at a dance seminar on the island of Ikaria, from a teacher from Crete who was very specific about styling.
• Zagorisios is a wonderful dance in 9/8 rhythm (QQQS) from Epirus.
• Sofka is danced in Greek Macedonia, in northern Greece.
• Dipat (sometimes spelled Dhipat) is a beautiful, hypnotic Pontic dance in 9/8 rhythm (QQQS), danced very close together in a closed circle.
• I learned the last three dances when I was at a dance seminar in the town of Prespa, in Greek Macedonia. 

And just to mix it up, next month I'll be teaching two Israeli folk dance favorites: Darkenu (Gadi Bitton, 2002) and Liya (Moshe Eskayo, 2007).

Come dance! You can drop-in any time for International Folk Dance on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Hermann Sons Hall,m 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma or Israeli Folk Dance on Thursdays 1:30-4 p.m., Osher Marin JCC, 200 N, San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Beginners and newcomers are always welcome.