Fun time dancing at the Officers' Ball!

Balkan/International folk dancing continues Herman Son's Hall in Petaluma on Mondays, 7-9 p.m. through December 12 (note: no class on December 5). Current favorites include Kune, Brestacka Racenica, and Nyandolo.

Israeli folk dancing at Marin JCC on Thursdays 1:30-3:30 p.m. runs through December 6. We've been learning Or Veyershalyim, and resurrecting some oldies including Hora Or and David Melech Yisroel. Note that as on January, this class will be moving to Herman Son's Hall (same day, same time.

Wishing you all a happy healthy holiday season, with lots of friends, food, celebration and dancing!

2022 Officers Ball Syllabus

I'm pleased and excited to be a guest teacher again at the 2022 Officers' Ball on Saturday, October 22, 1-10 p.m. I'll be teaching Cicovata (Bulgaria) and introducing Nyandolo (a lovely easy dance to music from Kenya).

Here are the dance notes for you:

Cicovata

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Du0stocXWw

Bulgaria 

 

This dance is a multifigure variation on the dance Cicovoto (or Cicovo), apparently from the Vidin area of North Bulgaria. It was taught by Steve Kotansky based on how the Bulgarian community in the St. Louis Area did the dance. Other versions have been taught by Yves Moreau, Yulian Yordanov and Iliana Bozhanova. I have chosen three variations to teach that I like (there are many others).

 

To R, Facing C, Arms W, 12-count phrases

 

Basic: 

1-6: Step R to R, XLB, R, XLF, R, XLB (6-step grapevine)

7-8: Step R to R, tch L

9-12: To L: Step L, together R, step L, tch R

 

Variation #1 – Lift step

1-6: Step R to R, XLB, R, XLF, R, XLB (6-step grapevine)

7-8: Lift R circling to step LB

9-12: To L: Step L, XRF, step L, tch R

 

Variation #2 – Back & Front

1-4 Step R to R, XLB, R, XLF

4-12: Step RF, L in place, RB, L in place; repeat all

 

Variation #3 – Around the world

1-4: Step R to R, XLB, R, XLF

5-8: Lift XRF to L, step R, step LB, step RB

9-12: Lift step XLB, step R, step L

 

Nyandolo

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwopjqGMH88

Kenya 

Taught by France Borque-Moreau, who learned it from Michel Hepp in Germany. The song is sung in the Kisa language by Ayub Ogada.

 

4/4 rhythm

Arms: V

Closed circle

Intro: 8 bars; start with singing

 

Face C, to R:

Sway R to R

Sway L to L

Sway R to R

Close L next to R

 

Questions or more information:

Carol Friedman: cjay@horizoncable.com

415-663-9512

 

Workshop with Jaap Leegwater

 We had a fabulous time dancing with Bulgarian dance teacher Jaap Leegwater in Petaluma on August 8!  He taught Sapil Dobri and Staro Erkecko, danced Mari Mariko with us, and thrilled us by playing his flute for Melnik.

Looking forward to dancing with you all again at Hermann Son's Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma, on Mondays 7-9 p.m. starting August 12. Israeli folk dancing at the Osher JCC in San Rafael on Thursdays 1:30-3:30 p.m. will resume on September 8.

We are thrilled and excited to host a special workshop with Jaap Leegwater at Hermann Son’s Hall in Petaluma on August 8. Jaap is a folk dance legend; he introduced so many Balkan dance classics -  including Karamfil, Sedi Donka, Melnik, and Vlasko Horo. We plan to add more to our repertoire after the workshop.

The fall session of Balkan/International dancing at Hermann Son’s Hall in Petaluma on will start up on Mondays, September 12 from 7-9 p.m. and continue through November 28. Newcomers and beginners are always welcome. Note that we are continuing to wear masks for safety, by mutual consent, and require proof of vaccination.

