It is with great sadness that I report that John Hagopian died suddenly from a stroke on May 19. John was a stalwart member and leader of Snap-Y Dancers in Petaluma. He danced for years with Carol Hirsh; when I took over teaching the Monday night class, he and his wife Susan gamely volunteered to help out with setup, cleanup, taking money, and general administration. John came just about every Monday, and was there from start to finish. He was a wonderful dancer, and often led some of our favorite dances. Our first evening of summer dancing in Petaluma on June 8 will be dedicated to his memory.

For those of you who like to ballroom dance, don't miss the Tea Dance at the Dance Palace this Saturday, May 30, 4- 7 p.m. There will be wonderful live music by the 20-piece Albany Big Band, elegant refreshments, and - as always - the wonderful dance floor and atmosphere.

I'm focusing on Israeli dances this session in Point Reyes. Adama V'shamayim is a modern Israeli dance, choreographed in 2008 by Gadi Bitton. Kuma Echa is an "old-style" Israeli dance, choreographed in the 1950's by Rivka Shturman. The old-style dances have simpler, more straightforward footwork and patterns; most of them are done in a closed circle, holding hands. Modern dances are extremely complex, with lots of turns and changes of direction; hands are rarely held, and the music can range from Country Western to Arabic to Israeli pop music. Unlike folk dances in the Balkans, all Israeli dances are choreographed; there are a multitude of choreographers and many of the dances can be viewed on Youtube.

The Foxtrot takes its name from its inventor, vaudeville actor Harry Fox. Originally danced to ragtime, it was the most popular social dance in the U.S. through the 1940's. The wonderful husband and wife duo, Irene and Vernon Castle, featured and popularized the dance in their routines. When rock and roll took over in the 1950's, record companies initially labeled the music as foxtrots, notably Bill Haley and the Comets singing "Rock Around the Clock." Like Swing, the Foxtrot rhythm is SSQQ (slow slow quick quick), but with different foot work. I'm teaching Foxtrot in my Tuesday night ballroom dance class, getting everyone ready to dance to the Albany Big Band at the Dance Palace on May 30.

Monday, May 4, 7-9:15 p.m., Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers will celebrate the end of the session with dancing (of course!), drinks, and snacks. Summer dancing will start on June 8 and continue through August 10.

In Point Reyes, the Wednesday night beginning folk dance class is learning basic dances from Bulgaria (Pravo), Greece (Syrto), Macedonia (Les Noto), and Serbia (Setnja). The ongoing class is learning Adama V'Shamayim, a lively Israeli dance whose title means "Earth and Sky." We're also working on numerous Daichovo variations; Daichovo Oro is a Northern Bulgarian dance in 9/8 (QQQS) rhythm. This session, I've also brought back Adje Jano, a wonderful familiar dance from Serbia but with great new modern music, as well as Skopos ti Augis, a lovely dance from Patmos in Greece that is traditionally danced by women at dawn greeting their fishermen husbands as they return home from fishing.

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.