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Prez Sez
Yikes! Is it too hot to dance? Almost! I’m looking forward to February, when it might be a little cooler, and, of course, to “camp”. I hope you have marked your calendar for February 12–15. Here’s the latest information: First teacher: Željko Jergan – Croatian! We had the pleasure of Željko back in 1998 and I think it’s time to have him again! See his bio, below – he’s quite a guy! Once you read it, you’ll know you have to be there!
We have a “logo” for “Camp” 2010. See the picture on page 4. Any time you see it, you will know it is about camp 2010. It will be the T-shirt design, the buttons, the syllabus, the ads. I’m thinking white on black at this moment, and there could be a reverse version - black on white. It’s the opanci’s you liked on the black shirt years ago – sort of a come back!
Hope some of you are going to Folkmoot (see Events) or have managed some of the Greek festivals that abound in Florida. I see so much stuff around from NFO, etc. We certainly don’t live in the heart of international folk dance activity, but that which is near here, we must do! I’m done and this is short – a miracle!
– Terry
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Željko Jergan
Željko Jergan is a renowned choreographer and teacher of Croatian folk dance throughout the world, having conducted seminars and workshops in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Taiwan. A native of Varaždin, Croatia, Željko was a leading performer with the Croatian National Folk Ensemble LADO for twelve years. He also performed with the Zagreb National Ballet and Modern Dance companies for several years.
Since moving to the United States in 1986, he has choreographed for 95 different performing ensembles, including Les Sortileges, Brigham Young University, Radost Folk Ensemble and the Duquesne University Tamburitzans and for both the eastern and western Canadian Croatian Folklore Festivals. He serves as artistic director for Kraljica Jelena Folklore Ensemble, Kitchener, Ontario and Hrvatsko Prelo, Oakville, Ontario and is the artistic director for the Folklore Ensemble Hrvatski Tanac, Jadran Junior Tamburitzans and Kumovi Adult Ensemble, of Pittsburgh, St. Anthony's Folklore Ensemble of Los Angeles and the Koraci Ensemble of San Jose, CA.
Željko continually strives to elevate the level of authenticity and presentation of these ensembles, which showcase their culture at the highest level among amateur ensembles. Željko has received two full fellowship grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in support of his artistic work. He was selected as the Guest Conductor for the 2009 CFU Junior Tamburitza Festival held at Chicago, Illinois, July 3-5.
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Zeljko Jergan
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Gainesville Gadabouts
by Jack Seltzer
Last month we were anticipating our move to our group’s new home in the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Fellowship hall. Now we can say it has been a great beginning. We're really lucky to have Joyce arrange for this fine dance room. On June 19 Gary and Peggy were in for a short visit, back from three months in Morelia, Mexico and on their way to two years in the Peace Corps. He did a fine job of giving us Esmer and Gankino Horo again.
Since then we’ve had some enthusiastic newcomers show up at our new digs. On July 10 we had five new folks who stayed until the end and couldn’t wait to do the next dance! Some of these new folks have continued to come, like Kathy, Lisa “Klezmom” and Anna, and now Dan, Jenny and their eight month old son, Christian. They are excellent beginner dancers, danced 80 percent of the dancers, smiled throughout, and caught on fast.
A special thanks to Arlene and Charles for hosting a great dance party all evening June 20. About 10 PM, Margaret walked in and livened things up even more with her fine dancing and tales of her trip to Turkey and Romania – dancing in the streets and all.
On July 3, we celebrated the 4th by heading over to Sandy's Place for some karaoke, beer and salads. It was unusual but I don't think we'll quit early for it again.
On July 17 and August 15 we won’t be able to use the UU hall, so we’re cooking up some other activities, like supper at Sandy’s Place on the 17th.
At this point we're gliding thru the summer travel season. We'll try to put a bigger push on publicity for August and September, when more students and other folks will be around.
Dancing at the New Digs: Jack, John, Linda and June. Nice T-shirts!
Linda, Gary, June, Peggy, Marylin, Arlene and Anna
June 20 Party: Margaret and Gary
Photos by Julieta Brambila
Clockwise from upper left: Charles, Anna, Marylin, Joyce, Peggy
Orlando International Folk Dance Club
by Pat Henderson
We were able to dance the entire month of June at our home without being rained out as we were in May. Actually, our side of Orlando is not waterlogged, yet, but it probably will be by the time you read this. Now it is July and we are on our two month hiatus until September. However, the group is planning a field trip to dance with the Melbourne group on Friday, July 31.
A number of our dancers have been trying to escape the Florida heat this summer. Phyllis Dammer and her husband, Ed, were is Illinois for the graduation of a grandson from high school, then took a road trip to Lake of the Ozarks and to Kansas City for Phyllis to see family. Nicki Wise and her husband, John, took a long road trip for most of the month of May up to the Midwest and back; she was home a couple of weeks and then they were off to Costa Rica.
Grapevine International Folk Dancers of Sarasota
by Marie Millett
May was our outreach month. We participated in the Sarasota County Arts Council Arts Night downtown. We set up the computer in front of a T-shirt store and showed folk dancing. We also went to a retirement community to teach a folk dance class in a wellness and fitness promotion for the community. We didn't get any new dancers, but a few more people now know about international folk dancing.
Delores Lustig taught our folk dancing in June and did a very good job. She and Faith Kibler enjoyed the English Country Dance Mayfair Ball in May (see article in June issue of FFD). Judy Merkt is teaching in July and has come up with some new dances that we haven't enjoyed before such as Corlu and Esmer.
Varda Ruskin enjoyed four weeks of Israeli dancing in New York City. We're glad to have her back.
We have had good attendance this summer except for July 1 when it rained and rained and rained, but we still had eleven enthusiastic dancers.
Our recreation center will undergo some repairs soon; we will not meet July 29th or August 5th. Andi suggested that they take out the pillars while they were at it, but I don't think that's going to happen. We hear from Andi – she is teaching some dances in Vancouver. We miss her and look forward to her return in September.
Mary Jean Linn and her husband, Bill Byars were in Asheville, NC for the contra dance Summer Soiree. Eva Gaber visited her father in Detroit and then went to a business conference in Toronto. Grandfather watched Felissa and Lila while Eva was gone. Juanita Schockey visited family in West Virginia. Ann Robinson attended a craft school in the mountains of North Carolina and specialized in glass beads. Finally, Bobby and I took a four night cruise to Key West and Cozumel on Royal Caribbean, out of Ft. Lauderdale. We could not believe how absolutely blue and clear the water was in Cozumel.
We hope that everyone is having a good summer.
Oh, How We Dance
When I sent out the call for articles for this newsletter, I asked our members to write about the different types of dancing that they do, comparing and contrasting with international folk dance. So far, one response has come in, below. I'd like to present more views in future newsletters.
Gary and I have become a little familiar with the Scandinavian dance community in North America in the last year or so. As we are hoping to do some more Scandinavian dancing this summer, I will hold off until a later issue to write about that.
– Caroline
From Bernice Roth:
I do Scottish Country Dancing, English country dancing, Line Dancing, Contra and Israeli. I find that many of the steps in line dancing are taken from many of the International dances that we do. They call them something else but they are vines and Yemenites and cherkessiyas etc. The music is different for all the categories, but the steps are the same.
– Bernice
Folk Dance Outreach in Phoenix
by Joyce Story
On July 9, the Phoenix International Folk Dancers (PIFD) hosted students from Arizona State University (ASU) for an evening of Macedonian, Serbian, and Croatian dances. The students are enrolled in ASU’s Critical Languages Institute, which turned to the PIFD with the request for a cultural experience for their students of the Macedonian and Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian languages.
The event was a huge success. Over thirty visitors – university students and their friends, as well as various ethnic Slavs who had learned of the program – came to participate in the event.
The evening followed the usual PIFD format. The first hour, called the Folk and Community Hour, is led by PIFD member Dick Watt. For the July 9 event, Dick taught several very easy Serbian dances.
The second hour is devoted to a program planned by an individual PIFD member. For the July 9 evening, Joyce put together a schedule of Croatian, Serbian, and Macedonian dances, beginning with easy dances and progressing to intermediate and more difficult dances. Joyce also distributed the lyrics for many of the dances.
As with the usual PIFD format, the third hour was devoted to requests. When the PIFD met the following night for a community outreach program, members were delighted to welcome some of the attendees from the previous night.
Joyce Story, an FFDC member, frequently dances with the Gainesville group. A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, she is also a member of the Phoenix International Folk dancers (PIFD).
Fractured Dance Lyrics - the Answers
by Caroline Lanker
Here are the names of the dances that include the fractured dance lyrics published in the June issue of FFD. Sorry, I don’t know the real lyrics in the original languages. But you can listen to the songs and pick out where the fractured lyrics can be heard.
“She forgot to lay the eggs”: Ciulandra
“Lychees on the bedpost”: Arap
“Keep your clothes on, baby; it’s that way”: Guzelleme
“Nekkid Sara Lee”: Makedonsko Devoče
Logo and T-Shirt Design for Florida "Camp" 2010
Tampa Trivia
by Terry Abrahams
The international group is short of people this summer, so doing a very small amount of dancing. If Judith is out of town, we don’t dance, if I’m out of town, we don’t dance. Ursula comes when we do, Andy is in town, and that’s it. And to think Tampa used to be the King of the International groups in Florida. Sob!
So it’s all about me. I have to brag a little here. I did finally go the USFA Nationals (fencing) and entered the very first ever 70+ Women’s Foil and Sabre. Before I tell you about that, I was at the very first 60+ and did take first! Well, I’ve done it again – I’m the national champ in foil, third in saber. I had a great time – winning is always good, but I also saw all my 60+ buddies. (I didn’t fence with them, though. I didn’t want to spend another $70; besides, that competition is to qualify for the US team to go to the world competition and I don’t have the $$ to go to Moscow; so no point in fencing).
I roomed with old friends, bought some new equipment, drank more than I ate (it was a very expensive resort) and even got to see an old high school girlfriend who lives in Dallas. There will be 70+ competition at World for the men, but not for women, yet. All in all, a good week! I’m also having my knees fixed with some sort of injection, and they’re already feeling better. I had cortisone shots before I went to Nationals. Between skin docs, knee docs, physical therapy, cancer docs, regular checkups, like Bobbie says, I wouldn’t have a social life if it weren’t for my doctor appointments. Well, a slight exaggeration – I am playing my accordion with a couple of groups, at a couple of Irish pubs. This weekend we’re playing at a co-op art shop. Still doing yoga, still trying to get people to read my website and buy buttons! Then I could take more trips! So now me, me, me, is signing off.
Well, this is a short issue, coming out in the summer doldrums and just a month after the last one. A lot of our Florida dancers are traveling this summer. I hope you are dancing a lot and/or seeing dance performances and doing lots of other exciting things that you can write about for the newsletter.
Gary and I went to the Nordic Fiddles and Feet Scandinavian Dance Camp in New Hampshire over July 1. Judith Baizan was there, too, and Sandy Cowan, who used to spend her winters on the Florida west coast and come to Florida Folk Dance Camp. It took Sandy and I a while to figure out where we knew each other from. I tried to talk her into coming to our camp again, but there is an annual dance event in the northeast the same weekend.
The camp was good, the dance teachers were good, the music was good, and the food was unbelievable, including breads baked on the premises, a lobster dinner one night and an incredible smorgasbord the last evening. The setting, Camp Ogontz, is beautiful – on a lake, with views of the White Mountains in the background. The only significant drawback was that it rained every day of the six we were there – sometimes all day.
I don’t have the pictures that I’d like to have because all my camera batteries ran down before the last night, when people were dancing in costume. The picture below, left shows Loretta Kelly, one of the fiddle teachers at the camp, performing at a concert given by the music staff and students.
–CL
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 (France Bourque-Moreau), English (Bruce Hamilton), Italian, Croatian, squares.
Place: University of the Pacific Campus,
Stockton, CA
Contact: Jan 530-474-3231, jmwright32@frontiernet.net
Information: www.folkdancecamp.org
August 15 - 21 (wk 1), August 22 - 28 (wk 2), August 29 - September 4 (wk 3), September 4 - 7 (Labor Day Weekend) Mainewoods Dance Camp
Week 1: Israeli, Bulgarian, contras and squares
Week 2: Romanian with Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu, Scandinavian with Roo Lester, Armenian
Week 3: Hungarian, Serbian with Miroslav Marcetic, and Arab folk dance
Labor Day weekend: Croatian and Scottish
All weeks (schedule permitting): English Country with George Fogg and International with Sandy Starkman
Place: Camp Indian Acres in Fryeburg, Maine
Contact prior to August 7: Helen Blum, Registrar, Mainewoods Dance Camp, Inc., 926 Bloomfield Ave., Apt. 3F, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028; after August 7: Mainewoods Dance Camp, Inc., c/o Camp Indian Acres, 1712 Main Street, Fryeburg, ME 04037
Phone: until August 14: 973-787-4614;
after August 14: 207-935-3901
Email: info@mainewoodsdancecamp.org
Information: www.mainewoodsdancecamp.org
July 30 - August 2 New Mexico August Folk Dance Camp
Teachers: Shmulik Gov Ari - Israeli; Cristian Florescu & Sonia Dion - Romanian
Place: Campus of New Mexico Tech, Socorro,
New Mexico
Information: Southwest International Folk Dance Institute (SWIFDI), www.swifdi.org
Contact: Wendy Brown, 505-345-0447, wendish27@gmail.com
July 16-26 FolkMoot USA
[Editor’s note: I had never heard of Folkmoot before Terry sent her president’s column for this month. It may be too short notice to attend any of it this year, but it is an annual event. We’ll try to get it on the calendar earlier next year.]
Folkmoot USA is an international dance festival. “Folkmoot” is an Old English word that means “meeting of the people”. The festival brings ten to twelve dance groups from all over the world to western North Carolina for a two week period. They give over 60 performances, participate in a parade and give workshops.
Place: Waynesville, NC and nearby towns
Information: www.folkmootusa.org.
Contact: Folkmoot USA, PO Box 658, Waynesville, NC 28786, 877-FOLK-USA or 828-452-2997. You can also email a message from the website.
September 4-7 Buffalo on the Danube
International Music and Dance Camp
Teachers: Tom Bozigian, Armenian; Daniela Ivanova, Bulgarian, Kostana, Turkish Romani; Roo Lester and Larry Harding, Scandinavian.
Live music, singing and instrumental workshops
Place: Timber Ridge Camp, High View, WV
Information: www.dancingplanetproductions.com/danube.htm
Contact: Jamie/Betsy Platt 301-717-4641 or 301-466-3018, dancingplanet@erols.com
August 2 Brunch and English Country Dance
with a medley of Florida English Country callers and music by Full Circle.
Please bring food to share for the brunch.
Place: Community House in Melbourne Village, 6200 Hall Rd.
Time: 12 noon to 4 PM
Price: $3
Information: chagalo.org/ecd/ecdspec.shtml
Contact: Catie Condran Geist, 321-427-3587, catiegeist@att.net
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, workshops, etc. 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
October 16-18 Sharpes Assembly
English Country Dance Weekend
Caller: Gene Murrow, music by Full Circle
Place: Kenilworth Lodge, 1610 SE Lakeview Drive, Sebring, FL 33870
Price: $130, double occupancy
Information: chagalo.org/ecd/ecdspec.shtml
Contact: Catie Condran Geist, 321-427-3587, catiegeist@att.net
August 3 - 15, 2010 Bulgarian Tour
Led by Jim Gold
Includes the weekend Koprivshtitsa Folk Festival, held once every five years.
Information: www.jimgold.com/Bulgaria2010.htm
Contact: Jim Gold International, 201-836-0362, jimgold@jimgold.com
Several FFDC dancers, including Pat Henderson and Bobby Quibodeaux, are interested in taking this Bulgarian tour. Pat reports that the tour is filling up fast. If you are interested, make your plans now!
June 10-26, 2010 Folkdance On The Water,
China and Yangtze River
Led by Mel Mann, with dance teacher Sandy Starkmann
Two days in Shanghai plus eight-day Yangtze River Cruise
Prices start at $2,699 for early signup ending September 15, 2009
Information: www.folkdanceonthewater.org/indexb.php
Contact: Mel Mann, 510-526-4033, meldancing@aol.com
February 12-15, 2010 Florida Folk Dance "Camp"
Place: Westgate Inn and Suites at 9200 West U.S. Hwy 192 in Kissimmee (c. 1 mile east of U.S. 27)
See Prez Sez and look for more information in the future on the FFDC website and in the newsletter.
December 26 - January 1, 2010 Berea College Christmas Country Dance School
Classes in dance: contra, squares, Scandinavian (with Roo Lester), English country, clogging, Morris, Irish, rapper sword. Also dance calling, singing, dance band; storytelling, and crafts.
Information: www.berea.edu/peh/dance/ccds/default.asp
Contact: 859-985-3431, ccds@berea.edu
November 26 – 29 Texas Camp
Sponsored by Texas International Folk Dancers. Teachers have not been announced yet. Check their website for more information in their next newsletter.
Place: Greene Family Camp, 1192 Smith Lane, Bruceville, Texas 76630
Information: www.tifd.org
Contact: board@tifd.org
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
