the New Normal: Dancing in Our Living Rooms

Virtual folk dance classes, virtual folk dance parties, watching videos and dancing along -- this is our new new normal right now.

I am staying in contact with all of my students, checking in to see how they are holding up, and sending three videos a week (Israeli dances for my Israeli class, international/Balkan for my other classes) out each week for folks to dance by themselves, in whatever room is available.

Here are a few links that I have been sharing:
Setnja (Serbia): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxC1e1Q8_Cg
Bavno Oro (Macedonia): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvNMluxewLk
Joc de Leagane (Romania): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNlFSrJqLoM

I have a houseful - my son, daughter-in-law and two grandkids (ages 5 and 2) are living with me right now - so I am usually dancing in a small space in my bedroom. But I'm also having fun learning new dances whenever I can.

Some resources to check out: the Peninsula Folk Dance Council (you can find them on Facebook) is doing virtual folk dance parties - the next one is scheduled for April 11, 3-6 p.m. And the Folk Arts Center of New England is offering Saturday morning classes for the next month (and perhaps more, if the shelter-in-place orders are extended - check this out at http://www.facone.org.

I miss my classes; I miss my students; I miss holding hands in a circle and dancing to all my favorite dances. But I'm dancing as best as I can, by myself, with my grandkids, and with my family. I'm grateful for all the folk dance connections I do have -- and so looking forward to being able to dance with all my folk dance friends again.