Last night, at our first class of 2013, we danced the Armenian dance Mom Bar in memory of longtime member of Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers Anne Ayala, who passed away on December 20, 2012:

New 2013 folk dance sessions start up in January:

• Mondays 7-9:15 p.m., January 7-May 6, Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma
• Wednesdays 2:10-3:30 p.m., January 30-March 13, College of Marin, PE #22, Kentfield
• Wednesdays 7-8:15 p.m., January 23-February 27, Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes

I'll be teaching new dances and reviewing old favorites including Pustanka (Macedonia), Agadelcha (Israel), Mom Bar (Armenia), Talima (Bulgaria), Paiduskino (Greece) as well as taking time to review basic Balkan party dances (Daichovo, Cetvorno, Triti Puti, Pravo, Syrto, Lesno).

Beginners and newcomers are always welcome! I teach a beginner lesson every week in Petaluma at 7 p.m., and program the evening with easier dances for the first hour; the second hour includes intermediate instruction as well as dancing to more advanced requests and favorites. The College of Marin class is an Emeritus College class with a focus on simple, basic dances anyone can do. 

Note that I will be teaching an Urban Soul Line Dance Workshop on Wednesday, January 23, 7-8 p.m., at the Dance Palace. And mark your calendars now for our Annual Petaluma Spring Holiday Folk Dance Party on Saturday, April 13, 8-11 p.m., at Herman Sons Hall.

We had a great celebrating the third night of Hanukah and dancing at the Annual Petaluma Holiday Folk Dance Party on December 10!

Many thanks to Santa Rosa Vecherinka (Nuri Bal, Barbara Babin, Jim Avera, and Ken Genetti) for the wonderful live music as well as to everyone who brought menorahs, drinks, and snacks.

I hope to see you all when we start our winter/spring session on January 7, running though May 6 - Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma.

Come join Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers for our annual Holiday Folk Dance Party with live music by Santa Rosa Vecherinka!

• When: Monday, December 10, 7-9:30 p.m.
• Where: Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma
• Admission: $7

• Music: 7-8:15 p.m. dancing to recorded favorites; 8:15-9:30 p.m. Bulgarian and Macedonian music by Santa Vecherinka featuring Nuri Bal, percussion; Jim Avera, vocals and gajda, and Barbara Babin, vocals and gadulka.

A great time was had by all 
at the International Dance Festival for new Dancers in Petaluma this past Sunday! We had about 120 people attending, many of them newcomers. 


Here are some photos from the event.Thanks go to the California Folk Dance Federation for sponsoring the festival.

Come join Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers and the California Folk Dance Federation for the second annual free International Dance Festival for New Dancers!

• When: Sunday, October 28, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
• Where: Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma
• Admission: Absolute free!
• With North Bay teachers: Marilyn Smith, Carol Friedman, Susie Shoaf, Jill Breslauer, Elsa Bacher, Leanne Schy, Vincent Taylor and Emma Charlebois

I've been teaching some great new dances in Petaluma and Point Reyes:

• Joc in Patru -- a charming two-part Rumanian dance from the region of Transylvania (you can check out the video posted on my blog under "Dance Videos")
• To Milo -- a four-part Greek dance in SQQ rhythm
• Gaida Preshevare -- a Rom dance from Albania in SQQ rhythm that was taught by both Steve Kotansky and Michael Ginsburg, with the classic Macedonian structure of a basic stationary step followed by traveling steps
• Eshebo -- a very popular Yemenite-style Israeli dance choreographed by Bebar Shushan (1991); the title means "beautiful" in Algerian

For beginning dancers, I'm teaching a fun International Folk Dance class at College of Marin on Wednesdays from 2:10-3:30 p.m., and you can sign up for the next session (October 31-December 12) at http://www.marin.edu/CommunityEducation. 

And note that Petaluma Snap-y Dancers and the California Folk Dance Federation will be co-sponsoring a second annual (and completely free) New Dancers Festival on Sunday, October 28, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at Herman Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma.