Balkan

EEFC Virtual Balkan Camp July 17-19

In 1977, the EEFC offered the first of many wonderful getaway Balkan Music & Dance Workshops. In 2020, we’re excited to roll with the punches and debut our online edition, which you can enjoy from the comfort of home. Join us July 17-19, 2020! Learn more here and register via our website. Facebook event is here.

Thanks to high-speed internet, we continue to welcome new friends and old to our community of musicians, singers, dancers, and those who love them. Beginners and advanced practitioners will continue to “rub shoulders” while benefiting from the expertise of our extraordinary teaching staff and enjoying bliss-inducing live-music performances. We can’t provide the traditional rustic redwoods setting nor a superb glamping experience in the Catskills, but this Virtual Camp weekend retains our signature style—an immersive learning experience that opens hearts and minds to the beauty of Balkan music, dance, and culture.

The Platform

We’re using an online platform to centralize our gathering for the weekend. In other words, this event is more than just a series of Zoom meetings—we’re creating a digital village. On Wednesday, July 15th, you’ll receive an invitation to join our online space, which, while initially designed to recreate the […]

By dale|2020-07-08T22:14:05-07:00July 8th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Party, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Bulgarian Dance Workshops with Iliana and Todor July 11

Iliana Bozhanova and Todor Yankov

Bulgarian Dance Workshops

Saturday, July 11, 2020
First Workshop: 2:00pm EDT
Second Workshop: 3:00pm EDT

Online via Zoom on your nearest web browser or device!

To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

Join Bulgarian native and renowned dance teacher Iliana Bozhanova and accordion virtuoso Todor Yankov via Zoom, the popular teleconferencing platform.

Join Iliana’s workshop via Zoom by activating a link that will be posted here July 10. Visit What you need to join to set up your computer or device to join the workshop online.

Please donate generously to FAC and help us through this period of social distancing when all of our events are postponed. We suggest a $10 minimum for attending this workshop but any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting the Folk Arts Center of New England!

Visit the website for more information and to donate.

Iliana Hristova Bozhanova from Galabovo, in the Stara Zagora region of Bulgaria, grew up in a family of musicians and singers in South Thrace. She graduated from the National School for Art Instructors in Plovdiv. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in “Bulgarian Folk Dances and Choreography” at the Academy […]

By dale|2020-07-04T17:33:54-07:00July 4th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Christos Papakostas teaching Greek folk dances from Ioannina Greece

Christos Papakostas teaching Greek folk dances from Ioannina Greece
12 noon, PST
Saturday, June 27
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/96375194977
Voluntary donations to benefit Kypseli Greek Dance Center
Donate to: moc.loa@0301namlibfezoj on Paypal.

Information: moc.liamg@esperox or 310-508-9676

By dale|2020-06-12T18:02:06-07:00June 12th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Virtual Online Bulgarian Folk Dance Class with Mitko

Come Join Dimitar Petrov on Friday 29th May, 2020

Facebook group DANCE FRIENDS

4 pm Bulgarian time

2 pm London

3 pm Holland, Austria, France, Germany, Poland, Italy

9 pm Taiwan

10 pm Japan

9 am Florida and New York

6am on the west coast!

Please, share and invite your friends to join the group!

STAY HOME, BE HEALTHY AND ENJOY DANCING!

This is his weekly Friday Bulgarian & Beyond Folk Dance Classes.

Find them at Dance Friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1561373747415579/

By dale|2020-06-27T14:00:35-07:00May 28th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Folk Dance Weekend Memorial Day 2020 Online Event

Flyer here.
Saturday, May 23

Please join us for this very special afternoon of friends and families celebrating 39 years of dancing at the land. Reconnect, listen, sing along, or clear your living room and dance to the wonderful songs that keep us together as a folk-dancing community.

Easy Zoom Connection: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87639441238
No password required. For best results, check out these tips before joining: Zoom Tips

2:30 pm Arrival, Music, and Photos
2:45 Welcome and Greetings

3:00 Balkan Dance Set
3:30 Israeli Dance Set

4:15 Balkan Dance Set
4:45 Israeli Dance Set

5:30 Landladies Singing
5:50 Havdalah Service
6:00 Dinner Break (Open Sharing)
6:30 Campfire

Land Dancers Home and Donations Page: http://www.landdancers.org/
Note there will not be dancing at Cliff’s land in the Santa Cruz mountains this weekend!

By dale|2020-05-22T17:27:50-07:00May 22nd, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Israeli, Live, Party, Singing|0 Comments

Online Culture Corner with Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau

Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau This Saturday, May 23, 2-4pm EDT:

ONLINE Culture Corner with Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau

Join folklore specialists Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau, and the Folk Arts Center as we present our next online event via Zoom. There are details about what to do in preparation for Saturday’s workshop on the Folk Art Center’s Online Events webpages: how to make your donation, and how to install Zoom on the device of your choice. We suggest a donation of $10, but of course anything above that would be gratefully accepted and most appreciated.

Yves is a grand storyteller with much knowledge of all things related to Bulgarian folk dancing; France is an expert teacher of folk dancing for children and conducts special seminars to train school teachers in this field. Her current repertoire includes hundreds of dances and rounds from all parts of the world especially designed and adapted to various age and experience levels.

This is the ninth in a series of online events featuring some of your favorite dance leaders, with the proceeds benefiting FAC. This series […]

By dale|2020-05-21T15:33:29-07:00May 21st, 2020|Balkan, Culture, Information, Live|0 Comments

Monday dance classes with Alex Markovic

Sponsored by the EEFC!

All classes are at 7 PM Eastern Time, so 4 PM Pacific time!

Dates:
May 25
June 1
June 8
June 15
June 22

For your security, pre-registration is required. You can do so here: https://forms.gle/qBM6XWmvkkiWxrGF6

This event has a suggested donation of $15 per class. Send your donation via Paypal to gro.cfee@eciffo, or donate here: https://eefc.org/join-the-circle/covid-19/

Due to COVID-19, our organization had to cancel our bi-costal summer workshops. Losing regular camp programming this year will hurt in more ways than one as roughly 80% of our annual income comes from our workshops. We need your help to see us through this uncertain time, and to ensure that—when the danger has passed—we can gather once more in celebration!

Class Description | |

Can’t resist the urge to move to Balkan Romani music? Then don’t! Join us for a workshop series focusing on Romani dance. We’ll survey Romani community traditions from throughout the southern Balkans–from Serbia southeast all the way to Turkey. Come learn the basics of a variety of Romani line dances, as well as solo-style dances like čoček and 9/8 Roman. Beyond the steps, we’ll talk about how to model Romani dance style, gender […]

By dale|2020-05-19T17:40:57-07:00May 19th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|1 Comment

Michael Ginsburg 4-week Balkan Dance Series

Michael has an incredible gift for making folk dance accessible to all. He specializes in getting beginners up to speed and helping musicians transition from the stage to the dance floor in style. You’ll learn how geography applies to dance, explore unfamiliar rhythms, and get the blood moving! Bring your pets, children, double-left footed significant others—all are welcome!

Class #1 (5/21) will explore beginner-friendly Milisso, Ramno Veleshko, Skudrinka, and Gankino. Then, we will tackle the first section of Ludo Kopano, which will be completed over the duration of the series.

Register here: https://forms.gle/Mn889t5WdTdoyNtG8
FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/237541120810158

This event has a suggested donation of $15 for a single class or $50 for all 4 classes. Send your donation via Paypal to gro.cfee@eciffo.

Due to COVID-19, our organization had to cancel our bi-costal summer workshops. Losing regular camp programming this year will hurt in more ways than one as roughly 80% of our annual income comes from our workshops. We need your help to see us through this uncertain time, and to ensure that—when the danger has passed—we can gather once more in celebration!

About […]

By dale|2020-05-18T21:55:27-07:00May 18th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Bulgarian Dance Workshops with Iliana Bozhanova May 16

This Saturday, May 16:
ONLINE Bulgarian Dance Workshops with Iliana Bozhanova

First workshop: 2:00pm EDT
Second workshop: 3:00pm EDT

Here is the link to the Zoom page for Saturday’s workshops.

The Workshops / Making a Donation

All of this information is on the Folk Arts Center of New England’s website.

Logging In

Here is the link to the Zoom meeting for Saturday. It is also listed on the Iliana Bozhanova page on the FAC website.

Steve’s Workshop Materials

Steve Kotansky’s workshop materials are now available through the FAC Music Shop.

You can order the music/dance directions/table of contents there, and pay through PayPal. Katy Bishop, the FAC Office Manager, will then send you the materials through WeTransfer, a free download app.

By dale|2020-05-14T21:58:16-07:00May 14th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Michele Simon’s Balkan Vocal Technique

Dear Singers,

Kitka is pleased to host Michele Simon’s next Tuesday night Online Balkan Vocal Technique Workout Series on Facebook live!

These sessions will run for the next four Tuesday evenings (May 12 – June 2). Join us from 7-7:30pm.

Michele will work on warmups, placement, vowels, range, and ornaments, with a focus on breath and ease, as well as teaching a song or two, as time allows. Plan is for minimum explanation, maximum sound making. Let’s have some fun together!

Here’s the link where you can join us:
https://www.facebook.com/events/447664666071725/

Click the “discussion” tab on the event to find the video…

Suggested Donation $5-$20 to www.kitka.org/donate

No one turned away for lack of funds!

Well wishes,
Shira & Michele

By dale|2020-05-12T12:05:53-07:00May 12th, 2020|Balkan, Live, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Balkan Sing-Along Saturday May 16

Greetings and salutations!

For those of you who have been wishing for a Balkan Sing-along, Michele Simon will be leading one this Saturday from 2pm to 3:30 pacific time, accompanied by our band, Zabava, while observing social distancing 😉

If you would like to attend, please visit Cope-a-cabana.com and add yourself to our Sing-a-long mailing list to receive all the needed info to join us 🙂 Of course, you may also join any of the other mailing lists you are interested in 😉

Sing-along songbook will be posted by midnight Friday 😉

Hope to enjoy your virtual company soon!

By dale|2020-05-12T11:30:30-07:00May 12th, 2020|Balkan, Live, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

ONLINE Balkan Folk Dance Workshop with Steve Kotansky

This Saturday, May 9:
ONLINE Balkan Folk Dance Workshop with Steve Kotansky
First workshop: 2:00pm EDT
Second workshop: 3:00pm EDT

Here is the link to the Zoom page for Saturday’s workshop.

The Workshops
Steve Kotansky, known widely as a versatile dancer and teacher, has made many research trips to Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary, and Greece. He has taught at major folk dance camps all over North America and Europe and has performed and choreographed for many performing ensembles throughout the U.S. and Europe. Steve is also active as a teacher and researcher of dance in North American Albanian and Macedonian Roma communities. Steve brings a lively, in-depth knowledge to his teaching, and an intense joy to his dancing.

Making a donation
Steve and our other leaders are donating their time and talent to bringing us together in dance every Saturday in May and early June. They are doing this as a fundraiser for the Folk Arts Center of New England, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 1975. The FAC mission is to promote the participation in the traditional folk arts of different countries, particularly music and dance. We are honored […]

By dale|2020-05-08T10:32:09-07:00May 8th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Update to Friday Night L.I.F.E.

Hey Party People!

REMINDER: Join us every Friday at 8pm (PST) for L.I.F.E. Balkan Dancers on Zoom until we return to dancing together at LA Dancefit in West LA! Bring your dancing shoes and your own snacks and we will dance to your requests! If you have not yet contacted Sherry by e-mail (moc.liamg@1ecnadlrow) for the private link and given her your requests both for dances and for teaching, please do so before noon(PST) on Friday. If you have the link from 4/10 and beyond you are good to go! We will be doing lots of dancing to your requests. Teaching videos and lots of other inspiring stuff is on youTube https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeBalkanDancers/videos

We began this virtual journey on 3/27/20, two weeks after we had to close our live sessions. Wow! It is a pleasure to continue to serve our dance community.

Love and Light,
Sherry
lifebalkandancers.com

By dale|2020-07-08T22:27:28-07:00May 8th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

International Folk Song Exchange & Bulgarian Folk Singing Technique

Vlada Tomova is excited to invite you to three different folk singing offerings: Vlada will be either leading, or hosting on Zoom in the upcoming months. She is planning on May and June for now, and shall see how life goes after that in these unprecedented times.

Feel free to pass this on – all levels are welcome, and the classes are by donation, or free!

________________________________

Sing Bulgarian ornaments with ease! – Vlada will lead with this one to start

Mondays, 8-9 PM EDT (45 min singing, 15 Q&A, send in your recording for feedback)
15$ suggested donation (pay what you can)
starting May 4

Learn your favorite Bulgarian folk songs with a native singer! – Vlada will lead with this one to start, with special guest teachers

Saturday, 4:30-5:30 pm EDT (if you have a song you’ve been aching to learn, or find out more about its meaning, send it her way)
10$ suggested donation (pay what you can)
starting May 9

International folk song exchange! – led by native singers from around the world

Sunday, 4:30-5:30 pm EDT (Q&A follows)
FREE!
May 10 – Mavrothi Kontanis (Greece), a great singer, oud player, and teacher, well known and loved in the […]

By dale|2020-05-04T22:07:55-07:00May 4th, 2020|Balkan, Live, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Dragi Spasovski podcast episode 45 published

Interested in discussions and samples of Macedonian folk songs?
David Bilides and Dragi Spasovski are back with another podcast for you in their series of expanded discussions for each of the 54 songs in Dragi’s 3-CD set.

Episode 45: Neli si se naspalo

This is a love song of the Macedonian Muslims living in the greater Šar Planina area. Dragi talks about the Isjanovska sisters, describes the Macedonian Muslim dialect, and discusses that singing tradition, both its continuity and its evolution.

You can…

1) Download the podcast directly from the site: http://podcasts.izvormusic.com
2) Listen to the podcast without downloading it, as an audio stream from the same page on the site;
3) Subscribe to the entire series from the same page on the site or through iTunes or similar software.
4) Get more information about the 3-CD set here: http://www.izvormusic.com/cds

Episodes on the site have additional audio and links discussed in the podcast.

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.
Have fun listening!

http://izvormusic.com

By dale|2020-05-04T21:49:12-07:00May 4th, 2020|Anytime, Balkan, Culture, Information, Singing|0 Comments

LA and Beyond Friday Night LIFE Virtual Dance Parties Reminder

Hey Party People!

REMINDER: Join us every Friday at 8pm (PST) for L.I.F.E. Balkan Dancers on Zoom until we return to dancing together at LA Dancefit in West LA! Bring your dancing shoes and your own snacks and we will dance to your requests! If you have not yet contacted Sherry by e-mail for the private link and given her your requests both for dances and for teaching, please do so before noon (PST) on Friday. If you have the link from 4/10 and beyond you are good to go! We will be doing a couple of walkthroughs and lots of dancing to your requests. Teaching videos and lots of other inspiring stuff is on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeBalkanDancers/videos

BTW- we have completed one month of Friday Night L.I.F.E. on Zoom! Wow! It is a pleasure to continue to serve our dance community.

Love and Light,
Sherry
lifebalkandancers.com

By dale|2020-04-25T22:39:43-07:00April 25th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

Roberto Bagnoli Together while Apart Classes

ROBERTO BAGNOLI
FOLK DANCE TEACHER
Together while Apart

Visit Roberto’s website for all the details and to make a donation – Thanks! Virtual Party Balkan Dancing

By dale|2020-04-27T12:38:26-07:00April 23rd, 2020|Balkan, Dance, International, Israeli, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

Yves Moreau Posted Videos

Yves Moreau is posting videos regularly on his Facebook page. What a treat!

Today’s dance (#5) is KRIVO PLOVDIVSKO HORO (11/8), from the region of Plovdiv in West Trakiya, Bulgaria. Presented in February 2015 at the Rivieradance! workshop organized by Cathy Meunier in Torquay (England). Videotaping of the review session by Ron Wilks. See video here.

Today's dance (#5) is KRIVO PLOVDIVSKO HORO (11/8), from the region of Plovdiv in West Trakiya, Bulgaria. Presented in February 2015 at the Rivieradance! workshop organized by Cathy Meunier in Torquay (England). Videotaping of the review session by Ron Wilks.

Posted by Yves Moreau on Monday, April 13, 2020

By dale|2020-04-24T10:54:11-07:00April 13th, 2020|Anytime, Balkan, Dance|0 Comments

Croatian Dance workshop with Zeljko Jergan April 18

Željko Jergan Croatian Dance Workshops

Saturday, April 18, 2020
First Workshop: 2:00-2:40pm EDT
Second Workshop: 3:00-3:40pm EDT

Online via Zoom on your nearest web browser or device!

To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

Join Croatian dance expert Željko Jergan and the Folk Arts Center as we present our fourth dance workshop of the socially distanced era via Zoom, the popular teleconferencing platform.

All the details on the FACONE website. It shows you what you need to do to join the fun!

By dale|2020-04-24T10:52:40-07:00April 13th, 2020|Balkan, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Online: Roma culture discussion, Q&A, and dancing (April 19)

Sunday, April 19
4 – 6 PM

Zoom! (info to be posted here: https://www.facebook.com/events/145058390274059/)

From the Romas mouth to the Dancers Ears.
A discussion, Q & A, and DANCING with Melina Salifoski and Sonya Jasaroska and Jessaiah Zure.
An incredible opportunity to ask questions about the Roma culture, history, experience, dance movements, “costuming” and more, to these AMAZING women and sisters of mine who are of ROMA descent.

Start posting your questions so we can be ready for ya!
TIME&DAY SUBJECT TO CHANGE

By dale|2020-04-24T10:53:51-07:00April 12th, 2020|Balkan, Culture, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

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