WBEZ 848 story about polka in Chicago

Click here to listen to a story about polka in Chicago.

Free Swing Dance Lessons in Chicago

Saw this item on the Time Out Chicago blog, labeled "Freebie of the week":

Dance instructor Eddie Caplan calls on all hep cats and queens to come out and cut a rug at his new, weekly East Coast Swing Dance Classes at Chief O’Neill’s Pub. Every Wednesday—except Christmas Eve—lessons kick of at 7pm, followed by a night of dancing to big band, jump blues, Vegas Lounge and other classic subgenres. The next installment, on December 31, comes as part of the bar’s New Year’s Eve programming, with a special start time of 8pm. The joint’s sure to be jumpin’ so be there or be square, Daddy-O.
(3471 N Elston Ave, 773-473-5263)

Ingvar Sodal's birthday celebration in Boulder, CO Feb 19-21, 2009

Received from Roo:

The Village Arts Coalition is planning a major birthday
weekend for Ingvar Sodal, whom many of you know, in Boulder, Colorado
the weekend of February 19 - 21, 2009 and you are all cordially
invited!

We are celebrating not only Ingvar's 75th birthday, but also his many
years of dedicated leadership in the efforts of the Village Arts
Coalition, his 40 years of masterful Scandinavian Dance teaching
across the country -- and his love of skiing.

Here is the link to information on the Village Arts Coalition website:

http://www.villageahttp://www.vihttp

On the VAC home page scroll down through the Special Events to our
flyer. Clicking on the 'Additional Information' link will take you to a
detailed schedule for the weekend.

We will try to find housing for out-of-town guests with local skiers
and dancers. Please send an email to Melba at the address provided on
the VAC website to let us know you are coming by January 5, 2009 so
that we can make ski reservations and find housing for as many as
possible.

Let's celebrate together!

Oak Park/River Forest dancing Dec. 17, but not Dec. 24,31

Received from Edie:

Hi Everyone,

We are dancing this Wednesday, Dec. 17.

There will be no dance on Christmas EVe, Dec. 24 or New Years Eve, Dec. 31.

Have a wonderful, safe holiday.

Happy Dancing,

Edie

Hallingspringar workshop w/Roo & Larry in St. Louis Jan 16-17, 2009

International Folk Dance Association of University City (near St. Louis):
Norwegian Couple Dance Workshop on January 16-18, 2009, taught by Roo Lester and Larry Harding with fiddle music by Loretta Kelley, featuring the dance Hallingspringer. See workshop flyer for details.

Fwd: [eefc] Iliana Bozhanova, US tour Jan/Feb 2009

Received from Roo:

Date: December 14, 2008 10:41:55 PM EST
To: eefc@eefc.org
Subject: [eefc] Iliana Bozhanova, US tour Jan/Feb 2009

Details available offline or from your local IFD contact in the following
cities:

07 Jan Columbia MD (meeting in D.C.)
08 Jan Glen Echo MD 
09 Jan Princeton
10-13 January NYC (Boselik)
14 Jan Morristown NJ
17-18 January Eugene OR
21 Jan Las Vegas
22 Jan Lancaster PA
23-25 Jan Harrisburg PA
26 Jan Detroit 
27 Jan Nashville TN
28 Jan Columbus OH
29 Jan Dayton
30 Jan - 2 Feb Seattle
03 Feb Santa Rosa CA
04 Feb Sacramento 
05 Feb San Francisco
06-08 February Laguna Beach
09 February San Diego
10-11 February Los Angeles
12 Feb Chicago/Fermilab
13-15 February St Louis

NPR: Parkinson's Patients Find Grace In Dance

Click here for a link to an NPR story about how dance helps Parkinson's patients

EMNFD: 12/22 Out of the Woodwork!

Received from Harry:

Call all your old folkdance friends!

Bring them back for the gala Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers

“Out of the Woodwork” Holiday Party !

