Monday, December 24, 2007

Holiday best wishes and upcoming folk dance events

Received from Mady - in addition to her addition to Harry's list of folk dances meeting this week, note that we'll be dancing at Argonne Friday, Dec. 28, in addition to the New Years Day party

Hi,

I thought I'd pass on the message from Evanston Monday Night Dancing below, listing upcoming area events this next week, and add that we'll meet for International Folk Dancing at Fermilab as usual, on Thursday,Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m at Fermilab's Barn. No charge as always.

I also wanted to give you advance notice that

Lee Otterholt

will give a workshop at Fermilab

on Balkan and Norwegian dances

Thursday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.

Kuhn Barn in Fermilab's Village

Sauk Blvd, off of Batavia Road, near Rt. 59 in Warrenville

$5

Best wishes for a merry celebrations at this festive season,
and for a New Year full of good times and great dancing,

Mady

----------------------------------------

Here is Harry Solomon's helpful list, with Fermilab IFD added :

Evanston Monday Night Dancing

not meeting December 24 or 31

Dancing resumes January 7

Wednesday, December 26

Skokie Folkdancing with Dit Olshan

Weber Fitness Center, Church St. at Gross Point, Skokie

8:00 to 10:15 PM - $5

Thursday, December 27

Fermilab International Folk Dancing

Kuhn Barn in Fermilab's Village, near Warrenville

7:30 – 10:30 p.m. no charge

Friday, December 28

Ethnic Dance Chicago with Paul Collins

Portage Park Arts Center, 3914 N Menard, Chicago

8:00 to 12:00 PM - $5

Friday, December 28

Milwaukee Holiday Party with Pranza Flasa Orchestra

Hart Park, 7300 West Chestnut, Wauwatosa, WI

7:30 to 10:30 PM - $5

Monday, December 31

Racine "Scarves & Shawls" New Years Eve Party

Dekoven Center , 600 21st Street, Racine, WI

8 PM to 1 AM - $7

Tuesday, January 1

Argonne "Dance in the New Year" Pot Luck

St. Paul's UCC, 5739 Dunham Rd, Downers Grove, IL

1 to 6 PM – Dish to share (otherwise free!)

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Madison Folk Ball - Jan 25-27, 2008

E-mail from Michael attached below; Here's a link to the Folk Ball website, for later reference (currently, it comes up mostly for 2007, but it does give the dates for 2008).

Warmest Wishes and Greetings of the Season to you and all the dancefolk thereabouts! I've just finished clearing paths of show and ice for the third or fourth time in short sequence, though I understand the Chicago area has been struggling with even more serious challenges. It is starting to look a lot like Christmas...

My apologies for being even further behind than usual this year in festival planning and preparation. Here is what's ready for publication at the moment:

Live music dance parties in Great Hall both Friday (8:00-midnight) and Saturday (7:30-1:00am);
Friday night contra in Tripp Commons 7:30-11:00.
Survivors Party Sunday night at the Crossing (1127 University Ave.) 8:00-11:00.
The Featured Teacher Creatures will be Lee Otterholt and Sani Rifati, other instructors TBA.
Performing groups will include Viata Romaneasca of Milwaukee; other performing groups TBA.
Dance bands will include Yid Vicious (Madison), Maritza (Iowa), Reptile Palace Orchestra (Madison), Izvor (Milwaukee), Cajun Strangers (Madison); hopefully Sloboda (Milw.) and Orkestar Bez Ime (Twin Cities), others as well.
Tri Bratovchedki will offer a singing workshop, probably in collaboration with others.

Sincere thanks for your help in spreading the word on Folk Ball!
Your comrade,
Michael

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Jan'08 - Moiseyev in Chicago, Le Mystere in Milwaukee

Symphony Center Presents Moiseyev Russian Dance Company
Tuesday January 29, 2008, 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Center

(Note: the next link plays sound clips as soon as you click on it, so be careful)
Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares
(The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices)
Fri., Jan. 18, 2008
The Pabst Theater
144 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Sue Van Wassenhove Publishes Everglades Book of Poetry

Sue & Joe VW used to dance with us at Argonne & Fermilab in the late '80s and early '90s, and have been back to visit once in a while since then. Here's a link to an article about Sue's new book of poetry and photos of gorgeous quilts representing creatures and plantlife she saw in the Everglades. The book will be available in Feb '08, and is available for pre-order, according to the Borders/Amazon website .

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Mathematics of Square Dancing - Chgo Tribune Dec10'07

This article in the Chicago Tribune
is about a class at North Central College in Naperville, called the Mathematics of Square Dancing. There's also this video on the Trib website. Short quote from the article:

"It's math in motion -- you're walking through mathematics and would have no idea you're working with concepts that most college math majors don't study until their fourth year," says math professor David Schmitz, describing square dancing as "solving a Rubik's Cube."

St. Louis Olde Christmas Ball - Sat., Jan 5th, 2008

The St. Louis English Country Dancers will present their annual Olde Christmas Ball on Saturday, January 5th, 2008, at the Focal Point Arts Center, 2720 S. Sutton Blvd. in Maplewood, an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis. The ball will take place from 7:30 - 10:30 pm; fancy dress (YOUR definition) admired but not required.
Click here for more info.

Friday, December 7, 2007

EMNFD: 12/17 Out of the Woodwork Party

Received from Harry:

Call all your old folkdance friends!

Bring them back for the gala Evanston Monday Night

Out of the Woodwork
H
oliday Party !

Monday, December 17

Lake Street Church of Evanston – Lake St and Chicago Ave
enter from courtyard – 7:30-10:30pm

always $5

bring festive treats to share

freewill donation to support the homeless shelter at the church

Remember:

December 24 and 31 - no dancing

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

English country Christmas Ball, 12/15, Urbana, IL

The Central Illinois English Country Dancers
Present An

E N G L I S H C O U N T R Y D A N C E
C H R I S T M A S B A L L

The Central Illinois English Country Dancers will be holding their
thirteenth annual Christmas Ball on Saturday, December 15, 2007. The
dance will be held in room 314 of the Illini Student Union, 1401 W.
Green, Urbana, IL, on the campus of the University of Illinois.

Click here for more info

Saturday, December 1, 2007

A new reason not to dance "Car Wash"

Here are some links to the news story that a couple of people were talking about at dancing last night:

Syracuse Post-Standard story, which begins:

Nightmare at the dentist’s office

Friday, November 02, 2007
By Sue Weibezahl Porter
Staff writer

A dentist at Syracuse Community Health Center, dancing to the song “Car Wash” while he was extracting a patient’s tooth, lost the inch-long drill bit, which punctured her sinus cavity and came to rest by her eye socket, according to her lawsuit.



WCBS video and WCBS print story

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Fermilab dancing - Friday at the Barn, at the Museum of Science and Industry and others

Received from Mady:

Hi,
Just realized I got the time wrong for English country dancing at Fermilab on Dec. 2. (Thanks, Tammy!)
Just for that date, we're going to dance from 1 to 4 p.m. that day because of the RSCDS annual general meeting taking place at 6 p.m. that evening.

Hi and Happy Thanksgiving,

I just thought I'd send a reminder that Fermilab international folk dancing will hold a dance party on Friday, Nov. 23, at the usual time , 7:30 p.m. at the Barn. Come and dance off that Thanksgiving feast!!

Fermilab dancers will be participating in performances at the Museum of Science and Industry's Christmas Around the World/Holidays of Light Festival on

Sunday, Nov. 25, 2:45 p.m. for Welsh dancing with the Cambrian Benevolent Society

and on Saturday, Dec. 15, for Scottish country dancing with the RSCDS Chicago Branch.

Check out http://www.msichicago.org/temp_exhibit/catw/performances.html for the full schedule of performances.

The Loch Mich dancers *do* plan to dance on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. at their new location the Bethany United Church of Christ, 4250 North Paulina, Chicago.

English country dancing will take place at Fermilab on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2 to 5 p.m., with no potluck that day, as we resume the first Sunday of the month schedule.

If you're looking for other dancing this weekend, Evanston International Folk Dancing will hold a Post Turkey Potluck Dinner and Party, 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Lake Street Church of Evanston, $2 + dish to share (to serve 6-8 people;vegetarian items encouraged).

Have a happy and safe holiday. Hope to see you dancing soon.

Mady

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Mazowsze Polish State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble Nov 17-18

Symphony Center Presents Mazowsze

Polish State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble

Saturday November 17, 2007, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday November 18, 2007, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday November 18, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

EMNFD: Party Saturday Night after Thanksgiving (11/24/07)

Dear Folk dance leader:

Well, we’re doing it – hosting a Saturday night dance party! (Perhaps not the best weekend, and it’s a late notice, but it’s happening.) We would very much appreciate it if you would forward the party information to your members / email list. And send us a list of dance requests if you are coming – we’ll try to program as many as possible!

- Judy & Harry


POST TURKEY FOLK DANCE PARTY

AND

POTLUCK DINNER

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH 6:30 TO 10:30 P.M.

Sorry for the late notice – Bring the relatives

LAKE STREET CHURCH OF EVANSTON

Corner of Lake Street and Chicago Ave

enter through the courtyard

$2 admission plus a dish to share

and a dance request!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Folk Fair, free concerts, upcoming events

  • Mady says: " Fermilab International Folk Dancing will be meeting not on Thursday 11/22 which is Thanksgiving, but on FRIDAY, 11/23. Come dance off those extra calories!" -- so, even though we won't be dancing in Downers Grove that Friday, you can travel a bit further west and still do some dancing, if you want. She also sent information about a free concert this weekend, and the Milwaukee Folk Fair next weekend, see next items:
  • Kálmán Balogh & The Gypsy Cimbalom Band Perform at CCC Saturday, November 10, 2 pm
    Claudia Cassidy Theater, Chicago Cultural Center - Free

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Nov/Dec schedule and New Years Day Party

We will not be dancing in Downers Grove on Friday, Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving.
We will be dancing Nov. 9, 16, 30 and all Fridays in December.
And, we will be holding our traditional New Years Day party, see below for details.
Since attendance has been above the break-even point this year, we've got enough to cover the rent for the New Years party, so we're not asking for any admission other than a potluck dish to share.

Argonne International Folk Dance
New Years Day Party

Date: Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Time: 1:00pm-6:00pm,
potluck meal around 3:00pm
Place: St. Paul's UCC Fellowship Hall
Address: 5739 Dunham Rd.,
Downers Grove, IL
Req. Donation: Potluck dish to share



 

Friday, November 2, 2007

Moiseyev, centenarians and folk dance

Here's a link to an Associated Press story in the International Herald Tribune:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/02/europe/EU-GEN-Russia-Obit-Moiseyev.php

Which says, in part:

The Associated Press Published: November 2, 2007

MOSCOW: Igor Moiseyev, who transformed folk dance into a legitimate genre of choreographic art that won worldwide acclaim, died Friday in Moscow. He was 101...

Moiseyev, called the king of folk dance, attracted the West to Russian culture at a time of deep political hostility and won standing ovations around the world.



And, on the subject of dance and centenarians, here's a story about the oldest alumnus of Jay's alma mater, RPI, which says, again in part:

Oldest RPI alumnus is dead at age 105
Albany native Isadore "Izzy" Warshaw danced with college president...

If it wasn't for that pastime, he may have reached 106.

Warshaw was dancing to a klezmer band that played Tuesday nights at his senior living community when he fell and broke his hip. That was Aug. 7.

The doctor offered him a choice.

He could risk surgery or leave it alone. He chose surgery. He made it through the operation, but his heart gave out afterward.

"It's like a book," Jeff Schanz, RPI's director of alumni relations, said of the dance-floor ending. "It's a remarkable end to a great life."

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Ways to read this blog (or any blog)

Updates (1) This blog is now also accessible as http://feeds.feedburner.com/argonneifd
and (2) Thanks to Feedburner, I added another widget for subscribing more easily, in the reader of your choice. (Feedburner was apparently acquired by Google, which now offers a number of its services for free, along with Blogger, also owned by Google.)

Original post:

You can, of course, just go directly to http://argonneifd.blogspot.com/ when you want to see if anything new has been posted lately. But, there are several ways that you can check quickly and/or be automatically notified when there's a new post:

(1) I've added a new widget to the blog page (top left) that allows you to subscribe by entering your e-mail address and clicking the "Subscribe" button, so that you receive any new posts in your e-mail inbox, if you don't already have too much bacn to deal with already and like to get e-mail. The widget is powered by SendMeRSS . There are other services that also allow you to provide your e-mail address and the address of any site (such as a blog) that has an RSS feed, and will monitor the feed and e-mail you when something new shows up. Another one is RssFwd .

(2) If you use the Mozilla Firefox web browser, you can set a Live Bookmark - click on either the
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) at the bottom of the blog page, or the orange & white icon in the Firefox address bar.
(3) If you use Internet Explorer version 7 or later, you can set a Feed, similar to the Firefox live bookmark.


(4) You can add the RSS feed to your my.yahoo, Google Reader, or other feed reader, if you have one, or want to set one up (they're free). As above with Firefox Live bookmarks, click on the orange icon or the
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) at the bottom of the blog page, but pick your feed reader from the drop-down menu, instead of picking Live Bookmark.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

NPR: Dancing All the Dances as Long as I Can by R. Fulghum

Heard this on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday this morning, in their "This I Believe" segment, and thought folks might appreciate it:

Dancing All the Dances as Long as I Can, by Robert Fulghum

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Various upcoming events around the midwest

We've received notices of a number of events around Chicago, Milwaukee, and even further afield in the next couple of months:

  • Subject: NOv 14 Oak Park IFD B'day party dance
Do save the date, Nov 14, the week before Thanksgiving, for our annual Birthday Party. This will be # 27. We'd love to have you celebrate with us.

Happy Dancing
Edie


  • Subject: upcoming Balkan/Eastern European Music events
October 26 Yuri Yunakov & Gypsy Wedding Band, Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln, Chicago

November 3 7th Anniversary Serbian TV Celebration, Holy Resurrection Cathredral Hall, Chicago, IL

November 9 Spiritual Sounds of Central Asia: A Musical Tour through Six Countries, Symphony Center,
220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago

November 25 Goran Alacki, Macedonian accordion virtuoso, and Adriana Alacka, famed singer
SS Kiril & Metodij Orthodox Church, 91st & Route 83, Clarendon Hills, IL

December 8 Ensemble Balkanske Igre performs dance and music of the Balkans and Eastern Europe,
Jefferson Park Branch, Chicago Public Library.

Advance Notice

January 2008 Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares, world-renowned, Emmy-winning choir from Bulgaria
place TBA

January 2008 Moiseyev, granddaddy of the Eastern European folk dance and music ensembles, from Moscow.


  • Subject: 10/09/2007 Ethnic Dance Chicago - Midwest Dance/Music News Update – Yuri Yunakov in the Midwest & Other Stuff
***********************************************************
#2 – Yuri Yunakov in Twin Cities – Saturday October 27, 2007
***********************************************************
The Yuri Yunakov Ensemble at Cedar Cultural Center in Mineapolis, MN,
Saturday Night, 8:00pm, The Yuri Yunakov Ensemble at Cedar Cultural
Center, 416 Cedar Ave. So, Minneapolis, MN 55454
The creativity and dizzying energy of Bulgaria's and Macedonia's
so-called "wedding music" is simultaneously shocking and delightful. It
is one of the most exciting world music sounds today and this ensemble
is the only group performing it in America.
Cedar ticket line: (612)-338-2674 ext 2, $12 advance, $15 day of show,
http://www.thecedar.org/

***********************************************************
#3 – Yuri Yunakov in Milwaukee – Sunday October 28, 2007
***********************************************************
The Yuri Yunakov Ensemble in Milwaukee, WI, Concert - 7:00pm,
UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts Recital Hall, 2400 E. Kenwood Blvd,
Milwaukee, WI, Followed by music and dance at MOCT- 240 E. Pittsburgh,
Milwaukee, WI

Romani (Gypsy) saxophone virtuoso, Yuri Yunakov , will perform a concert
with his ensemble at the UWM Peck School of the Arts Recital Hall on
Sunday, October 28th at 7:00pm. Milwaukee will be the last stop on
Yunakov’s 22-city tour of the U.S sponsored by Voice of Roma’s Romani
Routes project. Concert tickets are $12 general, $10 students and may
be purchased in advance through the UWM Box Office (phone 414-229-4308).

The club Moct (240 E. Pittsburgh) will hold an after-party with hors
d’oeuvres and drink specials for concert-goers (with ticket stub). f

Info: yuritour@gmail.com
Announcement: www.ethincdance.net/downloads/yy.poster.pdf


***********************************************************
#4 – Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee – Nov 16-18, 2007
***********************************************************
Milwaukee Holiday Folk Fair Weekend, State Fairgrounds
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A world of cultures and customs are united in peaceful solidarity to be
felt, listened to and tasted through a variety of honored family
recipes, artifacts, ethnic music and spirited folk dances at the Holiday
Folk Fair International. Live performances featuring dynamic African
drums, Russian balalaikas, the colorful Ukrainian national hopak dance,
the Scottish fling and the vibrant Spanish flamencos. An assortment of
time honored recipes passed down through generations will introduce you
to distinct and extraordinary flavors that will certainly awaken your
taste buds. Centuries of skilled artisans from distant lands have
created characteristic treasures to be on display for a distinguishing
shopping experience. Whether you enjoy upbeat rhythms or temperate calm
melodies, bands such as the Steve Meisner Band, Izvor, Melkmeisters and
Johnny Hoffman will certainly move you. Listen and dance to music of
diverse styles, from the Serbian kolo to the Viennese waltz.

WI, Folk Fair Hotline at (414)-225-6225, or (800)-FAIR-INTL,
(800)-324-7468, iiw@execpc.com, http://www.folkfair.org


***********************************************************
#5 – Romanian Couple Dance Workshop in St Louis – Nov 16-18, 2007
***********************************************************
Romanian Couple Dance Workshop with Christian Florescu & Sonia Dion in
St Louis.
http://www.stlouisfolkdance.org, Info: Nancy/Rex Couture,
(314)-275-8228, couture3@primary.netInfo: Barbara/John Uhlemann,
(314)-726-5838, buhlemann@aol.com


***********************************************************
#6 – Macedonian Musicians in Chicago Area – Nov 25, 2007
***********************************************************
Goran Alacki (Macedonian accordion) and Adriana Alacka (Macedonian
singer), Sts.Kiril i Metodij, Macedonian Orthodox Church, 10 S. 330
Route 83, Hinsdale, IL 60527, (630) 654-0016, info@svkirilimetodij.com

Road construction on Dunham, south of church

If you come to folk dancing at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove from the south via Dunham, you may need to find an alternate route the next few weeks:
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:58:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rose

Hi Linda,

Looks like Dunham in Downers Grove is going to be
worked on and maybe closed through October 31 between
59th Street and 63rd Street. Anyone coming from the
south will need to know this. I'll have to go up to
55th Street and come down, which will make my trip
seven and a half minutes instead of six.

Rose

Monday, October 1, 2007

Macy's Day of Music - Symphony Center - Sat., Oct. 13 2007

The 11th annual free music marathon is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 13 2pm-10pm, and includes a number of performances of possible interest to international/world music fans (plus all sorts of other music)
- Golosa Univ. of Chicago Russian Choir
- Soloists from the Lira Singers
- Chicago Klezmer Ensemble
- Diego Alonso and Chiara Mangiameli
- Perla de México

and many others - including one called Mucca Pazza, billed as "Chicago's own circus punk marching band" - don't know anything about them, but it caught my attention...complete schedule is here

Illini Folk Dance Society Spring 2008 Fest - March 14-16 '08

Received from IFDS in Champaign/Urbana - feel free to post your thoughts & suggestions as comments on this blog post, I'll forward them along.
Hello Folk Dancers,

Folk dancers from around the country joined us in March 2007 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Illini Folk Dance Society (IFDS), bringing a new and welcome dimension to Champaign-Urbana's annual English/American Dance and Music Weekend, and convincing us to add a folk dance track to our 2008 program!

Our 2008 Dance Weekend (March 14th-16th) will again be held at the Illini Union on the U of Illinois campus. In addition to open/request folk dancing Friday and Saturday evenings, we'd like to schedule 5-7 International dance workshops and culture sessions.

PLEASE let us know your thoughts on this? Please also send us names and contact information for out-of-town/out-of-state folk dancers who might be ready, willing, and able to lead worskhops for us? We need your recommendations!

Many thanks,
Your March 2008 Weekend Organizers

Friday, September 28, 2007

Time and the Sacred: A Photo Exhibit of Pance Velkov - UofC

From: John Kuo
To: balkanske_igre@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: [ceeres] "Time and the Sacred" photographs opening at Rockefeller this Friday


Dear Friends,


Information about the exhibition ofphotographs of sacred sites in Macedonia
opening this Friday at the RockafellarChapel at the University of Chicago in
the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. It is about 2 blocks west of the
International House where we hold ourannual Spring Festival. It is also
where Ensemble Balkanske Igre alumnusWylie Crawford is the Chief Carilloneur.

