New class sessions start in Point Reyes this week, including a new beginning folk dance class on Wednesdays 6-7 p.m. I'll be teaching basic steps, rhythms, patterns, and dances from around the world that will get you started dancing. The ongoing/intermediate class will resume on Wednesdays 7-8:15 p.m. with a great variety of fun, lively, and challenging dances including Adama V'Shamayim (which I learned when I was in Jerusalem) and Dvasti Tristi (a lovely Bulgarian dance taught at the 2008 Kolo Festival by Jaap Leegwater).

Monday night classes in Petaluma continue through May 4; we'll be reviewing the lively Israeli dance Salamati, and ending the session on May 4 with our usual class party and celebration. Summer dancing will start on June 8 and continue through August 10.

Ruth Gundelfinger's 80th birthday will be celebrated with a big party (and dancing, of course!) this Saturday from 4:30 p.m. on at Cafe Shalom, 1399 3rd Street, San Francisco. Ruth has taught Israeli folk dancing in the Bay Area since 1960. She started Cafe Shalom in 1969 and has taught on Thursday mornings at the JCC in San Rafael since 1996. She is one of the loveliest and most graceful dancers I have ever seen, and knows more Israeli dances than anyone I know. I hope you'll join me this Saturday, April 25, in honoring Ruth.

In Petaluma, we'll continue to learn the great Israeli dance Salamati as well as a new Rumanian dance, Hora Lui Serban. Classes in Point Reyes will start up again next Wednesday, April 29; beginning class 6-7 p.m., intermediate class 7-8:15 p.m.

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. 

Don't miss Brazz Menazeri at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes on Friday, March 28, 8 p.m. Brass Menazeri is the Bay Area's premier Balkan brass band, specializing in the high energy music of Serbian Rom bands as well as the Greek and Macedonian border region. They combine new sensibilities, innovative arrangements, and original compositions with traditional Balkan repertoire - and the music will definitely get you up and dancing! I'll be offering a basic dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. (cocek, les noto, tsamikos). For tickets and directions, you can click on the link to the Dance Palace on this blog.

Wednesday, March 25, will be the last Point Reyes folk dance class in the current session. Next session will start on April 29. Classes in Petaluma continue as always on Monday evenings 7-9:15 p.m. during this time, but note that there will be no class on April 6. I'll be off dancing in Israel during the first two weeks of April, and hope to come back with a new dance or two when I return to class on April 13.

In Petaluma, we'll continue to learn Gjusevska Rucenica in preparation for dancing it at the March 28 Balkan Party in San Rafael. The name means "little handerkerchief dance from Gjusevo." Yves Moreau learned the dance in Bulgaria, and introduced it to the U.S. in the late 1960's. The village of Gjusevo is in a high mountain region near the Yugoslav border, within the Sop ethnographic region. The rhythm is 7/16 (quick-quick-slow), and the styling is firm, sharp, and upright.

In the Point Reyes class, we'll be finishing up the last two classes of this session by reviewing and dancing Esmer (from Turkey), plus two lovely one-pattern dances from Greece: Mavramatia and Zagarisios. Mavramatia means "dark eyes", and is from Grecian Thrace - an interesting contrast to Targovskata.

This week we'll be learning a new Turkish dance called Esmer, and continuing to dance and review Talima, a Bulgarian dance from the Dobruzha region. Video and music for both dances can be found at the Dunav website; there's a link to this wonderful folk dance site below.

Coming up this weekend: Marilyn Smith's folk dance party on Friday, March 13, 8 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Veteran's Building. The evening will feature live music by Turlu. This ensemble features musicians from other well-known world music ensembles including Kitka, Anoush, Westwind, and Trarnce Mission. Turlu means "mixture" or "melange in Turkish. The group includes percussionist Nuri Bal, violinist/vocalist Leslie Bonnett, accordionist Hudi Brenman, clarinetist Michael Matthews, and Shea Comfort on clarinet, duduk, kaval, laouto, and shvi.

This week we'll be going to Turkey to learn a new dance called Damat Halayi, which was another favorite from the Festival of the Oaks. If you'd like to take a look at the dance, go to YouTube where there are numerous versions ranging from schoolkids dancing to a costumed performance to what looks like a drunken version recorded on cell phone at a party.

For those of you who like to swing dance, be sure to make it to the Western Saloon on Highway One in downtown Point Reyes on Friday, May 6, 9 p.m., to hear (and dance to) the Eldon Leonard Band - the group features Bolinas local Tom Williard on drums.