So You Think You Can't Dance...

I can’t tell you how times I’ve heard this from folks who find out I teach folk dance: I can’t dance. I’m really bad at dancing. I’m left-footed. I have no sense of rhythm. My (fill in the blank: wife, partner, friend, PE teacher, mother…) refuses to dance with me.

I beg to differ. I fully believe everyone can dance. I fully believe that everyone can bring joy and fun into their lives through dancing.

How?

Well, the first thing you have to do is stop telling yourself you can’t dance. The words you say, whether out loud or just in your head, are powerful. Telling yourself you can’t dance is the primary thing that’s keeping you from dancing.

Next, find a dance class that is warm, welcoming, and open to newcomers and beginners. And look for a teacher who works actively to integrate newcomers and beginners into the class.

Note that, in my experience, 75% of adults can’t tell their right foot from their left – so you’re in good company. Here’s the trick: when you are in a dance circle facing in standard line of direction (counter-clockwise for the most part, except for those pesky French and Croatians who go the other way), your right foot will be on the outside (and your left foot on the inside).

Then you need to relax. Relax your shoulders and your arms and your knees. Try to feel the rhythm through the hands you are holding. Listen to the music.

Note that there is no rule of dance etiquette that you’re supposed to go the end of the line. In fact, it’s much better for you to find two friendly experienced dancers and stand between them - because one of the very best ways to learn is by letting your fellow dancers help you. And know that different people learn at different paces; some will learn a dance immediately; others will need more time to figure it out.

Every single one of us, beginners to experienced dancers (including me!), makes mistakes – it’s not a sin in folk dancing. No need to feel embarrassed: just laugh, shrug it off, never say oops, and keep moving with the dance circle and the musical beat.

So go out, start dancing, and join in the fun – I promise it will make you a better, happier person.

Staro Vino Rocked the House!

We partied in Petaluma on April 6, dancing to old and new recorded favorites followed by fabulous live Balkan music by Staro Vino!

Peter Bonos on Trumpet, Greg Jenkins on clarinet, Andrew Cohen on accordion, and Mark Jenkins on percussion

Eve O'Rouke leading a Thracian Racenica:

Steve Ayala leading a Pravo:

Monday night folk dancing continues through May 6 (no class April 29), then starts up again for summer dancing June 3-August 5. Come dance with us!

Going Greek this Month

This month in Petaluma I'm focusing on teaching Greek dances that illustrate the breadth of different styles and rhythms from four regions in the small country of Greece:

• Chaniotikos is a lively and fun Cretan syrto that I learned when I was at a dance seminar on the island of Ikaria, from a teacher from Crete who was very specific about styling.
• Zagorisios is a wonderful dance in 9/8 rhythm (QQQS) from Epirus.
• Sofka is danced in Greek Macedonia, in northern Greece.
• Dipat (sometimes spelled Dhipat) is a beautiful, hypnotic Pontic dance in 9/8 rhythm (QQQS), danced very close together in a closed circle.
• I learned the last three dances when I was at a dance seminar in the town of Prespa, in Greek Macedonia. 

And just to mix it up, next month I'll be teaching two Israeli folk dance favorites: Darkenu (Gadi Bitton, 2002) and Liya (Moshe Eskayo, 2007).

Come dance! You can drop-in any time for International Folk Dance on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Hermann Sons Hall,m 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma or Israeli Folk Dance on Thursdays 1:30-4 p.m., Osher Marin JCC, 200 N, San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Beginners and newcomers are always welcome.

Start the New Year Dancing!

You've partied and indulged and eaten holiday treats - now's the perfect time to plan your dancing routine for 2019. Dancing is great fun, great exercise, and great community. Here's my schedule for classes in the new year:

• International Folk Dancing in Petaluma: Mondays, 7-9:15 p.m., January 7-May 6 (no class April 22) at Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma; $85 for the 17-week session, or $7 drop-in.
• International Folk Dance Class at College of Marin: Wednesdays 2:10-3:30 p.m., February 6-March 6 & April 3-May 8, at PE#60, Kentfield Campus, College of Marin; $68 per 6-week session; register in advance at 415-484-9305 or https://marincommunityed.augusoft.net
• Israeli Folk Dance Class: Thursdays, 1:30-4 p.m., January 3-February 14 (no class January 24), February 21-March 28, & April 4-May 16 (no class May 9) at the 2nd floor Pilates Studio, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael; $30 members, $40 non-members per session or $8/$10 drop-in

Newcomers, beginning to advanced are always welcome; no partner is necessary. Please feel free to contact me at cjay@horizoncable.com if you have questions.

I hope to see you on the dance floor in 2019!

Bulgarika Ensemble Rocks the House!

It’s party time in Petaluma! Bulgarika Ensemble played for our dancing pleasure on October 22. Musicians Donka Koleva, Nicolai Koleva, Stoyan Kostov, and Michael Ginsburg regaled us with fabulous music including a beautiful version of Zapevela Sojka Ptica featuring Michael on trumpet and a wild Shopkska Racenica that started out deceptively slowly and then pushed our dancing limits.  

All photos by George Wiltshire

Coming up next month on Monday, December 10, 7-9:30 p.m., we’re very pleased to host Peter Bonos and Friends, a 5-member band including musicians from Staro Vino and Fanfare Zambaleta, at our Annual Holiday Folk Dance Party. Come dance with us at Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma!

Party Season in Petaluma

You're invited to two fabulous folk dance parties at Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma!

• Special Folk Dance Party with the four master musicians of Bulgarika Ensemble on Monday, October 22, 7-9:30 p.m.

• Annual Petaluma Holiday Folk Dance Party with live music by Peter Bonos and Friends on Monday, December 10, 7-9:30 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to come dance and/or just listen to the fabulous music. Admission is $12, and includes refreshments.

Fall 2018 Folk Dancing!

Lots of opportunities to folk dance this fall:

Petaluma Folk Dancing on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Webster, Petaluma will start up on September 10 through December 10. I'll be teaching some fun new dances including Repasseado, a Portuguese dance from the Bal Folk dance scene in Europe; Kukuneshte, a Bulgarian dance I learned from Petr Ileuv this summer; and Zimuska, a lovely Russian dance choreographed by Hennie Kings. The evening always starts with a special beginner lesson at 7 p.m., followed by an intermediate/advanced lesson, and then dancing to requests. The dances are fun, great exercise, and danced to a wonderful assortment of world music. 

My College of Marin International Folk Dance class at the Kentfield campus will have two fall sessions on Wednesdays 2:10-3:30 p.m.: August 19 to October 10 (no class September 19) and October 24 to December 5 (no class November 21). For this class, you need to register in advance at https://marincommunityed.augusoft.net or by calling 415-495-9305.

Israeli Folk Dancing on Thursdays, 1:30-4 p.m., at the Osher Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road, will have two fall sessions: September 6-October 11 and October 18-November 29 (no class November 21). I'll be teaching Mamri'im, Al Gemali, Lev Patuach, and lots more. You don't have to be a JCC member (or Jewish) to attend the class. The first hour I'll teach easy beginning/intermediate dances, followed by an intermediate/advanced lesson, and then dancing to requests. You can come just for the first hour or stay for the whole class.

All the classes are a great way to get started, return to, or just keep on folk dancing in a friendly, energetic, and welcoming environment. Everyone is welcome - all ages, newcomers, beginners to advanced dancers, and no partner is necessary.