Please forward to whoever may be interested. Thanks.


Regards,

John Kuo

----- Forwarded by JohnKuo

To
ceeres mailing list
cc

Subject
[ceeres] "Time and the Sacred "photographs opening at Rockefeller this Friday


All are welcome to the opening reception of Time andthe Sacred: A Photo
Exhibit of Pance Velkov on Friday, Sept. 28 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. The exhibit features photos taken byDr.
Velkov of Orthodox Christian and Muslim sacred sites and endangered
frescoes in Macedonia dating back to the 11th Century.

The photographer will be on hand to discuss his work and will speak on
"Photographing Heritage: Art or Documentation. "

Rockefeller Chapel
5860 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL

Light refreshments will be served.

The exhibit at the Rockefeller contains 30 images of the 37 in the
collection, and will be on display from now until Dec. 24, 2007, open
daily from 8am-4pm.

The remaning 7 images are continued in a special exhibit at the
Regenstein Library on The University of Chicago campus. These are
viewable on the second floor as part of the Slavic & and East European
Collection.

--
Jeremy C. Pinkham
Outreach Coordinator
University of Chicago Center for East European and Russian/Eurasian Studies
5835 S. Kimbark Ave., Judd Hall 321
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-0875
http://ceeres.uchicago.edu

Evanston Monday Night Dancers - October events

From:Harry
Subject:EMNFD: October in-cider information

Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers announce

Lovely autumn evenings –

a great time to dance!

Join us for apple* cider every week in October

Check out the newly remodeled bathrooms

Hey, don’t forget to wash your hands!



Lake Street Church of Evanston – Lake St and Chicago Ave
enter from courtyard – 7:30-10:30pm

always $5 !

first timers free !



Save the date:

October 29 : Pre-Halloween Fall Frolic



*in honor of using Apple iTunes to run the dances from our new computer

Roo's Scandi class Sunday Sept. 30 and ongoing (updated)

Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:54:44 EDT
From: DancingRoo@aol.com

Chicagoland Scandinavian Turning Dance Classes Autumn 2007

Our class will meet:

Sept 30
Oct 7
Nov 11 & 18
Dec 2 & 9

Classes begin at 6 pm at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church in Downers
Grove, located on Higland off of 41st Street.

Contact Roo Lester 630-985-7192 for more information.

Note, no partner necessary, every one is welcome. Wear hard soled
shoes for dancing.

Please call in advance if you plan to attend.

Looking forward to dancing with you.


If you do not wish to receive announcements, please let me know and I
will remove you from the list. Thank you.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Back from Oconomowoc, see you Friday in Downers Grove

Updated 9/19/2017 - removed broken photobucket links, replaced with youtube playlist.
We're back from Oconomowoc, where a good time was had by all. We picked up several nice dances, and will be reviewing them this Friday & in the coming weeks. I took some video clips, and have uploaded them to my free photobucket.com account - I'm going to try to link them here, we'll see how it goes (haven't tried doing video on the blog before).

Saturday morning, Dit, Edie & Jay taught 2 dances apiece (see list in photo), and in the afternoon they each taught one "pattern"-type dance (Dit & Edie taught Scottish set dances, "Robertson's Rant" and "Dundee Whaler", and Jay taught an Alsatian couple mixer "La Salamandre".

Here goes with the video - note that I only take short clips, mostly from behind the line, just for reminders of the pattern (simpler and more accurate than taking notes) - these aren't videos of the teaching or the whole dance start-to-finish:

Monday, September 3, 2007

Chicago Celtic Festival Sept. 15-16 2007


Yet another event you might be interested in if you're not headed up to Oconomowoc camp the weekend of Sept. 14-16 (remember, no dancing in Downers Grove Fri. 9/14!): the Chicago Celtic Fest

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Susan in the Trib

Susan was quoted in this Aug. 30 story in the Chicago Tribune:

Peck Farm Park: This charming 395-acre preserve was created in 1998 from the estate of George and Erdene Peck. In addition to outdoor gardens, nature trails and more, Peck Farm features a butterfly exhibit that houses some 300 butterflies during the summer months. Whether you want to visit for a day or volunteer for the summer, the butterfly house is a breathtaking break from blacktop. Susan Jensen, butterfly house coordinator, calls it "a wondrous place to hang out." The best time to come is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and be sure to look for the brilliant blue back of the Pipevine Swallowtail, Jensen's favorite. Peck Farm Park, 38W199 Kaneville Rd., Geneva; 630-262-8244, www.genevaparks.org/peckfarm.

