Sad news: Robert Yonco

We got some e-mail yesterday that Robert (Bob) Yonco, "a past president of the Argonne Folk Dancers...[who] loved international dancing" according to his obituary, recently passed away.  I think he must have been before my time, but some of you who have been around longer might remember him.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=185797794

There's a photo that includes him on the ethnicdance.net page for Herman Johnson's 90th celebration: http://www.ethnicdance.net/herman_johnson/herman_gallery_90th_birthday-1.html

Not meeting Fri June 2, 2017 - June camp

We won't be meeting for dancing in Downers Grove Friday, June 2, because many of us will be attending June Camp.  Hope to see you in the following weeks, when we should have some new dances to share.

Fortune Cookie, Chicago Summerdance

Had lunch today at an Asian restaurant, this was in my fortune cookie:

Speaking of which, here's the link for Chicago Summerdance:  http://chicagosummerdance.org/
The details aren't up yet, but here are the dates:
Fridays-Sundays, June 23-September 10, 2017 • Grant Park, Spirit of the Music Garden Saturdays & Thursdays, July 13-September 14, 2017 • Eight Neighborhood Parks throughout the City

Update: The schedule is up now: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_summerdance6.html

A few that look interesting:

• July 5, 6-9pm Irish Folk Music + Dancing Bua(Irish Folk Music) Trinity Irish Dance (Irish Folk Dancing) Part of Taste of Chicago
• July 16, 4-7pm Italian Folk Music + Dancing Newpoli(Italian Folk Music + Dance) Newpoli will teach Pizzica, a traditional tarantella from Apulia called “Salento”
• Sept. 3, 6-9:30pm Contra + Square Dance Volo Bogtrotters (Country and Square Dance) Paul Tyler (Caller)

Stara Vlajna

After there was some discussion about how to do Stara Vlajna last Friday, Susan found this link:
http://katleyplanetbg.blogspot.com/2013/05/two-variations-on-serbian-folk-dance.html

She says: "After doing Stara Vlanja the way I learned it on the East Coast and getting some rather interesting comments, I found these two versions(of several) posts on the internet as to style. Dunav does the dance the way I learned it and Evansville apparently the way some of the midwesterners learned it. So whichever style you choose, just enjoy it. "

Door Co Folk Fest Jul 12-16, Contra Dance Weekend July 14-16

Door County Folk Festival (We-Su, Jul 12-16)
Contra Dance Weekend (Fr-Su, Jul 14-16)
http://www.dcff.net/
http://www.dccontrafest.net/

• special guest Balkan dance instructor is Steve Kotansky.
   
• The Festival also features a select group of Regional Dance Instructors (see website)
   
• Guest Musicians are Tantsova Grupa (Nashville) and Nick Bratkovich (Tulsa).
   
• The Contra Weekend guests include callers Jonathan Sivier and Meg Dedolph, Clogging instructor, Lynn Szatkowski, and Shape Note Singing leader Carol Crawford.
   
• Guest Musicians include Rare Privilege, The Cosmic Otters, Jason Busnieweski and the DCFA Contra Dance Band.
   
• Program Overview
• 14 Ethnic Dance Workshops (Thu-Sun)
• 2 Ethnic Singing Workshops (Fri-Sat)
• 5 Ethnic Dance Parties (Wed-Sun)
• 9 Contra/Square Workshops (Fri-Sun)
• 2 Contra/Square Parties (Fri-Sat)
• Family Barn Dance (Fri)
• 2 Shape Note Singing Sessions (Sat-Sun)
• 2 Lunchtime Dance Sessions (Fri-Sat)
• Fish Boil Dinner (Sat)
• 2 Mini-Concerts (Thu-Fri)
• Youth Activities (Fri-Sat)
• Details: www.dcff.net/activities
   

NYT Article: Dancing May Be Best for the Brain

Roo alerted us to this interesting article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/well/walk-stretch-or-dance-dancing-may-be-best-for-the-brain.html

Chicago Spelmanslag - Fermilab Barn, Sat May 6, 2017

Chicago Spelmanslag will be performing at the Fermilab Barn on Saturday evening May 6, 2017.  Here's the tentative schedule:

~6:15 - 7:15pm Slängpolska dance workshop

7:30pm - 8:15pm Social dance

8:15pm Dance display

8:30pm More social dance

9:15pm Second dance display

9:30pm More social dance

10:30ish End and clear up

https://www.facebook.com/events/1632438116781339/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D