UPDATE: ***NOT*** Meeting as usual

The decision has been taken out of our well-washed and sanitized hands -- St Paul's has requested that groups not meet there for the next couple of weeks, so we will *NOT* be meeting on Friday nights until further notice.  We got the following e-mail from St Paul's:

I'm reaching out to all the groups at St. Paul's.  We're canceling worship services for the next two weeks and trying to shut the building down as much as possible.  Many of our usual groups have already canceled their meetings, and our church council has asked me to request that everyone stops meeting at the church for at least the next couple of weeks.  We're taking it one day at a time and will be reevaluating soon.  Thank you so much.

 Better safe than sorry.  Last night we only had 6 people, and danced without holding hands - the only touching was to pet Mollie (the dog; I've heard that dogs don't get coronavirus 🐶).

UPDATE: I received a reponse that said

About dogs...I understand that dogs and cats have both actually been detected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although they don't get the disease, they can still pass the virus on, especially if they lick you in the face.

Here's what the CDC website says:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#animals
and the American Vetrinary Medical Association: https://
www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/covid-19-faq-pet-owners.pdf

We will let you know when we can start up again.  Stay well, everyone!  #flattenthecurve

p.s. Happy Pi Day!

We've had some questions about whether we're going to continue meeting, given concerns about COVID-19.  We do plan to meet as usual as long as enough people are healthy and want to come, and as long as guidance from the CDC and local health departments doesn't change.   As of this morning (Mar 11, 2020), they were reporting only 19 cases in IL of which 2 were in Kane Co, none in Dupage as yet.

Please do not come if you aren't feeling well, may have been exposed, or are at risk due to age or other health conditions, or would just feel better playing it safe.  Since part of the recommended practice is to avoid shaking hands, it might be wise to dance individually, rather than holding hands...

We received the following from St Paul's:

To all groups meeting at St. Paul's United Church of Christ:

Our church council asked me to reach out to everyone who meets at St.

Paul's regarding COVID-19.  We will do everything possible to prevent

the spread of the virus in our building and we ask for your help should

you continue to meet here.  We have a cleaning service twice a week, but

they do not necessarily disinfect every surface that might be touched. 

We are trying to wipe down commonly touched surfaces like door handles

and stair railings every day.  We ask that when you meet at the church,

you please wipe down surfaces that you have used.  We have wipes and

Clorox spray on our kitchen counter and wipes in the large classroom and

in the preschool room on the lower level.

We are practicing the recommended practices of staying home when sick,

washing hands frequently for 20 seconds, coughing and sneezing into a

tissue (ideally) or the crook of your elbow, avoiding sick people, and

refraining from shaking hands, etc.

We want to protect you, your group members, and the members of St.

Paul's.  We truly appreciate your help.

 We'll bring hand sanitizer, and appreciate help wiping down handrails, etc.  Hopefully things will have settled down before Stone Soup April 18.

A peek at our future

Thanks to Susan for coming across this video.  Given how many of us fall into the high-risk age bracket for coronavirus, here's something to watch while we can't meet for dancing

CANCELLED: Balkanske Igre Spring Fest Mar 20-22 Univ of Chgo

 http://www.ethnicdance.net/downloads/spring-festival-announcement.pdf


Balkanske Igre  https://www.balkanskiigri.com/  
https://www.facebook.com/ensemblebalkanskeigre/
55th Anniversary Spring Festival
Friday, 7pm, Balkanika Restaurant, 1414 E Oakton St, Des Plaines, IL 60018
Saturday, 9am to midnight, International House, 1414 E 59th St, Chicago
Sunday, 9am-5pm, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E 59th St, Chicago

 New Locations

·       Concert & Dance Party, March 21, 7pm, at Little Bulgarian Center, 832 Lee St, Des Plaines, IL. 

·       Workshops on Saturday & Sunday, March 21 & 22 9am-4pm, at Dance Studio D&B, 6069 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago.

à DO NOT GO to the International House on Saturday or Ida Noyes on Sunday.

 Unchanged 

·       Friday evening 7pm mini-workshop & party is unchanged and remains Balkanika Restaurant 1414 E Oakton Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60018.  Reservations required.

·       Sunday evening, 7pm post-festival dinner and party is unchanged at Mehanata, 1141 Lee St, Des Plaines, IL 60016.  Reservations required.

POSTPONED: Stone Soup Party Saturday April 18, 2020

Stone Soup 2005

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem wise to hold a gathering like this in the current conditions, even if the shelter-in-place order is lifted before then, which seems unlikely.  We hope to reschedule later in the year when gathering with lots of people, holding hands, and sharing food doesn't seem so dangerous.  Be well!

We've reserved the Fellowship Hall for our Stone Soup Party Saturday April 18, 2020 -- mark your calendar! Details below, flyers will be forthcoming later.

Argonne International Folk Dance Stone Soup Party
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2020
Time: 1:00pm-6:00pm, potluck meal around 3:00pm
Place: St. Paul's UCC Fellowship Hall
Address: 5739 Dunham Rd.,Downers Grove, IL
Requested Donation: $5 + Potluck dish to share.

 In order to spend more time dancing and less time cooking during the party, the soups will be made ahead. Please let us know if you can bring soup.

Balkan Dance Lecture U of Chicago Sun Mar 8, 2020

A couple of weeks before the upcoming Balkanske Igre Spring Festival there will be a free Lecture, Workshop, Performance, and Exhibit of Balkan Rhythms & Dance Sunday, Mar 8, 2020, 12:30-4pm, at International House, part of their 2019-2020 Global Voices Performing Arts & Lecture Series

https://ihouse.uchicago.edu/events/event/balkan_rhythms_dance2020/

Free Senior Suburban Orchestra concert Tue Feb 25 Downers Grove

Free Senior Suburban Orchestra Concert
at St Paul's United Church of Christ
5739 Dunham Rd, Downers Grove, IL
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2020
2:00 pm, doors open 1:45pm

CANCELLED: Rifati, Rom dance workshop, Thur Mar 19 Fermilab

Fermilab International Folk Dancing presents
Sani Rifati  teaching dances of the Rom People
Thursday, March 19, 2020
7:30 pm
Fermilab's Kuhn Village Barn
Suggested donation $10 adults/$5 students

Just received the following from Mady:

Fermilab international folk dancing is cancelled from now through the end of March. In response to the coronavirus threat and concerns to limit any possible spread, Fermilab has decided to cancel all public events this month. We need to follow this policy, so there will be no international folk dancing at Fermilab for the rest of March.  This unfortunately includes the planned March 19 workshop with Sani Rifati.