Vasa Park Scandinavian Day, Elgin, Sept. 9 2007

The 28th annual Scandinavian Day is next weekend:

Scandinavian Day Festival-28th Annual

Monday, August 27, 2007

EDC Live Music Balkan Dance Fri. Sept. 14

We aren't going to be dancing in Downers Grove Sept. 14, but here's an alternative, if you're not headed for Oconomowoc:

ETHNIC DANCE CHICAGO

Dancing As A Second Language

News Release

In conjunction with Chicago's World Music Festival, Ethnic Dance Chicago
presents a Live Music Balkan Dance
Party with two Balkan dance/music bands:

- Chris Bajmakovich & Muzika 4 U with Ljupco Milenkovski (Macedonian & Bulgarian), and
- T-Rroma (Croatian, Serbian & other)

When:
-Friday, September 14, 2007
- 7:00pm to midnite (or later)
- 7:00pm-8:00pm - Balkan Dance Lesson to live music
taught by Paul Collins of Ethnic Dance Chicago
- 8:00 until ­ Balkan Dance Party with live music

Where:
- Chicago Lavtian Cultural Center, 4146 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL
60618, (NW corner, entrance on Hamlin)

Cost:
- $12.00 ­ general admission
- $8.00 - full-time students & kids under 12

Further Information:
- Paul Collins
- Tel: (773)-463-2288
- Email: info@ethnicdance.net
- Website: www.ethnicdance.net/special_event


About the Artists

Chris Bajmakovich & Muzika 4 U (Highland, IN)
Chris Bajmakovich is a Macedonian-American, whose parents are from Bitola and
Ohrid, began studying music at
the age of five and continued formal music training for the next twelve years.
His main instrument is accordion,
though he is also well-versed on tarabuka (doumbek) and other drums, clarinet
and singing. Chris plays
professionally with his band Muzika 4 U for many different functions, primarily
for the Macedonian and Serbian
communities in the Chicagoland area as well as in Detroit, Indiana and Ohio. He
also teaches accordion privately,
and has been featured on several recordings, including two of his own. Chris
excels as a vocalist, accordionist
and as a composer, having written the incredibly emotive song, "Rakija i
cigari", that drives Balkan audiences crazy.
He was part of Ilija Ampevski's critically acclaimed ensemble which wowed the
audience at the 2004 Chicago World
Music Festival and is in demand around the US.

Ljupco Milenkovski (Merrilville, IN)
Ljupco Milenkovski originally from Dracevo, Macedonia, moved to the U.S. in
1985. He made and learned to play
his first wooden flute at the age of 10 years old. By the time he was 14, he
had started playing kaval (open-ended
flute) with the famed Macedonian musician, Mile Kolarov. About two years after
he started playing kaval, he also
started learning to play the gajde (bagpipe) from his father, Andreja
Milenkovski. Between 1977 and 1985, Ljupco
played traditional Macedonian dance music with Mile and other musicians for the
"Kitke" Dance Ensemble in
Dracevo. In recent years, Ljupco has taught himself to play the clarinet and
saxaphone. He plays some of the more
Macedonian and Southeastern European music with several ensembles in the
Chicagoland & Northern Indiana areas
including his own ensemble, "Sar Planina". Ljupco lives with his wife Linda and
their two children, Andres and
Dionaa in Merrillville, Indiana.

T-Rroma (Joe Kirin, Lyons, IL)
An energetic quintet performing Eastern European gypsy music, T-Rroma
(Tamburitza Rroma) takes the audience on
a jubilant journey with their strings and Slavic voices. Born out of the 2001
World Music Festival, T-Rroma made its
debut at HotHouse in May 2002 and have delighted audiences with their fresh
approach to traditional folk music
ever since. Although T-Roma, is based in the Chicago area, its musical roots and
its fan base spread far beyond that
city's boundaries. Its repertoire, which includes original as well as folk and
modern compositions, is as rich and
diverse as the culture of the Gypsy (or the preferred "Rom"), from which it
takes its name. At every performance,
therefore, T-Rroma takes its audience on a compelling worldwide journey that
stretches from the Balkans to South
America, punctuated from start to finish by everything from hushed and haunting
ballads to powerful, pulsating Latin
rhythms.