Monday, December 22

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

*EMNFD is not affiliated with Lake Street Church

Other dancing over the holidays:

Friday, December 26

Ethnic Dance Chicago with Paul Collins

S.P.A.C.E., 3433 W Peterson Ave, Chicago

9:00 to 12:00 PM - $5

Monday, December 29

Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers

Hey! That’s US! Yes, we are dancing! 7:30-10:30 PM

Tuesday, December 30

Milwaukee “Jingle all the Way” Holiday Party

Hart Park, 7300 West Chestnut, Wauwatosa, WI

6:30 to 10:15 PM - $5

Wednesday, December 31

Racine “Plaids, stripes & polka dots” New Years Eve Party

Dekoven Center, 600 21st Street, Racine, WI

7 PM to 1 AM - $7

Thursday, January 1

Argonne “Dance in the New Year” Pot Luck

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

1 to 6 PM – $1 + Dish to share

Jutta + the Hi-Dukes, Wheaton Library, Dec 14 2pm

Received from Carlyn:

I happened to be in the Wheaton Library today, and I noticed that the library is hosting a series of free concerts, one of which features Jutta and the Hi-Dukes, Sunday, December 14, 2 pm.  Apparently one needs to pick up tickets at the library for this concert, and dancing probably will not be an option, so I'm not sure if anyone would be interested in this, but I thought I'd pass along the info.

 Click here for more info.

Folk Dance video web site

Something else I ran across in rec.folk-dancing - a pointer to this website with lots of folk dance videos (including some with Jaap Leegwater teaching in California, wearing a Folk Dance Council of Chicago T-shirt):
http://ifdvl.org/videodancelist.shtml

11/15/08 – EDC News Update – New EDC Last Friday Location

Received from Paul:

Message Contents
----------------
#1:        Nov 27 – New Location & Time for EDC Last Friday Meetings
#2:        Dec 22 – Evanston Monday Group Out of the Woodwork Party
#3:        Jan 01 – Argonne Group New Year’s Day Party
#4:        Jan 20 – EDC Excursion – Inauguration Day Dinner/Dance
#5:        Jan 23-25 – 21st Annual Madison Folk Ball Festival
#6:        Mailing List Policies for ethnicdance.net

More detailed info: www.ethnicdance.net/calendar

EDC weekly dance schedule: www.ethnicdance.net/schedule

********************************************************************
#1:        Nov 27 – New Location & Time for EDC Last Friday Meetings
********************************************************************
Fri 11/27/08 – Location Change for Last Fridays

As of Friday November 27 2008, The EDC LAST FRIDAY Location changes

     From: The Portage Park Center of the Arts (NOW CLOSED)
       
     To:   The S.P.A.C.E. Academy and Art Center
           3433 W Peterson Ave - Chicago, IL 60659
           S Side of Peterson (6000N) W of Kimball (3400W)
           Between St Louis (3430 W) & Bernard (3450 W)
           NOTE TIME CHANGE: 9:00pm to Midnite

Directions: www.ethnicdance.net/directions_spacecenter.html

Life magazine folk dance images

I came across a Tribune article about how Google had uploaded LIFE magazine photo archives, so I went there and searched for "folk dancing" - click here for some pretty neat LIFE photos of folk dancing

NPR story: Dance your PhD contest

Click here for an NPR story about scientists dancing their PhD dissertations.
Click here for the youtube videos
Click here for the Science Magazine article "Can Scientists Dance?"

Xmas around the world at Museum of Science & Industry

A number of the events at the Museum of Science and Industry "Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light" are of ethnic/dance interest. Click here for schedule.

Oak Park Wed. night folk dancing new location

Received from Edie:

Subject: New Dance Venue;  100%

Dear Dancers,

We are 100 % now!
We are dancing at:

Christ Episcopal Church
515 Franklin
River Forest, IL

We are starting this Wed. The day before Thanksgiving.

I hope to see you there soon.

Happy Dancing,

Edie

EMNFD: 11/24 Yiddish/Klezmer Dance, 12/22 "Out of the Woodwork" party

Received from Harry:

Monday November 24^th

Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers will host

‘Hopkele’ Klezmer Dance

as part of our usual International Folk Dance program.

Teaching by renowned Yiddish DanceMaster

Steve Weintraub

LIVE music provided by

Kurt Bjorling and members of

Chicago Klezmer Ensemble

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

always $5 !

Save the date:

Monday Dec 22 : Out of the Woodwork Party 7:30-9:30

Tribune historical dance photo gallery

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-081114-dance-craze-photogallery,0,1112207.photogallery

FDCC website moved

Mady sent e-mail with a link to the new location of the FDCC website:
 http://www.geocities.com/fdccpub/
and Chicago Folk Dance Scene:
http://www.fnal.gov/orgs/folkdance/FDScene0809.pdf

Brass Menazeri "Kozarica Kolo"

Boomp3.com

Here are some links to more info about that group and music:
http://soundroots.org/2008/11/mondays-mp3-balkan-dreaming.html
http://cdbaby.com/cd/brassmenazeri2/from/spintheglobe
http://brass.menazeri.com/
http://www.myspace.com/brassmenazeri

Milwaukee Holiday Folk Fair Nov 21 - 23, 2008

2008 Holiday Folk Fair:
 November 21 - 23, 2008 
 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Friday 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 7:00 P

$8.00: in advance

$10.00: at the gate

$8.00: Senior Citizens (62+ with ID) at the gate

FREE: Military Personnel (with military ID)

$8.00: Children (6-12) at the gate

FREE: Children (5 and under): 

Click here for more info

Nov 15 - Evanston Potluck + Intl Folk Dance Party

Nov 19 - Oak Park Folk Dancers 28th Birthday Party

Friday Oct 31 dancing - Halloween

Since Halloween falls on our regular Friday dance night, feel free to come in costume and bring treats on Friday, Oct 31. Feel free to come dressed as usual without treats, too, of course.

EMNFD: October Folkdance Parties

Received from Harry:

Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers announce

Lots of dancing! Lots of parties!

October 20 : Celebrate October birthdays!

 October 27 : Pre-Halloween Party

Dress up!

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

always $5 !

first timers free !

Save the dates:

Saturday Nov 15 : Pot luck dinner and folk dance 6–10:30

Reply to this email if you can help set up at 5:40.

Wednesday Oct 29 : ‘Hopkele’ Klezmer Dance Party 7:30-9:30

Live music, dance instruction by Steve Weintraub

At JRC, 303 Dodge Av, Evanston  $8

Scandinavian Music Concert Oct 19

Received from Roo:

Sunday, 19 October there will be a Swedish Folk Music concert at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church at 7pm. Donation $10.
3910 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Guest musicians Staffan & Lena Jonsson from Bollnäs, Sweden will play for us. The siblings have been playing since before they were born! Their family is very active musically.

Lena & Staffan formed a quintet when in middle school and the group still plays together. They made an excellent recording, now out of print.

Both have studied music their whole lives. They have played in many different groups. Both have sought out higher education in music and folk music traditions after finishing high school.

They are now Riksspelman, a national merit award & honor received for their knowledge and skill playing the music from Hälsingland, the province of Sweden where they come from.

You can look them up on each of their MySpace pages. Lena Jonsson, Staffan Jonsson are their names.

To get to the church from the South:
From Main Street, north of Ogden, the first street is 41st Street. Turn east/right onto 41st (there is a sign for the church below the street sign).
Turn north/left onto Highland Avenue. The church is at the end of the street on the west/left side. There is parking in the small church lot and also across the street in the elementary school lot.

From the North:
Go south on Highland Avenue passing Good Samaritan Hospital. Note-you will see the church on your left just south of Good Sam, but cannot access it from there.
Continue south to 41st Street and turn east/left (there is a sign for the church below the street sign).
Turn north/left onto Highland Avenue. The church is at the end of the street on the west/left side. There is parking in the small church lot and also across the street in the elementary school lot.

Oconomowoc 2008 videos

Updated 9/19/2017: replaced broken photobucket links with youtube playlist

Below are video clips of some of the dances we did at Oconomowoc. Also, with a little help from Google, we found these related videos on the web:
Gadi Biton teaching Adama Veshamayim
Gadi Biton dancing Adama Veshamayim
Sacramento International folk dancers doing Valle Nuseve Nga Korca
Sacramento IFD performing Te Aven Baxtale at California State Fair
Te Aven Baxtale at Stockton Folk Dance Camp
Shania Twain's "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under" music video

Cancellation - Oct 10 Friday dancing in Downers Grove

Many of us will be attending the Oconomowoc weekend Oct 10-12, so we won't be dancing in Downers Grove on Friday Oct 10.

Stone Soup 2008 Photos

Hope you enjoyed Stone Soup - we did! Thanks to all who helped make it a success.

Cancellation - Sept. 26 Friday dancing in Downers Grove

Since we'll be dancing all afternoon Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Stone Soup party, we decided to cancel our Friday evening dancing Friday, Sept. 26.

Stone Soup Party - Sept 27 1pm-6pm Downers Grove

Argonne International Folk Dance Stone Soup Party

Date: Saturday, September 27, 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

More Info: post a comment with your questions


This year, we decided to spend more time dancing and less time cooking during the party, so the soups will be made ahead. If you would like to provide one of the soups, please let us know; otherwise, your potluck dish can be anything that goes with soup: bread, salad, appetizer, side, dessert, beverages, etc. Thanks to the commenter who asked for clarification on that point.

Chicago Celtic Fest Sept. 13-14 Grant Park

Chicago Celtic Fest
Sept. 13-14 2008
Grant Park

Chicago's Taste of Romania Sept 12-14

Chicago’s Taste of Romania

September 12 & 14, 2008

3400-3600 N. California Ave.

10am-10pm

Chicago’s Taste of Romania
773-604-8500


www.chicagostasteofromania.com

Sad News - Malcolm McClure

We were saddened to receive this notice from friends in the Illini Folk Dance Society - many of you may also know Malcolm and Erica from Evanston and other Chicago area folk dance groups and events.

Subject: Saturday, August 30, 2008 - Sad news to pass on...

Dear Friends,
Malcolm McClure died today after a long and courageous battle against cancer. Erica has arranged for burial in his family plot in California and plans a memorial service here in Illinois at a later date.

Chicago World Music Festival Sept 19-25, 2008

September 19 – 25, 2008
various locations
ticket prices vary

Click here for more info

They also have a Myspace page

Here are a couple of the many event listings:

Live on WNUR, 89.3 FM Special broadcast of "Continental Drift" radio program
Friday, September 19, 11am - 2pm
Claudia Cassidy Theater
Ensemble Al-Kindi / Seckou Keita Quartet / Baye Kouyate et les Tougarakes / Richard Hagopian

Bulgarian Images, Film, Music & Dance!
Saturday, September 20, 1pm - 5pm
Claudia Cassidy Theater
A documentary film screening and lecture by photographer Martin Koenig about the exhibition Voices and Images from Bolgaria, 1966-1979, at the Chicago Cultural Center now through September 28. The screening is followed by a Bulgarian dance party hosted by John Kuo with live music by Bulgarian band Kabile.

Zucchini chocolate cake recipe

Here's the recipe for the birthday cake we had last night, by popular request. I clipped it out of some newspaper many years ago, sorry I don't have proper attribution. If you google "zucchini chocolate cake", you can find many variations. Click on the recipe to see it larger.

Fermilab IFD returns to Barn next week; Fox Valley Folk Fest and English dance this weekend

Received from Mady:

Date:Thursday, August 28, 2008 2:17:12 PM

Hi,

Happy end of summer! Time to put away the white shoes and …..

come back to the Barn for dancing!

Fermilab's International Folk Dancing will return to the Barn starting next Thursday, Sept. 4 (tonight we're still in the cooler Auditorium). Hope you'll come out to join us for dances from many lands.

Or, if you want to try English country dancing, our usual Sunday meeting is this week, but in the evening, at 7 p.m., Aug. 31, at Fermilab's Kuhn Village Barn, starting at 7 p.m.

We're holding English country dance exceptionally in the evening because of the Fox Valley Folk Festival, which takes place on Island Park in Geneva during the day both Sunday and Monday (They have a Barn dance there early Sunday evening as well.). On Monday you can enjoy some more English country dancing there in the Pavilion at 3 p.m. with our own new band "Old Fezziwig's Band." I'll also be teaching Scandinavian dance on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m., to the tunes of Chicago Spelmanslag. And there's much more at the Festival to enjoy. You can find out more about the Festival and get schedules for it at www.foxvalleyfolk.com

The Chicago Area Folk Dance Scene update for 2008-9 is out, and will soon (not quite yet) be available online at http://members.aol.com/fdccpub/ or in PDF format at http://www.fnal.gov/orgs/folkdance/. Or let me know and I can email or snail mail you a copy.

Happy dancing!

Mady

Chicago German American Fest Sept 5-7 Lincoln Ave.

German American Fest

September 5-7, 2008

Lincoln, Leland & Western Ave.

Sept. 5: 5-11pm; Sept. 6: 12-11pm; Sept. 7: 12-10pm

847-444-9601

EMNFD: September Special Dances

Received from Harry:

Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers announce

Special events

September 1 Labor Day: Rain Dance

at Wesley & Elinor, a.k.a. Mars & Sanna – 7-10pm (not at church)

Saturday Sept 6: Dancing at the Evanston Farmers’ Market

10:15-11:30 a.m. at Maple & University – Free, see flyer at dancing

Sept 15: Celebrate September birthdays!

Don’t be shy!  Volunteer to help with these events (just reply to this email)

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

always $5

Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers is not affiliated with Lake Street Church

Map to Sept 1 and Sept 6 events

Also coming up:

Friday, Sept 19 - Ethnic Dance Chicago Fall Ball

Part of the Chicago World Music Festival

Two live bands – Kabile Bitov Ensemble (Bulgarian)

and Richard Hagopian Orchestra (Armenian)

8-12 p.m. 4146 N Elston Ave, Chicago $12

And don’t miss this exhibit:

Chicago Cultural Center - through September 28
Martin Koenig: Voices and Images from Bulgaria, 1966-1979

Over 40 years ago, famed dance ethnographer and cultural specialist Martin Koenig embarked on a trip to Bulgaria armed with a letter of introduction from Margaret Mead. In this initial trip and on several subsequent visits, he traveled throughout the country, filming, recording, and photographing the lively yet endangered aspects of a traditional way of life that has since been transformed by modernization.

Fox Valley Folk Festival - Aug 31-Sept1, 2008, Geneva IL

The 32nd Annual

Fox Valley Folk Music
& Storytelling Festival

August 31 & September 1, 2008

Plus on August 30:
Master Classes, Open Mike
& Live Concerts on WFMT-FM

At Island Park, Geneva, IL
40 mi. West of The Chicago Loop

Chicago Ukrainian Festival Aug 23-24

Ukrainian Festival

August 23 & 24, 2008

2500 W. Grand Ave

12pm-10pm

Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
773-772-4500

www.uccaillinois.org

Chgo W. Suburban Italian Festival Aug 21-24 Addison, IL

Chicago's West Suburban Italian Festival

Centennial Park
1776 W. Centennial Place, Addison, IL 60101
On Route 53 South of Lake Street

Thursday, August 21st	5:00PM - 11:00PM
Friday, August 22nd	5:00PM - 11:00PM
Saturday, August 23rd	12:00PM - 11:00PM

General Admission	$7.00
Children 12 and under	FREE
Seniors	$5.00

Chicago Croatian Fest Aug. 15

Croatian Fest

August 15, 2008

2800-2900 S. Princeton

10am-11pm

312-842-1871

Chicago Carifete Aug. 16 Midway Plaisance

Chicago Carifete

August 16, 2008

Midway Plaisance
5900 S. between Cottage Grove & Stony Island

10am-9pm

Chicago Caribbean Carnival Association
773-509-4942

www.chicagocarifete.com

NBC5 feature on Chicago Summerdance

Here's a link to a story (with video) about Summerdance - looks like NBC5 was there for the Hungarian teaching:
http://www.nbc5.com/nbc5next/16749144/detail.html

Balkanske Igre - Aug 9 Nina Kavardjikova special Bulgarian dance workshops

Received (via several forwards) from Balkanske Igre:

From: balkanske igre
Sent: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 01:17:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Chicago: updated info re: Nina Kavardjikova special Bulgarian dance workshops

Dear Friends,


We have the location for the special Nina Kavardjikova Bulgarian dance workshops for this coming Saturday:

What: Special Bulgarian dance workshops with Nina Kavardjikova
Place: Oketo Park Fieldhouse, 8950 Oketo, Morton Grove, IL 60053
Morton Grove is a suburb 16 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
Oketo Park is one and a half blocks north of Demspter and t he first
street west of Harlem Avenue if you are travelling along Dempster
or the fourth street west of Harlem Avenue if you are travelling
along Greenwood)

Date: Saturday, August 9. 2008 (one day only)

Time: 12noon - 1:30pm Special workshop for Ensemble Balkanske Igre
members; gallery open for visitors to watch
Note: space permitting, non-ensemble people
may be able to dance behind the line

1:45 - 3:15pm Bulgarian dance workshop #1

3:30 - 5:00pm Bulgarian dance workshop #2

Prices: $15 for any one session
$25 for any two sessions
$35 for all three sessions


Info: 847-959-9822-Galia
847-331-8742
balkanske_igre@yahoo.com


Please forward to whoever may be interested. Thanks!


Original announcement follows:

Exciting dance news...

Nina Kavadjikova, one of the best and most knowledgeable Bulgarian dancers in the world, will be in the Chicago area next weekend. We are in the proce ss of setting one or more dance workshops for Saturday, August 9, 2008. Nina was formerly a soloist with the Bulgarian National
Folk Ensemble "Trakiya", taught at the prestigious Academy for Music and Dance Arts in Plovdiv (the top level of such institutions in Bulgaria), and much sought after world-wide as one of the finest Bulgarian dancers. Renowned for her exquisitely elegant and dynamic, Nina Kavardjikova is simply the finest Bulgarian woman dancer that we have ever seen. She is also a patient teacher with an excellent command of English. The U.S. and, particularly, the Chicago area, now has a growing pool of former professional dancers from Bulgaria, many of them excellent and active
in leading groups and teaching workshops. However, even among this august group, Nina distinguishes herself in her unparalleled level of talent, experience, and qualifications, both artistic and academic. We believe that as a dancer and teacher, she is simply in a class of her own an d are most excited about this opportunity to work with Nina, who is coming directly from Europe and who will not be teaching any other workshops
elsewhere.

The Bulgarian dance workshops will be aimed at the intermediate to advanced levels with an emphasis on styling. Exact time. place, and exact number of workshops to be determined. However, if there are to be two workshops then the price will be $25 for both or $15 for one. If there are
to be three workshops, then it will be $35 for all three workshops. $25 for any two. and $15 for one workshop. For more information please contact: balkanske_igre@yahoo.com

Buffalo on the Danube 2008 Labor Day International Folk Music & Dance Camp

Received from Roo:

2008 BUFFALO on the DANUBE at TIMBER RIDGE

There's still room at this fabulous weekend: see the details at www.dancingplanetproductions.com/danube.htm

Buffalo on the Danube2008 Labor Day International Folk Music & Dance Camp

Timber Ridge Camp

August 29-September 1, 2008

Folk dancing families for reality TV?

Received this e-mail today - I googled the person who sent it, looks like she is who she says she is, so it's not exactly spam...

From: "Vaia Abatzis"
Subject: ABC Primetime show casting a family of Folk Dancers!
Date: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 3:56:13 PM

ABC Primetime show casting a family of Folk Dancers!

Hi. My name is Vaia Abatzis and I am a casting producer for ABC's hit reality show, "Wife Swap." I am currently holding a national casting call to find fun and outgoing folk dancing enthusiasts along with their family.

I'm looking for people who live to go folk dancing...and love every minute of it! Hopefully their family is involved as well! I'm hoping to find people who are passionate about their hobby, and who feel that they have a lot to teach another family through their own professional and personal experiences.

If you have seen the show, you probably know we pride ourselves on casting a wide array of families...families from all different walks of life who would like the opportunity to educate the viewing audience about their particular parenting philosophy, their beliefs and their way of life.

Families must consist of two parents and at least one child over the age of 5. Families who appear on the show receive a $20,000 honorarium and if you refer a family who appears on our show, you will receive a $1,000 finder's fee PER family.

If you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the moms switch places to experience how another family lives. This is meant to be a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach other ways of life. If you would like more information about the show, go to ABC.com and you will find "Wife Swap" under the primetime listings.

If you are interested, please contact me at work ASAP at 646 747 7943 or please email your phone number to vaia.abatzis@castingrdf.com and I will call you directly.

Feel free to forward this on to anyone you believe would be interested.

Thank You,
Vaia Abatzis

Vaia Abatzis|Casting Producer|Wife Swap
RDF USA| 1790 Broadway| 11th Floor| New York| NY 10019
tel. + 646-747-7943| fax + 212-586-3419
Vaia.Abatzis@castingrdf.com | www.rdfusa.com

Chicago Korean Street Festival Aug 9-10

Korean Street Festival

August 9 & 10, 2008

3200-3600 Bryn Mawr Ave.

8/9: 10am–10pm, 8/10: 9am–9pm

Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce
773-583-1700

www.ckacc.com

Ginza Holiday Festival Aug 8-10 Midwest Buddhist Temple

Ginza Holiday Festival

August 8-10, 2008

435 W. Menominee Street, (In Historic Old Town)

8/8: 5:30pm–9pm, 8/9: 11:30am–7pm,8/10: 1:30am– 6pm

Midwest Buddhist Temple
312-943-7801


www.midwestbuddhisttemple.org

Chicago Caribbean/Jamaican Festival Aug 8-10 Union Park

Caribbean Festival/Jamaican Independence Celebration

August 8-10, 2008

Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St.

12pm–10:00pm

Martin’s International Culture
312-427-0266

www.caribbeanfestival.info

Friday, Aug 1 - no Argonne dancing in Downers Grove

We have to be somewhere else on Friday, Aug. 1, and didn't find a substitute to run things that night, so we're cancelling Friday night dancing on Aug. 1.

Martin Koenig: Voices and Images from Bulgaria, 1966–1979

Listed on the Chicago Cultural Center website:

Martin Koenig: Voices and Images from Bulgaria, 1966-1979

through September 28, 2008
Chicago Cultural Center, Michigan Avenue Galleries
78 E. Washington St., Chicago
Free

There's also a talk about the exhibition on Aug. 7, at 12:15pm.

And this related event is mentioned, though I couldn't find a link with the details:

Saturday, September 20, 1pm: Film Screening and Lecture with the artist as part of the World Music Festival in Claudia Cassidy Theater.

Over 40 years ago, famed dance ethnographer and cultural specialist Martin Koenig embarked on a trip to Bulgaria armed with a letter of introduction from Margaret Mead. In this initial trip and on several subsequent visits, he worked in villages throughout the country filming, recording and photographing the lively yet endangered aspects of the traditional culture he observed. These historic, black and white photographs portray villagers, especially musicians and dancers, and document a traditional way of life that has since been transformed by modernization and globalization.


Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs: 312-744-6630

Chicago Taste of Polonia Aug 29-Sep1

Taste of Polonia

August 29-September 1, 2008

5216 W. Lawrence Ave.

8/29: 5pm-11pm, 8/30 & 31: 12pm-11pm, 9/1: 12pm-10pm

Copernicus Foundation
773-777-8898

www.copernicusfdn.org

Chicago Serbfest Aug 1-3 Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthdox Cathedral

Serbfest

August 1-3, 2008

5701 N. Redwood Dr.
8/1: 5pm-10pm, 8/2: 12pm-10pm, 8/3: 12pm-10pm
Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
773-693-3366

www.serbiancathedral.org

Pierogi Fest 2008 - Whiting IN July 25-27

Also spotted in the Trib:

Pierogi Fest 2008:
Celebrate Eastern European heritage with pierogies and other foods, a parade, dancers, polka bands, film screenings, a beer garden, contests, an art show and kids' activies.
Fri+Sat July 25-26 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Free. Downtown Whiting, 1900-1919 Indianapolis Blvd, Whiting, IND 2199-659-0292

Czechoslovak Festival - Brookfield IL July 27

Spotted this item in the Tribune event listings:

Czechoslovak Festival, Czechoslovak American Congress, 11am to 5pm Sunday July 27,
Kiwanis Park, 8820 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield.  Traditional foods, booths, music, dancing. 
Features the United Moravian Societies' Besidka Dance Group and the
Bohemian American Concertina Association

Chicago - Pullman Hobo Fest Barndance - Sept 7th

Received from the Pullman Hobofest:

Pullman Historic District

Chicago - South Side

September 6-7, 2008

http://hobofest.southchicago.info

Dear Dance Friends,

Please let us know if you would be able to promote the barn dance that we are hosting in the historic Pullman neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago on September 7th from 3-6pm.

This dance will be part of the Pullman Hobo Fest, featuring a Hobo concert, poetry, folklore, exhibits, tours, camping and "Chicago's Largest Mulligan Stew Ever!"

Music will be provided for the dance by Acie Cargill & the Sunshine Band. See their video preview at http://hobofest.southchicago.info/sunshineband.html.

We hope your members and dance friends from all over will join us for this event.

For directions, event schedules, and more information, please see http://hobofest.southchicago.info.

Thank you! Tom Shepherd (773-370-3305)

Chicago Ghanafest July 26 Washington Park

Ghanafest 2008

July 26, 2008

5600 S. Payne Drive (Washington Park)

11am-10pm

Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago
773-636-7013

www.ghananationalcouncil.org