Israeli folk dance classes at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center in San Rafael are scheduled for Thursdays 1:30-3:30 p.m. from September 8-October 13, and October 27-December 8.  Folks can sign up through the JCC website for a 6-week series, or drop-in when it fits into your schedule. Latest favorites include Ya Raya, Hora Simchat, and Lakum Vel’Amod. In this class as well, we are wearing masks.

I am also having fun choreographing my own dances, and introducing them in my classes. So far, I have created Oiydo mi Novya, a beautiful Sephardic song from Spain, as well as the classic Yiddish workers' solidarity song Ale Brider (using a fabulous version featuring Itzak Perlman with the Klezmatics). More to come...stay tuned!

For those of you who still prefer the safety of Zoom, as well as folks who live too far away to attend my in-person classes, I teach one Balkan/International Zoom class on the third Wednesday of each month from 7-8:15 p.m. 

 

I invite any of you who are looking for more opportunities to dance (whether it be virtual or in person) to contact me at 415-663-9512 or cjay@horizoncable.com.

Summer Dancing 2022

The summer session of Balkan/International dancing at Hermann Son’s Hall in Petaluma on Mondays 7-9 p.m. runs from June 6 to July 25 (no classes on June 20 and July 4). Summer dancing is free-flowing, with lots of requests, along with periodic teaching and reviews when requested. We'll definitely be dancing a few new favorites including Vallja Hayde Merre Furken, Usti Baba, Sofka, and Fado Portugues. We are continuing to wear masks for safety, by mutual consent.

Summer Israeli folk dance classes at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael on Thursdays 1:30-3:30 p.m. are scheduled for June 30 to August 6. Folks can sign up through the JCC website for a 6-week series, or drop-in when it fits into your schedule. Latest favorites include Rokdim Yechefim and Nitzmadnu.

And for those of you who still prefer the safety of Zoom as well as folks who live too far away to attend my in-person classes, I teach one Balkan/International Zoom class on the third Wednesday of each month from 7-8:15 p.m. 

 

I invite any of you who are looking for more opportunities to dance (whether it be virtual or in person) to contact me at 415-663-9512 or cjay@horizoncable.com.

Returning to Dancing in Person

I’m loving holding hands in a circle again. I’m loving dancing with other people again. I’m loving having room to move again. And I’m loving introducing new dances I learned during the pandemic.

I continue to be grateful for Zoom. It was a big leap for me (I hate new technology), but with the help of some knowledgeable and generous dance friends, I did it. It was different. When I taught or reviewed a dance, I couldn’t see people. I had to have my back turned from the screen, so folks could distinguish left from right. I had to dance far enough away from the screen so people could see my feet. It was much harder to balance without holding hands. And it was also much harder to remember dances without that connection, because you feel the dance as much as know it. I had to keep everyone muted so the music works, which meant there was much less easy, casual conversation.

 

But I got to see and teach and dance regularly with my wide circle of dance friends.I had big fun discovering new dances (and re-discovering old ones) through the wide variety of virtual folk dance classes and parties that are happening. I am grateful for that as well, and I continue to participate in Zoom classes and parties regularly.

 

But I’ve really come back home to dancing, and it feels good.

I was honored to be the guest teacher at the Festival of the Oaks in February. This was my first big in-person dance event in more than two years and it was so much fun. I taught five favorites from the year: Alta es la Luna (Sephardic/Greek), Valle Came e Shpeft (Albania), Jerusalema (South Africa), Maleshevsko Horo (Bulgaria) and Vallejo e Dados (Albania).

My Petaluma Balkan/International classes are back on Mondays 7-9 p.m. through May 15 at Hermann Sons Hall in Petaluma.. And Israeli dancing is happening as well at Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael; folks can sign up for 6-week sessions through the JCC.

Only one Zoom session left, and I’m planning to continue doing this because it’s been so much fun connecting with dance friends who live too far away to take my in-person person classes. This Balkan/International Zoom class is scheduled for the third Wednesday of each month from 7-8:15 p.m. 

Hope to see you on the dance floor!