March 2009

Contents

International Folk Dance Tours

Renew Your FFDC Membership

New FFDC Officers

One of the most important pieces of business we do in the annual meeting at camp is to elect new officers every two years. Perhaps I should say shuffle officers.  We’d love to give some other people the opportunity to serve as officers, but, like most volunteer organizations, we have a hard time finding volunteers!  Thank goodness we have some very dedicated people who are willing to give great gobs of time to FFDC. 

Our new officers, who started their two-year terms right after camp, are:

President: Terry Abrahams

Vice President: Pat Henderson

Secretary/Treasurer: John Daly

I will continue to be the newsletter editor, ably assisted by Mary Jean Linn, who will continue to print, address, and mail the printed newsletters and Julieta Brambila, who has volunteered to help maintain the online calendar.  I am deeply grateful for Mary Jean’s behind the scenes work that keeps the printed newsletters going out.  And Julieta is already on the job, having made several calendar updates since camp.

Our outgoing and our incoming presidents each have a few words to say in this newsletter. So, without further ado ...(drum roll)....

Outgoing President's Letter

My last letter as President.  So soon!  It's been a great ride.  Before I leave, I want to thank a bunch of people who have helped.  In no particular order, there are Terry and Pat, two past presidents who have always been ready to help with advice and good ideas.  Plus they have been willing to accept the position of President and Vice Pres for the next two years.   Jan has done a wonderful job at the somewhat anonymous task of keeping the books accurate and up-to-date.  This year she has also spent time beta testing a record keeping system that Jean and I have been working on.   Jean has kept me focused as I tried to balance job, FFDC, and graduate school.  And mentioning that, there are many who will recognize that they have stepped in and helped when I became overwhelmed.  Thanks to the hotel for keeping their Internet system up and running while I quietly finished up a paper and took a weekly quiz on Sunday morning at Camp.

The Olga Princi scholarship is an important way in which we encourage promising dancers who might not otherwise be able to come to camp.  Thanks to those who contributed financially. I would mention that it is not too late to send a donation to the Treasurer. There were also some very nice articles donated for the auction this year, and Kelly worked hard and effectively to promote the auction and made it very successful.

Roo Lester and Yves Moreau

Photo by Caroline Lanker

Note: photos in this issue are from Florida Folk Dance Camp 2009, except as noted.



The lunches were superb and we all should thank Bernice, Willa, and Fannie for the hard work they put into making that happen.  The Melbourne group benefited from this process as we got to sample candidate meals on Friday nights throughout the year.  I can tell you that they were all good.

Both the instructors this year brought us interesting and exciting dances. From the reports I've gotten, it sounds as though there will be many keepers.  Thanks to Yves and Roo for their expertise not only in ethnic dance but also in the teaching skills required to share those dances with us.

Speaking of retaining dances, our annual review DVD captures the last few magic hours of the workshop.  And who spends hours at his Macintosh massaging gigabytes of images into a coherent video?  Julius Horvath, videographer extraordinaire is the master of the images, as well as the source of the beautiful ethnic tablecloths that brighten our spaces.

An unexpected pleasure for me at camp was seeing old friends Ruthy Slann and Dany Benshalom, who were able to drop in Friday night.  If you don't know them, Dany and Ruthy are friends who get together a couple times each year, he from Israel and she from North Carolina, to travel the country teaching Israeli dances.  Dany always has some wonderful dances to share.

That's it for now.  I have to get this off to Caroline, the excellent editor of the Florida Folk Dancer, who has put up with John missing almost every deadline she has ever set.  I'll see you all at the Flings and whenever.

– John

I’m Back! 

Well, I didn’t get very much of a break, now did I?  But I must thank John and gang for taking over for two years.  I know it wasn’t easy for him, what with school, work, etc.  And I’m neither going to school, nor working, so it makes sense to take over again.  I want to thank John for continuing to be an officer, for Pat for coming back and for Caroline for staying right where she is!  This year’s camp was as good as ever – it is always a highlight of my year, and I assume yours as well.  Let’s hope the economy is a little better next year and we’ll get a few more dancers, but this one wasn’t lacking for energy – that’s for sure!  Roo and Yves were terrific!

Regarding next year:

1. The venue

I’m still not completely happy with our venue. The rooms were musty, the pillars are still there, we had to bring in lunches and go out for dinner, and the hotel didn’t give any terrific price break.

In regard to this, a couple of you are looking in your local areas for a different hotel (since we are sorta convinced indoor rooms are a definite plus) and I’ll be checking into conference centers, etc. If you can think of any place that might have a wood floor and rooms to stay in, that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, I would appreciate your alerting me to any possibilities.

2. Teachers 

I’m getting suggestions, you may give me more, I have a few in mind, will maybe talk about them next time.  I want to hear you first.  Two possibilities, since we’re trying to keep costs down, would be to have only one teacher or have the second teacher not be a “primary”. I don’t like either of those ideas, but would also appreciate your comments. (Thanks to those who have already sent comments.)

3. Let’s find another name. 

We shouldn’t use Camp any more, since we aren’t. Un-camp – hmmm… Let's have a contest for a new name. I remember thinking of a real good one, but it’s disappeared into the dark dregs of my brain. Send in your suggestions. There will be a prize for the winner. (Not very big, but a prize).

Well, I think that’s enough for now.  I’m pleased to try again. For those of you who are new to the FFDC, here’s a little about me:  this is not my first round, I’ve been many officers in this organization, actually, I’ve been all of them at one time or another!  When I’m not dancing, I’m fencing, and up to this year, have also always taken one major trip to another country with my travel buddy Jodi.  Although retired, I do groom dogs (for money) and I also have my novelty button business called Tampa Bay Buttoneers.  However, my web site (brand new) is called Creatingbuttons.com. If you go there and click on ads, even if you don’t buy, it makes me a nickel when you click on something.  So if you’d like to help me get to camp next year, click away!  And of course, you can always order buttons from me – you know I don’t do just dance buttons!

– Terry

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Dany Benshalom

Photo by Caroline Lanker

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Florida Folk Dance Camp 2009 - Group Picture

In front: Mireille Perrotte, Jenneine Lambert, Terry Abrahams, John Daly, Bobby Quibodeaux, Pat Henderson, Bobbi Ward, Roo Lester, Yves Moreau, Caroline Lanker, Fred Miller, Lila Gaber, Eva Gaber, Felissa Gaber, Kelly Fagan, Tina Fagan; Standing, front row:  Sylvia Gruber, Marie Millett,  Judy Merkt, Andi Kapplin, Palmira Mora-Valls, Jualene Lewis, Bernice Roth, Delores Lustig, Kay Demos, Phyllis Dammer, Joy Herndon, Jack Seltzer, Susan Barach, Ann Kessler, Doris Wolman, Ursula Tison, Donna Young; others standing: Nicki Wise, Katy Moss Warner, Gary Lanker, David Davia (between Marie and Judy), Lou Davia, Claudia Terrence, Jean Murray, Willa Davidsohn (behind Palmira), Manuel Mora-Valls, Fannie Salerno, Mary Zaleta, Larry Wartell (man behind Joyce Story), Joyce Story (behind Bernice), Ruth Schwartz, Ruth Ann Fay, Judith Baizan, Julius Horvath, Ernesto Baizan, John Ward, Juanita Schockey, David Digby, Denise Green, Virginia Marszal, Pat Pieratte, Julieta Brambila, Linda Seltzer, Jan Lathi, Bonnie Olsen, Marian Baum, Ann Robinson

It began, for Linda and me, with a three hour drive down I-75 and US highway 27 to tucked-away Sebring, Florida, with lots of lights and some construction that seems to always be continuing.  We arrived around 1 PM on Friday to a small group warming up with Roo in the quaint, old, antiqued, pillared dance hall. Who did we see first? Julieta, Joyce, Jualene and Mireille.

Gainesville Goes to Sebring 

Nine Balkan folk dances from Yves Moreau and six Basque from Roo Lester – what an invigorating weekend of three nights and four days the folks from Gainesville experienced. Mireille, Jualene, Joyce S, Julieta, John, Linda and I all joined in for the full weekend.

It felt as if we had never left Gainesville. Five minutes later, in walked John – just like every Friday night at 308.

We worked on Scandinavian dances all afternoon.  It felt good to practice turns again, especially with unusual arm holds. (I never did write down the names of these dances. I'd like to know them, especially the one where the man links with the woman by the forearms). [See Scandinavian Dances at Camp. ]

Left: Gainesville dancers at camp, from left: Mireille Perrotte, Bonnie Olsen, Jenneine Lambert, Jack Seltzer, John Ward, Jualene Lewis, Linda Seltzer, Julieta Brambila, Joyce Story

Right: John Ward and Jean Murray dancing Telegangar.

Photo by Julieta Brambila


Off to the Greek-owned restaurant next door to the hotel around five (after checking into the hotel and going up in the new elevator, slowly still, to our room on the third floor). Wow, fine Greek food in Sebring – lamb dishes (juicy gyros), huge salads (lots of feta cheese), and nice looking prime rib plates. We stuffed ourselves, all for under $10! Boy, did I need to dance off this excellent food at the start of this fine weekend – and I did!

Friday night’s party was an all-inclusive dance program that we all participated in until midnight or so. Up early for the first full day of three workshops (two morning, one afternoon) with my first through fifth cup of coffee (messed up my stomach a little). But there’s nothing like the morning ambience of that hotel lobby from 6 to 8:30.

Balkan it was with Yves, that’s for sure. Now I know what that region really entails.  Joyce D refers to it all the time in her teaching here in Gainesville.  We started with a North Bulgarian Racenica that I think we’ll perform at Kanapaha Gardens in a few weeks. Great arms and simplicity. Then he gave us the Albanian dance that Bobby’s been enjoying since his trip to Utah a couple of years ago. Then a Serbian kolo with six variations. Lots of quick-quicks.

Sunday he gave us a Romanian, an Italian-Swiss dance that resembles a Balkan dance, and some more Bulgarian dances – quite a variety of Balkan, for sure.

Oh well, I could go on and on – eating Roo’s two Basque candies and drinking some of her wine; Yves’ story of his Bulgarian beginnings from Montreal in the ‘60s and initial trips to Bulgaria – fascinating. Now I know why my parents never danced Bulgarian when I was running around the dance floor at Brighton Beach Baths in Brooklyn in the 50‘s.  Yves hadn’t gone over there yet.  Boy, he knows how to celebrate a 60th birthday – traveling all over the Balkans with about 90 friends in two buses for a few weeks.

Roo started us off on Saturday with another one of her Dantzas called Bolant-Dantza. (We had learned Baztan-Dantza from her years ago.) Great start!

And wow, we were off and running with all kinds of steps in front and behind. Learning that Erdizka step and using it at various speeds in so many of the dances was eye opening – and challenging. Nice to know that the French ballet term, “pas de bas“, comes from “pas de Basque” – interesting. “Dobla,” “zote” and so many other names to all these Basque steps. Fantastic challenge to listen to them in the dances (at least in Zaspi Jautziak) and jump all over it when they were called.

Our whole hearty thanks go out to our dance leaders for all the work they put into this great weekend. They always give 110+% and we all really appreciate it. We’re always so overwhelmed by the whole experience.

We also wish the best to our new leaders for all the energy they will need to put it together again next year. Gainesville folk will contribute what we can and look forward to our drive down to Sebring in February 2010.

Clockwise, from left: Juanita Schockey, Claudia Terrence, Pat Pieratte and Caroline Lanker in Bulgarian costume; Judith Baizan, John Daly and Roo Lester in costume at the Basque Culture Corner; Yves Moreau enjoying Basque treats; Pat Henderson and Terry Abrahams in Basque costume; Doris Wolman dancing


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Orlando News

February was a very busy dancing month for our group.  The first event was a one hour program for the Central Florida Mensa Regional Gathering on January 31.  The location was the Ramada Resort and Conference Center (formerly the Hyatt) in Celebration.  Terry Abrahams, Mary Jean Linn, Kay Afonso and Kelly Fagan and I demonstrated a couple of dances and then taught a few.  We filled our room with enthusiastic participants as they danced Jiana, Above the Rainbow, Zemeratik and Tsamikos.  I also talked about the history of international folk dancing.

A Happy Camper

"How about going to camp this year?" asked Jack.

"Go without expectations, just have fun," said Julieta.

"Well why not?" I thought, "Let's see what Sebring will bring!"

It gave me:

Inspiration – I heard stories from people who overcame challenges on the dance floor.  The way they danced gave me a new meaning to retirement life in Florida

Encouragement –  I was so excited to dance with such a large group.  Sometimes I did not know the steps. I appreciated when others guided me...right, left, left....

Growing up in St Malo, Brittany, I always wanted to dance with a group called Quic en Groigne.  "Non, impossible" my parents said. When I heard Yves Moreau's story, I remembered how I came alive the day a Bulgarian group came to town and danced in a public garden. I, too, tuned in on the radio to listen to this music, had a penpal and dreamed of traveling.   

At camp, while dancing Bulgarian dances, I realized that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. When the Basque dances became too challenging, I went to "bask" in the sun and dip in the pool.

I had fun dancing with all of you and traveling there with friends. I look forward to coming back next year.  Thanks to all.

Mary Jean Linn, Terry Abrahams, Kelly Fagan, and Pat Henderson at the Central Florida Mensa Regional Gathering

Photo by Kay Afonso

The second event was the local Greek Festival in Maitland.  The weather was cool, which was the best thing about the festival.  The band Night in Athens played and, although we were there several hours, the only kind of dance we did with them was the Syrto.

The third event encompassed all the activities related to the FFDC camp/workshop. Bobby and I picked up Yves Moreau and David Digby at the airport on Thursday.  A small group met us at the Olympia Restaurant for dinner and dancing that night.  The owners were their usual generous selves and gave us free refills on our drinks and many desserts.  They even play our CD with our Greek dances on it. 

Then the weekend in Sebring happened and I am sure that I will not be the only one to rave about the experience.  The weekend rated among my top three, with Yves exceeding himself from ten years ago. 

Both Yves and Roo were exceptional in their teaching and their dances.  The night parties were fun and the camaraderie was icing on the cake.  Nicki Wise, a new dancer to our group, was the Olga Princi Scholarship recipient and she represented our group well in that capacity.  Kelly Fagan ran the Olga Princi auction, which raised about $300 for the fund. 

Then our group provided the snack for Saturday night, the Basque night. Palmira Mora-Valls made three gigantic Spanish tortillas (omelets) which were very tasty and very much appreciated.  Juanita Schockey made Valentine cookies.  Phyllis Dammer brought crackers and spreads for them while Julieta Brambila provided bananas and grapes. I coordinated the effort on Saturday night and brought my Bulgarian baklava for Sunday night.  It was great to see Katy Moss Warner again and also many of you met our new dancers, Karen and Chick Hechtman from Daytona.

Julius Horvath with display of ethnic textiles.

Photo by Julieta Brambila


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Some Orlando dancers and friends at camp, from left: Kelly Fagan, Claudia Terrence, Bobby Quibodeaux, Ruth Ann Fay, Nicki Wise, Ann Robinson, Pat Henderson, Juanita Schockey, Phyllis Dammer, Joy Herndon, Palmira Mora-Valls, Jan Lathi

Photo by Caroline Lanker

The weekend after camp, Bobby and I visited the Tampa group on Friday night and we had danced all of the camp dances by the end of the night.  It was great to be able to do them all.  Then Bobby and I were better prepared the next Wednesday to do the ones that we had not done the week before.  Tim Sneed was also visiting from Georgia that night along with Katy Warner from Windermere and Judith Merkt and Susan Barach from Sarasota.

Bobby and I stayed overnight in Tampa and the next day a few of us went to the Clearwater Greek Festival.  The facilities were very large, the food was great, and shopping aplenty.  However, we were there for three hours and never saw a band or a performance group. Terry, Tim, Bobby and I danced to recorded music for a short while.  A word to the wise:  go later in the day, at least after 4 PM. 

At the same time, the Melbourne Greek Festival was occurring and Fred and Juanita Schockey took in that one.  Fred related that they were there in the afternoon.  It was well attended and they enjoyed the food.  Fred and Juanita danced to the band, along with about 10 or 12 other dancers.  They were surprised that few people were dancing.

Bobby and I are going to NFO in Denver (Estes Park, actually) April 16-19 (see Events).

We hope to see as many of you as possible at the Spring Fling in Orlando on April 4.  See Events.  If you have any questions about it, contact me at :  407-275-6247 or henderp@bellsouth.net .

Thank You

I would like to thank the FFDC for the wonderful gift of the Olga Princi Scholarship gift at Sebring. Your FFDC is the best and I hope I make myself worthy of the scholarship. I love folk dancing and hope to continue as long as my feet last! You guys about killed me! I haven't danced four days in a row in I don't know when. Thanks again and hope to see you all soon.

– Nicki Wise

Places to Dance

The "Places to Dance" list has been on our website for a number of years.  Right after camp is a good time to check the listing for your group to be sure it is up-to-date and accurate.  If there are any groups that you know have stopped meeting, or a new group that we don't have listed, please let us know.  Please email any corrections to

treasurer@folkdance.org.

Top: Middle eastern dance performance - Kelly Fagan, Nicki Wise, Ann Robinson; Lower: Flamenco performance - Denise Green, Terry Abrahams, Bobbi Ward

Mary Zaleta and Esther Mazor


Tamburitzans in Daytona Beach

Julius did a pretty good job of selling, as the Tamburitzans’ performance on March 7 had a large crowd. Even though the theater was not sold out, the audience was loud and enthusiastic in appreciation of one of the better performances I have seen of this 72 year old performing group.

The performance started with a Croatian medley and ended with a vigorous Bulgarian Shope Region medley. The show brought back a few reminiscences of when Caroline and I first met in Houston some 24 or 25 years ago, auditioned, and were accepted into a Balkan performing group that developed a pretty good Croatian and Bulgarian program. Like all good fish stories, age allows some exaggeration of the truth and only the age warp allows me to make such a comparison – what do they say, “In your dreams?”

In between, the musicians were right on, the dancers energetic, skillful and engaging.  The men’s parts of several suites featured fantastic footwork and slapping/clapping sequences.  In the Transylvanian piece, we recognized moves from mesöségi and forgotos workshops of years past.

I counted 24 Florida international dancers and family members at Holiday House in DeLand after the performance, where, under Pat and Bobby’s direction, we gathered for a post-performance dinner. I assume a few others didn’t make it that far, but Gainesville, Palm Coast/Flagler Beach , DeLand, Ocala, Frostproof and, of course, Orlando were represented.

The only down note of the event was the traffic jam around the site due to Bike Week at the speedway next door. It was pretty slow getting into town from I-4; hopefully, next year they can change dates to avoid some of the congestion.

From the Editor

I want to thank the South Florida folks who provided the delicious Balkan snacks on Sunday evening at camp, with the addition of Pat’s Bulgarian baklava.  I don’t know who contributed what, but the South Florida dancers are Sylvia Gruber, Esther Mazor, Doris Wolmann, Marian Baum and Ruth Schwartz. 

Also, thanks to Pat for organizing the Basque snack night (see Orlando News).

Don't forget to check the calendar on the FFDC website. It contains events that don’t make it into the

Tales from Tampa

We had a terrific time at camp!  You couldn’t ask for two nicer teachers and the difference between their dances made a nice contrast. Bobbie, Denise and I enjoyed dancing our Flamenco stuff for you, even when I couldn’t get my scarf out of my leotard! 

After camp, Pat and Bobby did a review on Wednesday, as did Andi in Sarasota. Friday, when we had a conglomeration of Orlando, Sarasota and Tampa and environs, plus Tim Sneed in from GA, we whizzed through every dance but the final Četvorno that Yves taught on Monday. We want to congratulate the “team” for putting on a terrific camp, including their great lunches, and look forward to the Spring Fling. 

Tim, Pat and Bobby, Mickey (your cook from two years ago) and I went to the Clearwater Greek Festival Saturday. We had a nice time, but the band and performances were late in the afternoon and we missed that part. Speaking of Greek, Judith, Ernesto and their kids went to the St. Pete festival a few weeks before that; I was to join them,  had forgotten my wallet, was going to bum some $ from them, but couldn’t find them, so I went home.  They had a good time, but said the dance floor wasn’t too great. 

Bobbie, Denise, Neddy (an Israeli dancer) and I did a little performance for a Senior Center – an Israeli set and flamenco, with a couple more flamencos than we did at camp. 

Off the dance subject, I’m just back from Atlanta. I fenced in a North American Circuit (NAC) competition that is a qualifier to make the team.  I did well in foil, 3rd, but only 6th and 7th in sabre and epee, which would not qualify me.  World’s are in Moscow, and I’m not likely to go – I’d still have to go to Texas to Nationals, and then pay for all of this, not an easy thing at the moment.  Before coming home I had lunch with David and Dorothy and Liz.  Liz and Dorothy are preparing for a trip to France, and it sounds wonderful – I hope they report upon their return. I didn’t get to dance on Thursday. Oh well, I’m exhausted from the fencing!

newsletter and/or more complete information, including registration forms.  

Gary and I are figuring out what dance events we are going to attend this year.  One that is on our agenda for sure is the Stockton Folk Dance Camp (first week).  See Events.

– CL


Scandinavian Dances at Camp

For those of you who, like Jack (see Gainesville Goes to Sebring), don’t remember the names of the Scandinavian dances Roo taught Friday afternoon, here they are, along with some elementary descriptions.  These descriptions are not adequate to teach the dances, but are meant to jog the memories of the people who attended the workshop or have done the dances elsewhere.

Schottis

Done to 2/4 or 4/4 music. The man and woman start side by side, with woman on the right, man's right hand on woman’s shoulder blade and woman’s left hand on man’s shoulder. Walk, starting with outside feet: step-together-step, step-together-step, on counts 1 & 2, 3 & 4.

Turning together:  Both partners take four pivot steps.  Man, starting with a pivot on right foot, to face the woman: & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8.  Woman, starting with a step onto the right foot on count 5: 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &. 

Repeat walking and turning ad lib. 

Variation: Sex Change Schottis  

This is done as a regular Schottis, except that in the turns, do five pivots, going an extra half turn, so that you change sides each time.  Each time through, the person on the left does the man’s Schottis step and the person on the right does the woman’s Schottis step.  The sex change Schottis can be inserted into the regular Schottis at will.

Boda Polska

This dance is done to 3/4 music. It is too difficult to adequately describe in brief. There is a walking step, side by side, alternating with a polska turn.

Telegangar

This dance is done to 4/4 music.  It starts with the couple walking together, holding inside hands, with the woman on the right. The man leads the woman through various figures. The figures lead from one into another so that there is continuous smooth movement. Some figures that we learned were: 

1. The woman turns clockwise under the man’s arm,

2. The man leads the woman all the way around him,

so that she crosses first in front of him, then behind. 

3. The woman and man grasp left arms, forearm to

forearm and circle each other counter-clockwise.  Some time after forming this position, the man rotates slightly counter-clockwise in relationship to the woman, so that he is facing the woman (while continuing the counter-clockwise turn as a couple.) and offers his right hand, which she takes in her right hand as they continue to turn.  To get out of this hold, the couple lets go of their left forearm grasp.  This may be followed by figure 4, below.

4. The man leads the woman to his left side and

they hook forearms – his left coming up beneath her right; they begin circling clockwise, clasp the other hands and continue to circle clockwise.  This figure can be ended by releasing the forearm hook and swinging the woman around to walk next to the man on his right, as in the beginning of the dance.   

5. While the man and woman are walking together

with inside hands joined, as in the beginning, they can rotate counter-clockwise all the way around, keeping the same configuration between them. 

Resources on the Web

There are so many resources on the World Wide Web that it would be impossible to list them all.  Occasionally we publish a few that are sent by readers.

Terry wrote about www.youtube.com/watch?v=

V9tvariHeUw, a video of clogging by the AMAN Folk Ensemble.  Next to each video, a list of related videos is presented.  I chose to watch one of a Bulgarian performance by AMAN.  That brought up another list of related videos of Bulgarian dance performances.  I could have spent hours following the multi-branched trail that led from that first video.

An interesting email came from the Algerian dance troupe Association Culturelle “La Canne D’Or”.  They were looking for folk festivals anywhere that they could perform at.  I couldn’t help them there, but they provided a link to a video of them performing, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxLM2gq2CxY.

It’s pretty interesting.  Their dance style is unique in my experience.  One segment includes men dancing while playing drums.  Their website, folklor-algerien.e-monsite.com, has more about their group, although a lot of it is in French.

Finally, Julius sent a note about a web site with pictures of some unique Hungarian embroidery:  picasaweb.google.hu/dfrankorama/Hungarian


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Folk Costumes for Sale

Bobbie Ward is offering a collection of children’s folk costumes for sale.  Some are pictured, below.   She writes, “All items were made by my sister, Barbara (Green) Donovan, when her grandson was dancing at age six.”

Five boy’s sets and five girl’s sets, for ages 5 to 10, in various colors.  They can be adapted for various European cultures – French, Spanish, Italian, etc.  Boys sets include: a paper hat with decorative ribbon and feather, felt vest with rickrack design, and a cloth cumberbund.  Girls sets include: A satin apron with embroidery and a ribboned head wreath.

Asking price: $30 for set of 10 costumes (25 items).  Or $36 including extras: two black dirndls, two extra aprons, 7 extra head wreaths (36 items total).

Contact Bobbie J. Ward, 5701 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa FL 33611-4448,

813-831-5378, BobbW8@aol.com.

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Events

March 27- 29 St. Petersburg

International Folk Fair

Acts include Russian, German, Italian, Polish, Chinese, African, Asian and South Seas islands dance groups

Place: Vinoy Park, Bayshore Blvd. & 7th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL

Contact: Rosaline Sugrive, 727- 235-9095

Information: www.spiffs.org

Sarasota Grapeviners

We are still enjoying our winter visitors but some are straying back up north already.  Caroline and Gary Lanker paid us a visit a few weeks ago and it's always a pleasure to see them walk in the door and join our circle.  I am most grateful to Phyllis Spiegel from Chicago for working to bring our scrapbook up-to-date while she is here and thanks to Don Winnick from Chicago for helping set up and close down on Wednesdays.  It really is great when every one jumps in to keep the dancing going.

Many thanks to Sanna Longden for her complimentary article about  the Grapeviners in the National Folk Organization newsletter last month.  We enjoyed the visit from her and Mars in December and hope they will return next year.  We will  celebrate World Dance Day on Wednesday, April 29. Do join us.  I offer bed and breakfast.  That will be Andi's last night with us before she takes off for Vancouver. We are not celebrating that, but will continue to dance every Wednesday until her return.

We have missed Marion Hoercher this last month while she deals with a painful neck.  Hope she will be back with us soon.

Sarasota dancers and friends at camp, from left: Susan Barach, Andi Kapplin, Yves Moreau, Fred Miller (in front), Delores Lustig, Judy Merkt, Mireille Perrotte (Gainesville), Marie Marie Millett, Ann Kessler


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April 4 Spring Fling

All request dance day

Place: Whirl and Twirl Square Dance Hall, 6949 Venture Circle, Orlando (map, below)

Time: 10 AM – 7 PM

Price: $5

Potluck lunch

See FFDC website calendar for flyer and larger map.

April 16 - 19 National Folk Organization (NFO) Annual Conference

Place: YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center, Denver, Colorado. Packages of rooms at the Alpen Inn Lodge plus meals will be available. 

Contact: Katherine St. John, 801-485-5824, kstjohn@burgoyne.com 

Information:

www.nfo-usa.org/Conference2009.htm

-

July 26 - August 1 (wk 1), August 2 - 8 (wk 2)

Stockton Folk Dance Camp

Bulgarian (Yves Moreau), Scandinavian (Roo Lester), Balkan (Lee Otterholt), French-Canadian workshop (France Bourque-Moreau), English (Bruce Hamilton), Italian, squares.

Place: University of the Pacific Campus,

Stockton, CA

Contact: Jan (530) 474-3231, jmwright32@frontiernet.net

Information: www.folkdancecamp.org

June 12 - 14 International and Israeli

Folk Dance Weekend

with Ira Weisburd

Place: Circle Lodge on Sylvan Lake, Hopewell Junction , NY

Times: Friday lunch through Sunday lunch

Contact: Sasha Gottlieb 351 West 24st. Apt. 20F, New York, NY 10011, 212-929-5698.

See event notice on the FFDC website calendar.

May 9 Mayfair Ball

Evening Ball with Full Circle band;

Workshops with Long Odds; Florida English Country Dance leaders

Place: St. Cloud Senior Citizen Center, 3101 17th Street, St. Cloud, Florida

Price: $20 by 4/1/09; $25 thereafter

Contact: Pam Russo, 407-284-1955, stcloudecd@yahoo.com; Catie Condran Geist, 321-427-3587, catiegeist@att.net.

Information: chagalo.org/ecd/StCloudECD.shtml

April 26 International Dance Day -

Orlando Celebration

Place: Festival Bay Mall, 5250 International Drive, at Oak Ridge Road

Time: Noon - 5 PM

Contact: Teresa Borker, 903 Silver Drive Orlando, Florida 32803, 407-425-6893, dutton14@msn.com

April 18-19 Israeli Dance Workshop

with Ruth Goodman

Place: Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando,

851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751

Time: Saturday 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM; Sunday9 Am - 5 PM

Contact Julie, 407-645-5933 x238, juliev@orlandojcc.org

Information: www.orlandojcc.org or see flyer on FFDC website calendar


Renew Your FFDC Membership

Now is the time to renew your membership with FFDC, if you haven't already done so. If you don't renew, March will be the last month you will receive the Florida Folk Dancer, if you get a mailed copy, and the last month you will receive email notification of its availability on the website and significant announcements by FFDC, if you have email.  FFDC members will also receive a copy of the FFDC membership list.  Please continue to support FFDC, the vital glue that cements together our small and sparse community of international folk dancers in Florida and nearby areas.

Florida Folk Dance Council, Inc.

MEMBERSHIP FORM

Last Name: ______________________________ First Name: _________________________    

Address:____________________________________________________________________

City: _____________________________________State: __________ ZIP _______________

Email:  __________________________________________ Phone: ____________________

If you include an email address, will receive an announcement when the FFDC newsletter, the Florida Folk Dancer, has been posted on the website, before it is mailed, as well as other notifications to members.  You may choose to receive a mailed copy of the newsletter instead of or in addition to the email announcements.  

FFDC Membership                  Without paper newsletter      With paper newsletter

Single                                         10.00  _________                    15.00 __________

Family                                        15.00 _________                     20.00 __________

Make check payable to:  FFDC                               Any questions:

Mail To:                                                                        Call: John at 321-482-6818

John Daly                                                               email: treasurer@folkdance.org

P. O. Box 500856                                           Web page: www.folkdance.org

Malabar, FL 32950


Please note: The Florida Folk Dancer prints information on folk dance tours, camps and other events that may be of interest to our readers. This does not imply an endorsement or recommendation of any tour or camp (except our own FFDC events!).

Notices of selected tours are published in the newsletter and changed with each issue. A more complete list of tours can be found in the calendar on the FFDC website.

International Folk Dance Tours

June 10 – 22, 2009 Romanian Tour

with Theodor and Lia Vasilescu and Marin Barbu.

Starting in Bucharest, travel through Muntenia, Moldova area of Romania, Bucovina and Transylvania

Includes dance lessons, performances, village visits, sightseeing. 

Contact: Ping Chun, 49 Junard Drive, Morristown, NJ 07960, 973-539-7020, ping.chun@att.net.

More information on FFDC Calendar at

www.folkdance.org.

August 2-15, 2009 Balkan Journey

(new dates)

Led by Jim Gold.  Sightseeing, music and dancing in Tirana Albania, Ohrid Macedonia, Thessaloniki Greece, and Bansko and Sofia Bulgaria

Contact for all Jim Gold Tours:

Jim Gold International, Inc. 497 Cumberland Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666; (201) 836-0362, jimgold@jimgold.com

Information at www.jimgold.com

Return Address:

Florida Folk Dancer

1963 S. Lake Reedy Blvd.

Frostproof, FL 33843

USA

FIRST CLASS

FLORIDA FOLK DANCER

Florida Folk Dancer is published six to eight times a year by the Florida Folk Dance Council, Inc., a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to further knowledge, performance, and recreational enjoyment of International Folk Dance.

2009 FFDC OFFICERS:

President: Terry Abrahams

813-234-1231

president@folkdance.org

VP: Pat Henderson

407-275-6247 
henderp@bellsouth.net 

Secretary/Treasurer: John Daly

321-482-6818

treasurer@folkdance.org

Historian: Dan Lampert

PO Box 151719

Altamonte Springs, FL 32715

dan300@dlc2.com

Newsletter Editor: Caroline Lanker

1963 S. Lake Reedy Blvd.

Frostproof, FL 33843

863-635-9366

editor@folkdance.org

Submissions: Send all newsletter submissions to the Editor.

Copyright: Articles in the Florida Folk Dancer are copyright by the Florida Folk Dance Council, Inc., or by their individual authors.

Subscriptions for printed and mailed copies are $15 per year per person ($20 per family) and include membership in the Florida Folk Dance Council. Membership without printed newsletters is $10 per person or $15 per family. The membership year runs from one annual Florida Folk Dance Camp (usually February) to the next. The newsletter is posted on the FFDC website and members with e-mail addresses are notified of its availability.

FFDC Website: www.folkdance.org