Paul Collins (Ethnic Dance Chicago, Chicago, IL)
Paul Collins has danced since the age of eight and has been an ethnic folk dance
leader & square/contra dance caller
since high school in the mid 1960's. Paul has been a guest caller at dances from
the North Country to the Deep South
and has even called squares and taught folk dancing for the hearing impaired at
Galledet University in Washington.
DC. Between 1966 and 1979, Paul led the University of Chicago Folk Dance Club
and introduced squares and
contras into the group's repertoire. After directing the U of C Folk Dancers'
Annual Fall "International Folk Festival"
for twelve years, in 1980 Paul joined Gerhard Bernhard in producing the DCFF and
two years later became co-
director. In 1989, Paul and Bill Sasso started the Mid-North Folk Dance Club
that has today evolved into Ethnic
Dance Chicago. Paul has also presented dance programs for kids in Midwest area
schools, tutoring programs and
scouting organizations. In the world outside of dance, Paul is an independent
management consultant for web-based
collaboration, interpersonal communications, group facilitation and personal
network development and is a co-
founder and director of the Midwest Facilitators' Network. Paul is also a
student in Northwestern University's
Leadership and Organization Behavior Program.
_________________________________________________________________
EDC c/o Jordan-Webb - 2656 W Montrose Ave - Suite 110 - Chicago,
Illinois 60618 - (773)-463-2288
pcollins@ethnicdance.net -
www.ethnicdance.net

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Madison World Music Festival -- Sept. 13-15

Just received from Michael K. in Madison:
http://www.union.wisc.edu/worldmusic/
From: "Michael Kuharski"
To:
Subject: Madison World Music Festival -- Sept. 13-15 !
Date: Saturday, August 25, 2007 2:50:31 PM
Dear Friends ~
The amazing Madison World Music Festival continues to surpass itself and invites you to share the experience! I am sending a quick sketch of this outstanding FREE festival to you early because I really feel it could be worth making time or taking a little road trip to be part of the scene. We all consider that sort of effort once in a while for performers we know will thrill us. This gathering of a dozen great groups offers more -- come for the ones that call out to you and then be swept away by others you had no idea existed. This really works, and the festival has quickly become an eagerly anticipated high point of Madison's lively music calendar. More later, but for now here is the plan as we have it. Enjoy!
Michael Kuharski
Madison World Music Festival



Artist Date Time Venue Rain
Margaret Beissinger Lecture 9/13 4pm Tripp
Ismail Lumanovski Lecture/demo 9/13 6pm PlayCircle
Ilgi (Latvia) 9/13 7pm Terrace GH 7pm
NY Gypsy All-Stars (Turkey, Macedonia,Greek and Balkan) 9/13 9pm Terrace GH 9pm




Margaret Beissinger Lecture 9/14 12noon Ingraham
Chirgilchin Workshop 9/14 3pm PlayCircle
Huong Thanh (Vietnam) 9/14 5:30pm Terrace WUT 5:30pm
Dragon Knights (Stilt Walkers) 9/14 7 & 9:15 Terrace
Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) 9/14 7:45pm Terrace WUT 7:45pm
Romano Drom (Hungary) 9/14 10pm Terrace WUT 10pm
Chirgilchin (Tuva) 9/14 6:30pm Theater MH 6:30pm
Haale (Iran) 9/14 9pm Theater MH 9pm




Romano Drom Workshop 9/15 11am PlayCircle
Dragon Knights (Stilt Walkers) 9/15 5 & 7:15 Terrace
Estrella Acosta (Cuba) 9/15 5:45pm Terrace WUT 5:45pm
Dhoad Gypsies (Rajasthan) 9/15 8pm Terrace MH 7pm
Louis Mhlanga (Zimbabwe) 9/15 10pm Terrace WUT 10pm
Rodriguez/El Medioni (Cuba/Algeria) 9/15 7pm Theater WUT 8pm
Gerard Edery Trio (Sephardic Jewish) 9/15 9:30pm Theater MH 9:30pm
Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast) 9/15 3:45pm Willy St Fair ?? ??
Rain Locations:
GH=Great Hall
WUT=Wisconsin Union Theater
MH=Music Hall
Times and stages are subject to change -- any updates promptly shown at: