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Sunday, March 30, 2008

Video clips + Photos - Balkanske Igre 2008 Spring Festival

Update: It turns out that Atanas has a strict no-video policy for his workshops, so I was asked to take down the video from the workshops. Apologies to Atanas and Balkanske for the faux pas.







Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Midwest Dance/Music New Update - www.ethnicdance.net

Received from Paul:

Dear [first] [last]:

Message Contents
----------------
#1 – Al Spear’s Passing
#2 – Balkanske Igre Spring Festival – Mar 28-30
#3 – Turkish Dance Wkshp-Evanston (Ahmet Luleci) – Mar 31
#4 – Bulgarian Dance Wkshp-Atlanta (Yuliyan Yordanov) – Apr 4-6
#5 – Duquesne University Tamburitzans in Milwaukee Area – Apr 6
#6 – Chicagoland Spring Fling–Ed Birchfield Birthday Party – Apr 11
#7 – Dance in Millennium Park with Zlatne Uste-Chicago – Apr 12
#8 – Fox Valley Wkshp (Kuharski/Rudin/Bratkovich)-Appleton – Apr 12
#9 – Festival of Nations in St Paul - May 1-4
#10 – Detroit Folk Dance Camp (Romanian-Florescu/Dion) May 2-4
#11 – Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares-Milwaukee - May 16
#12 – Pittsburg Folk Festival - May 16-18
#13 – Chicago Turkish Festival-Chicago - May 28-31
#14 – Regional June Camp-Beloit (J.Leegwater/L.Otterholt)-May 30-Jun 1
#15 – Door County Folk Festival-Wisconsin – Wed-Sun, July 9-13, 2008
#16 - ethnicdance.net Distribution List Policies


You’re receiving this message because you’re on one of the following
distribution lists:
1) Ethnic Dance Chicago (www.ethnicdance.net)
2) Door County Folk Festival (www.dcff.net)
or from a posting through the
3) Eastern European Folklife Center (www.eefc.org)


***********************************************************************
#1 - Al Spear’s Passing
***********************************************************************
Alex “Al” Spear, beloved husband, dance partner and best friend of 60
years to Edith “Edie” Spear (nee Finkelstein) passed away from this
earth last Monday night. Al was the loving father of Leah Shepard,
Stephen (Sarah Evens) Spear, Mika Yehezkeli and Laura (Michael) Solan;
the cherished grandfather of Amy (Phillip), Chezi, Yael, Talia, Daniel,
Julia, Ariel, Zachary, Brandon, Ryan, Michael and Leah; the adored great
grandfather of Conrad, Savanna and Cooper; the fond brother the late of
Louis (Esther) Spear, Jack (the late Phyllis) Spear and the late Edna
Friedman (Sam); and dear uncle cousin and friend of many.

In lieu of flowers, the Spear family requests donations to Magen David
Adom, Midwest Region, 3175 Commercial Ave., Suite 101, Northbrook, IL
60062 - a fund-raising organization for Israel's Red Cross society.

On Wednesday this week (March 26, 2008), at the Oak Park Folk Dance
Group Edie Spear will honor Al's memory by playing many of his favorite
dances. The group meets from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at the Harvard
Congregational Church, 1045 S Kenilworth, Oak Park, IL 60304. Edie
Spear: (847)-674-6308, edancemore@comcast.net


***********************************************************************
#2 – Balkanske Igre Spring Festival – March 28-30
***********************************************************************
Balkanske Igre Spring Festival, International House on University of
Chicago Campus, 1414 E 59th st, Chicago, IL 60637, Dance Workshops: Sani
Rifati (Roma), Atanas Kolarovski (Macedonian), Ahmet Luleci (Turkish),
Ventzi Sotirov (Bulgarian), Martin Koenig (Balkan), & Others TBA. Music
Workshops: Chris Bajmakovich, Ljupco Milenkovski, James Stoyanoff,
Contact: John Kuo, (773)-324-1247, (847)-965-8495,
balkanske_igre@yahoo.com, Schedule:
www.ethnicdance.net/downloads/spring_festival_2008_schedule.pdf


***********************************************************************
#3 – Turkish Dance Wkshp-Evanston (Ahmet Luleci) – Mar 31
***********************************************************************
Turkish Dance Workshop with Ahmet Luleci - Evanston Monday Night Folk
Dancers, Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers, 7:30-10:30, Lake Street
Church of Evanston, 607 Lake Street (at Chicago Ave) - Evanston, IL
60201, enter from courtyard on Chicago Ave., Info: Judy/Harry Solomon:
(847)-748-8002, jss53@yahoo.com


***********************************************************************
#4 – Bulgarian Dance Wkshp-Atlanta (Yuliyan Yordanov) – Apr 4-6
***********************************************************************
Rang Tang 2006 in Atlanta w/teaching by Yuliyan Yordanov (Bulgarian),
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 5140 Memorial Dr, in Stone Mountain,
GA (Atlanta Suburb), Liz Nunan, (404) 292-7176, liznunan@hotmail.com,
Mary Turlington, (770)-270-6884, maryturl@juno.com


***********************************************************************
#5 – Duquesne University Tamburitzans in Milwaukee Area – Apr 6
***********************************************************************
NOTE: New Location & Time: 3:30pm, Greendale HS, 6801 Southway,
Greendale, WI 53129, CFU Contact: Sharon Sharko, teachershark@aol.com,
(414)-671-5112, evenings, Tammies Website:
http://www.tamburitzans.duq.edu/schedule.html


***********************************************************************
#6 – Chicagoland Spring Fling–Ed Birchfield Birthday Party – Apr 11
***********************************************************************
Chicagoland Spring Fling 2008, Dancer Appreciation Night – Ed
Birchfield’s Birthday Party, Live Music with Orkestar Sloboda and Zlatne
Uste, Chicago Latvian Community Center, 4146 N Elston Ave - Chicago, IL
60618, NW corner of Elston (NW Diag) & Hamlin (3800W), Balkan Dance
Lesson – 7:00pm to 8:00pm, Balkan Dance Party – 8:00pm to midnight

Orkestar Sloboda (Milwaukee) – Serbian & Balkan - Orchestra "Sloboda"
(Freedom, Liberty), a gathering of musicians coming from two Serbian
Orthodox churches in the Milwaukee Area (St. Nikola and St. Sava) was
first formed in 1972. Sloboda and has performed all around the Midwest
for consecrations, weddings, dances, and festivals and for international
folk dance events. Members are: Milan Kontich (Accordion), Harley
Schoville (Percussion), Stevo Petrovich (Tambura), and Savo Radjenovich
(Bass Guitar). Website: www.balkanmusic.com/sloboda

Zlatne Uste (New York City) – Balkan Brass Band - Zlatne Uste (Golden
Lips) is an internationally known group of American-born musicians
playing traditional music of the Balkans, primarily representing
Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romany (Gypsy) traditions. Four-time
invited guest at the Dragachevo Brass Festival in Gucha, Serbia, the
12-piece band is among the foremost presenters of traditional Balkan
dance music in the United States. Each year Zlatne Uste hosts and
produces the Golden Festival, New York's biggest and best Balkan music
festival with an astounding 40 or more bands and something for everyone.
Website: www.zlatneuste.org, BYOB! – BYO Desserts, Please RSVP to
rsvp@ethnicdance.net, No Charge, www.ethnicdance.net/downloads/springfling


***********************************************************************
#7 – Dance in Millennium Park with Zlatne Uste-Chicago – Apr 12
***********************************************************************
(Tentative) Free Live Music Dance in Millennium Park with Zlatne Uste
Brass Band (New York) - Rain/Bad Weather Location TBA, Millennium Park,
55 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, Chicago Department of Cultural
Affairs Information: (312)-742-4007


***********************************************************************
#8 – Fox Valley Wkshp (Kuharski/Rudin/Bratkovich)-Appleton – Apr 12
***********************************************************************
Fox Valley (WI) Folkdancers (Appleton), Workshop with Michael Kuharski
and Catherine Rudin, South Greenville (WI) Grange Hall, 6920 County Hwy
BB, Appleton, WI 54915, Live music by Nick Bratkovich, Barbara
Westhofen, (920)-734-4029, westhofenb@aol.com, Patricia Scott,
(715)-831-0057, pjscott@pressenter.com,
www.angelfire.com/music4/walenski/FolkDancers.html


***********************************************************************
#9 – Festival of Nations in St Paul - May 1-4
***********************************************************************
Festival of Nations in St Paul, MN, Performances, Ethnic Foods,
Shopping, Crafts, Cultural Exhibits, at RiverCentre, 175 West Kellogg
Blvd, St Paul, MN 55101 (Downtown), Advance Tickets: At all Byerly's
locations and at the International Institute of Minnesota,
(651)-647-0191, sheckler@iimn.org, http://www.festivalofnations.com


***********************************************************************
#10 – Detroit Folk Dance Camp (Romanian-Florescu/Dion) May 2-4
***********************************************************************
Detroit Folk Dance Camp @ Camp High Scope, Clinton, MI, Guest Teachers:
Christian Florescu & Sonia Dion (Romanian Dances), Rick King,
(248)-376-6992, detroitfolkdancing@comcast.net, www.detroitfolkdancing.com


***********************************************************************
#11 – Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares-Milwaukee - May 16
***********************************************************************
RESCHEDULED FROM FRI-SAT JAN 18-19, Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares
(Bulgarian women's choir) in Milwaukee, 8:00 PM, Pabst Theater, 144 E.
Wells St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, Tickets: (800) 511-1552 or (414)
286-3663 http://pabsttheater.org/bulgares.html


***********************************************************************
#12 – Pittsburg Folk Festival - May 16-18
***********************************************************************
52nd Annual Pittsburgh Folk Festival, David L. Lawrence Convention
Center, Downtown Pittsburgh, Folk Festival Office, (412)-278-1267, or
Julie Rhyner, (412)-571-0541, jcrhyner@attbi.com, www.pghfolkfest.org


***********************************************************************
#13 – Chicago Turkish Festival-Chicago - May 28-31
***********************************************************************
‘All Things Turkish' Festival, various times at Daley Plaza, Daley Plaza
& Lobby, 50 W. Washigton St, Chicago 60601, The 2008 Festival will once
again feature demonstrations of art and dance, gourmet food, Turkish
merchandise and much, much more! Don't miss out on the opportunity to
savor Turkish culture and cuisine, Info:
info@chicagoturkishfestival.com, www.chicagoturkishfestival.com


***********************************************************************
#14 – Regional June Camp-Beloit (J.Leegwater/L.Otterholt)-May 30-Jun 1
***********************************************************************
Regional "June" Camp at Beloit College, Beloit, WI, Guest Teachers: Jaap
Leegwater (Bulgarian) & Lee Otterholt (Balkan/Norwegian), Mady Newfield,
(630)-584-0825, junecamp2008@gmail.com,
http://junecamp2008.googlepages.com/junecamp2008


***********************************************************************
#15 – Door County Folk Festival-Wisconsin – Wed-Sun, July 9-13, 2008
***********************************************************************
Preliminary Announcement - The 29th Annual Door County Folk Festival
(DCFF) begins on Wednesday, July 9 and runs through Sunday, July 13,
2008. Specific details will be posted on the website www.dcff.net and
in subsequent announcements

WORK SCHOLAR PROGRAM
--------------------
DCFF provides funding for the equivalent of 12 Work Scholars to attend
the festival. 2008 Work Scholar positions are currently open -
(www.dcff.net/workscholar).

LIVE MUSIC
----------
Balkan Cabaret, Nick Bratkovich and Last Gaspé return to provide live
music for the parties, workshops and other events.

WORKSHOPS
---------
The festival offers a variety of learning opportunities for participants:

* 14 Ethnic Dance workshops. 6 geared to beginning level dancers
* 3 Contra/Square Dance workshops with live music
* 2 Argentine Tango workshops (Nick & Mary)
* 2 Polynesian/Hawaiian Dance afternoon workshops (Grace)
* 3 Sunday review workshops
* 6 Balkan singing workshops, 4 with live music
(Mary Sherhart, John Morovich, Tri Bratovchedki, Balkan Cabaret)
* Teacher Training Track for Continuing Education Credits

PARTIES
-------
Each night features great parties with live & recorded music in Sister
Bay and Ephraim:

* Wednesday Night Dance Party with live and recorded music
* Thursday Night Dance Party with live and recorded music
* Friday Night Ethnic Dance Party with live and recorded music,
featuring a “Stuffed Animal” dance party
* Friday Night Contra/Square Dance Party offers alternative dancing to
live music at Ephraim Village Hall
* Saturday Night Ethnic Dance Party with live and recorded music
featuring the “Larry Hoey Memorial Folk Dance Olympics”, a friendly
and fun “competition”, offering groups and individuals a chance to
strut their stuff
* Saturday Night Ethnic Dance Party with your favorite recorded music
at Ephraim Village Hall
* Sunday Night Survivors’ Dance Party where dancers (instead of
leaders) take responsibility for running the program

SILENT AUCTION
--------------
The Silent Auction is a way for everyone to support the work scholar
program and to find new life for ethnic dance/music related stuff you no
longer use. To donate items to the auction, (a) contact Mercedes
(mercedes@dcff.net) (b) arrange for delivery, pickup or shipping; (c)
download short form from auction webpage (www.dcff.net/auction), (d) for
each donation, complete form’s top section and include with item.

OTHER ACTIVITIES
----------------
Friday Group Dinner at the Sandpiper Restaurant
Saturday Fish Boil Dinner is Sister Bay Park
Friday & Saturday Children’s Activities in Sister Bay Park
Dance Relief Sessions


***********************************************************************
#16 - ethnicdance.net Distribution List Policies
***********************************************************************
a) Your contact information won’t be given to other organizations.

b) Please send us your CURRENT email and other contact information
(snail mail, telephone, cell, pager, fax), so that we'll have multiple
ways to notify you about events.

c) To change or add your contact info, please click the link below (or
copy/paste to your browser), enter your new contact info and send the
email message:
info@ethnicdance.net?subject=DCFF/EDC_Contact_Info_Update

d) To be removed from this mailing list, please click the link below (or
copy/paste to your browser), and send the email message:
info@ethnicdance.net?subject=DCFF/EDC_Please_Remove



Sincerely,
--
Paul Collins

****************************************************
Ethnic Dance Chicago - Dancing As a Second Language
****************************************************

Weekly Dances
-------------
8pm-10pm - Dance Lesson & Easy Dances
10pm-midnite - Dance Party & Requests
$5/per person - $4 students - $3 kids under 12

Fridays - Latvian Community Center
4146 N Elston Ave - Chicago, IL 60618

Last Fridays - Portage Park Arts Center
3914 N Menard - Chicago, IL 60634

****************************************************

EDC c/o Jordan-Webb - 2656 W Montrose Ave - Suite 110
Chicago, IL 60618-1559
pcollins@ethnicdance.net - www.ethnicdance.net
Ofc/Voi: (773)-463-2288 - Fax/Voi: (773)-463-1830

Cultural & Recreational Sites:
-----------------------------
Ethnic Dance Chicago: www.ethnicdance.net
Door County Folk Festival: www.dcff.net



Ethnic Dance Chicago: www.ethnicdance.net
Door County Folk Festival: www.dcff.net


Tuesday, March 25, 2008

April 4-6 Swedish weekend at Folklore Village

Received from Roo:

From: DancingRoo@aol.com
Subject: Fabulous Swedish Weekend at Folklore Village 4-6 April, 2006

Hi all,

I hope you have already heard about this fabulous weekend coming up soon.

The annual spring Scandinavian weekend at Folklore Village in Dodgeville, WI will take place 4-6 April. I believe there is still room available. Hurry to make your reservation so that you are not left out wishing you had signed up earlier.

This year will focus on Swedish dance and music with Stig and Helén Eriksson, from Östergötland, Sweden and Isabell Svärdmalm and Eva Thorsell Hansson on fiddle and song. They have made a new recording for the dances and music will be presented.

If you are not familiar with the folks from Sweden: They are all dancers and they are all musicians and members of Klintetten. Stig & Helén have been the featured teachers at both of the week long Scandinavian camps as well as workshops around the USA. They have a delightful and clear teaching style and make everything fun.

There will be a variety of dances and tunes taught. Dancers and musicians of all levels welcomed.

Dust off your shoes and instruments and join us for a great weekend at Folklore Village.

If you haven't been to Folklore Village before, now is the time to join in. Spring will be bursting on the beautiful rolling lands around folklore Village. The sun will shine brightly in Farewell Hall and we will be thriving with dance and music around.

For more information see www.folklorevillage.org or call Folklore Village at 608-924-4000. You can reserve your spot and even pay with a credit card by calling Folklore Village directly.

There are bunk houses for men and women and camping on site. Many folks stay in local motels only a short distance from Folklore Village in Dodgeville. Note: The local motels give a discount to Folklore Village attendees! Lucky us!

Looking forward to seeing you all in a few short weeks.

Roo

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Friday, March 21, 2008

Sad News, Al Spear


We learned with great sadness that Al Spear, longtime area folk dancer, Edie's husband of 60 years, passed away this week. Deepest sympathy to Edie and her family. Here is the obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/ChicagoTribune/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=105972380

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Urbana "ECD and More" weekend photos + videos

Photos:


The live music in the following video clips is played by the band "Pigtown Alley", Bob and Deb Frankenhoff and Pam and Fred Stoll, and the caller is Scott Higgs

Indian Princess:

Bonnie Cuckoo:

Minor Spaniard:

Astonished Archaeologist:

Margaret's Waltz:

Christine:

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Fermilab folk dance events incl. May 2 Cross-Step Waltz workshop

Received from Mady:

From: folkdancenews@gmail.com
Subject: Fermilab international folk dancing in the auditorium this week, and upcoming events
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:36:48 AM

Hi,

Happy Spring and St. Patrick's Day!

A quick note to let you know that Fermilab International Folk Dancing will be meeting this week, Thursday March 13, in Ramsey Auditorium in Fermilab's high-rise Wilson Hall (our usual summer location), instead of in the Barn. We'll be doing some Irish dances in honor of the upcoming holiday, and enjoying the smooth floor. If you need directions go to

We'll be back to the Barn next Thursday, and continue there on until June.

Some upcoming events of interest are below. Hope to see you soon.

Mady

Planning ahead: Fermilab IFD and ECD and Evanston ECD are sponsoring two workshops taught by Jeanette Watts in Cross-Step Waltz, a very accessible type of "vernacular" vintage waltz with lots of variations. One will be at Fermilab's Barn on Friday, May 2, and the other at the Harvard Congregational Church, 1045 S Kenilworth Av, Oak Park, on Saturday, May 3, both from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Mark your calendars – this is a wonderful type of couple dance you don't want to miss.

This weekend:

March 14 – 16:" English-American and More" dance weekend at the Illini Union in Urbana. Contra dance on Friday evening, an English country ball on Saturday evening, a farewell danceon Sunday afternoon and a variety of workshops (including Russian Ballroom, Yiddish dance, Irish step, and Scottish country dance) during the course of the weekend. The caller for the weekend is Scott Higgs and the featured band will be Pigtown Alley from Cincinatti. You can find details on all the events at "http://www.prairienet.org/ciecd/weekend.html".

In two weeks:

March 28 – 30 :43nd Anniversary Spring Festival, featuring Balkan/Eastern European and Mediterranean music and dance at the International House at the University of Chicago, 1414 E. 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637
Friday, 3/28/2006, 8pm-midnight, dance workshop & dance party.

Saturday & Sunday, 3/29 & 30, 9am-5pm, dance and music workshops and culture sessions
Saturday, 3/28/2006, 7:00pm-1am, concert and dance party

Friday, March 7, 2008

March events - Macedonian dance, Kazhakstan music, Balkanske Igre festival

>From balkanske_igre@yahoo.com Fri Mar  7 00:59:23 2008
>From: balkanske igre <balkanske_igre@yahoo.com>
Subject: Chicago: Macedonian dance party; Kazakh music; 43rd Anniversary Spring
Festival of Balkan/Eastern European Dance and Music
To: balkanske_igre@yahoo.com

Dear Friends,


Upcoming events in March of possible interest:

Saturday, March 8, 2008, 7pm, $10
Dance party at St. Petka Macedonian Orthodox Church, 2056 N Kedzie, Chicago.
Music by Orchestra Džula Milosavljeviæ & Kristijan (Alija Dalipoviæ et al).
Dance performance by Ensemble Balkanski Igri. Kitchen will be serving food.
Info: 847-903-7325-Iordanka

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

Friday, March 28, 12:15pm, LUNCHBREAK: MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS - FREE
Randolph Café, LunchBreak Friday series showcases world music.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington, Chicago
Roksonaki (Contemporary and traditional music from Kazakhstan)

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

Friday through Sunday, March 28-30, 2008, International House, 1414 E 59th St,
Chicago
43rd Anniversary Spring Festival of Eastern European Dance and Music
featuring Balkan/E European Dance and Music cosponsored by CEERES, International
House at the
University of Chicago, and the Ensemble Balkanske Igre

Friday and Saturday evening dance parties with finest live music by
- James Stoyanoff & Lamajamal (Greek, Turkish, Middle-eastern music)
- Orchestra "Izgrev" (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Rom ("Gypsy") etc. music)
- Orchestra Muzika4U Chris Bajmakavich, accordion; Ljupèo Milenkovski,
Macedonian kaval and gajda
- Orchestra Balkanski Ritmi including Angel Dobrev, gadulka, Stamen Gardzhev,
Bulgarian gaida,
and much more.

Saturday evening concert with top masters of Balkan and Eastern European music
and dance,
including above musicians plus ensembles Horo, Wici, Goce Delcev, Mitronija,
Nashencheta,
Balkanske Igre. Saturday evening dinner preceding concert - reservations required

Dance, singing, & instrumental music workshops and cultur sessions
9am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday with masters of Bulgarian, Macedonian, R
rom ("Gypsy"), Turkish, and Vlach folklore, including
Martin Koenig, Atanas Kolarovski, Ahmet Luleci, Šani Rifati, Ventzi Sotirov,
Chris Bajmakovich, Ljupèo Milenkovski, James Stoyanoff.

Music, books, costumes, etc. from International Folk Rhythms
Post-festival dinner Sunday evening at Restaurant Bulgaria.

Info, registration, copy of flyer, please contact:

balkanske_igre@yahoo.com,
773-324-1247 or 847-965-8495
Balkanske Igre, PO Box 1157, Chicago, IL 60690