Culture

Be YourSELF: An Evening with Andy Taylor – Jan 15

Join Andy Taylor-Blenis in conversation with Sarah Bustin in an exploration of Andy’s life story on Sunday 1/15 at 6:30pm ET. Andy will discuss her roots and inspirations, how she became a leader in the folk dance community, and the lessons she learned on her journey.

Register at https://forms.gle/HDzuZk83Ruvic5BXA 

There will be a pre-recorded 45-minute interview, and a 15-minute Q&A will follow. The deadline to sign up for the live Q&A is Sunday 1/15 at 12pm ET. Register now to secure your spot!

Proceeds from the interview will be split between the Conny Taylor Oktoberfest Scholarship, the UMass Lowell Folk Dance Club, and a GoFundMe in memory of longtime dancer Donna La Rue. The recording will be available for purchase by March 2023. This event is part of Tuesday Community Dance’s new series Be YourSELF: Stories of Elders and Leaders in Folk dance.

By |2023-01-12T22:48:12-08:00January 12th, 2023|Culture, Information, Live|0 Comments

Save the Date: Folklore Village Virtual Spring Swedish Music & Dance Weekend – March 18-20

Spring Swedish Music & Dance Weekend

March 18-20

Online, via Zoom

Featuring guest instructors Ewa and Tommy Englund, and Gunnar Iggendal, Folklore Village’s Spring Swedish Music & Dance Weekend will be an immersive cultural experience for all. Join us online for workshops in Swedish dance, music, and cooking, as well as afternoon parties featuring music by Gunnar Iggendal, and evening parties featuring music by guest musicians Char Bostrom, Martha Levenson, lydia ievins, and members of the Chicago Spelmanslag.

Full-time admission is $60. Part-time admission to the evening parties is priced at $10 per party.

Registration coming soon; check https://folklorevillage.org/spring-swedish-weekend-2022/ for updates.

By |2022-02-04T12:26:40-08:00February 4th, 2022|Culture, Dance, Live, Music, Party, Scandinavian, Workshop|0 Comments

Birthday Party for Roberto Bagnoli! – Oct 30

Birthday Party for Roberto Bagnoli!

Saturday, October 30
2:00 – 4:00pm EDT

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

$10 is suggested to support this program and FAC, but any amount is appreciated.

Join this workshop via Zoom. Find link here.

About the Program

This online Saturday event will be a birthday celebration for our friend Roberto Bagnoli! The party program will include dances that Roberto has introduced through the years, led by friends from around the world.

BYOC – bring your own (cup)cake, with a candle, so he can blow them all out. Virtually, of course.

Want to make a card expressing your birthday wishes? We will have a breakout room where you can hold them up and screen shots will be taken for the photo album.

Donate to FAC

Donations support these events, artists, and the Folk Arts Center. We suggest $10 for online workshops, although any amount is appreciated.

Visit our donation page for links to various donation options including:

  • PayPal – donating to FAC as “friends and family” will avoid PayPal fees
  • Venmo- our account is: […]
By |2021-10-29T16:28:17-07:00October 29th, 2021|Balkan, Culture, Dance, International, Live, Party|0 Comments

Albanian Dance Workshop and Culture Corner with Genci Kastrati – Oct 2

Albanian Dance Workshop
and Culture Corner
with Genci Kastrati

Saturday, October 2
2:00 – 4:00pm EDT

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

$10 is suggested to support this program and FAC, but any amount is appreciated.

Join this workshop via Zoom. Find link here.

About the Workshop

The FACONE Saturday series begins again after a bit of a hiatus! We will kick off the fun with Genci Kastrati joining us from his home in Tirana, Albania. These Saturday afternoons will include dancing, of course, but will also feature a longer “culture corner” component.

Donate to FAC

Donations support these events, artists, and the Folk Arts Center. We suggest $10 for online workshops, although any amount is appreciated.

Visit our donation page for links to various donation options including:

  • PayPal – donating to FAC as “friends and family” will avoid PayPal fees
  • Venmo- our account is: @Folk-ArtsCenter
  • Checks – mail to:

Folk Arts Center of New England
10 Franklin Street
Stoneham, MA 02180-1862

Thank you for supporting the Folk Arts Center of New England!

By |2021-09-05T06:51:34-07:00September 5th, 2021|Balkan, Culture, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Northwest Folklife Festival May 28-31

50th Annual Northwest Folklife Festival

The 50th Annual Northwest Folklife Festival is taking place virtually all weekend long (May 28-31, 2021). Throughout Memorial Day weekend, explore over 6 program channels, participate in live Zoom workshops and dances, and stream a variety of performances at your convenience through the On-Demand channel.

Watch the livestreams here on our websiteFacebook, and Twitch!

Of note:

 

By |2021-05-28T10:43:52-07:00May 28th, 2021|Anytime, Culture, Dance, International, Live, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Hawaiian Dance and Culture at FACONE – May 1

Hawaiian Dance and Culture

with Kumu Hula Kawika Alfiche

Saturday, May 1: 2:00 – 4:00pm EDT

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

$10 is suggested to support this program and FAC, but any amount is appreciated.

Join this workshop via Zoom by activating this link.

About the Workshop

May is Pacific Islanders Month and we celebrate Hawai`i which is the furthest north of all the Polynesian Islands in the Pacific. Come share in this class of both traditional and modern Hula-Hawaiian Dance for both men & women. Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people. These are the words of our last King, Kawika Kalākaua, who returned hula into the public eye after being banished by missionaries for some 50+ years (1820-1870).
This fun gathering will include basics of hula, language, history, geography, chanting, singing and more! This class will be taught by Kumu Kawika Keikiali`i Alfiche (Hula Master) of Hālau o Keikiali`i.

About Kawika

Kumu Hula Kawika Keikiali’ihiwahiwa Alfiche has been teaching hula and Hawaiian cultural arts for almost 30 years. Kawika is the […]

By |2021-04-30T22:41:24-07:00April 30th, 2021|Culture, Dance, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Lyrids/Kyklos Folk Dance Festival April 23-25 – Register Now!

LYRIDS/KYKLOS FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL

co-organized by Burnaby and Kyklos International Folk Dancers

April 23 – 25, 2021 online via Zoom

Register Now for your unique Zoom link. FREE to attend!

Here is all the information about the festival you could possible want, and there is lots there!

Festival highlights include:

The two primary teachers this year are Tineke & Maurits van Geel, teaching Armenian, International and Roma dances.  In addition, we have 8 dance, singing and music workshops Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with Ahmet Luleci teaching Turkish dances, Gergana Panova-Tekath teaching Bulgarian dances and Miamon Miller teaching a Balkan musical instruments workshop (All instruments are welcome).  As well, there will be Israeli dances, seated dances, Balkan singing and drumming workshops.

At mealtimes, watch culture talks and memorable videos from past Salt Spring Island & Lyrids Folk Dance Festivals with Dale Adamson and Rosemarie Keough (founder of the Salt Spring Island folk dance festival).

You won’t want to miss our evening parties with our favourite recorded dances, and with Osem i Devet + friends playing recorded and live music.

Here’s how you can get involved and participate:

  1. Register for the […]
By |2021-04-22T13:39:05-07:00April 22nd, 2021|Armenian, Balkan, Culture, Dance, International, Live, Music, Party, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

NEFFA Presents the New England Folk Festival 2021 Online April 23-25

NEFFA Presents the New England Folk Festival 2021 Online!

See flyer here.

April 23-25, 2021

Featuring Over 100 LIVE sessions on Zoom!

• To register, please visit www.neffa.org

Participatory Dance – Contras, International Folk, English Country, Scottish, Scandinavian, Morris, and more!

Singing & Music-making – Song swaps, singalongs, workshops, concerts, jamming

Concert Performances – Dancers, singers, instrumentalists, storytelling

Videos – Collaborative community video projects, recorded performances and workshops

Crafts and Folk Bazaar listings on the NEFFA website!

The Year That Zoomed By at FACONE – March 27

The Year That Zoomed By
with Marcie Van Cleave and Ahmet Lüleci

Saturday, March 27: Noon–? ET (9am – ? PT)

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

Celebrate with us as we commemorate the anniversary of when the Folk Arts Center aired its first Saturday afternoon workshop!

Who would have thought that 52 weeks later we would still be spending Saturday afternoons dancing together? Not to mention enjoying a Thursday SOFA (Some Other Folk Arts) series. And adding a Sunday late afternoon community dance?

But here we are, so we must celebrate! We are inviting all the teachers who have graced our online stage lo all these Saturdays to join us in leading a dance party! The program will be posted on the website when completed.

You’ll have the chance to review videos of the dances before the event as demonstrated by the teachers themselves! This collection of videos are reviews of the dances that will be programmed.

Visit our shop buy access to a collection of review videos, and support FAC’s programming.

Also note the earlier start time. We know the date is not ideal, […]

By |2021-03-24T19:54:08-07:00March 24th, 2021|Balkan, Culture, Dance, Information, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

Culture Corner with Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau at FACONE Feb 27

Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau Culture Corner

Saturday, February 27: 2–4:00pm EST

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

World-renowned dance teachers and cultural emissaries Yves Moreau and France Bourque-Moreau will share memories of their Montreal-based folk ensemble «Les Gens de mon Pays» with whom they performed for 15 years in North America and Europe and show video excerpts from some of their performances

Yves will also share other interesting film clips and photos from Bulgaria. France will talk about her work teaching folk dances in public elementary schools in Quebec as part of a government subsidized program as well as some of her other projects over the years. There will be time set aside to answer your questions.

Learn more about Yves and France on their website.

Visit What you need to join to set up your computer or device to join the workshop online.
Donate on the FACONE website.
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 […]

By |2021-02-26T17:10:36-08:00February 26th, 2021|Culture, Information, International, Live, Workshop|0 Comments

Special ‘Stockton Highlights’ program Feb 10

Special ‘Stockton Highlights’ program [TONIGHT!]

What some people said:
“I didn’t think I would be interested, but I stayed for the entire hour”
“For me, it was the highlight of the entire weekend”
“Really learned a lot, didn’t expect to”

Like perhaps most of you, I viewed contra and squares as a mostly white-America activity. This talk blew my mind.

Wednesday, Feb 10 [Yes, tonight]
Program starts: 7:30 PM [Eastern]
https://tinyurl.com/MFDparties
Zoom ID: 846 8641 6549
Passcode: 333333 (six 3’s)

Tony Parkes created a scholarly presentation on the African roots of dance calling, from slaves and “hired” musician-callers, Black presence in square dancing into the 20th C, all the way to indigenous groups above the Arctic circle. The lecture includes archival and relatively “rare” footage.

I strongly urge you to see “Diversity in Square Dancing”

Tony will be joining us LIVE for a chat after the presentation, where YOU can ask questions and learn more.

Tony has considerable “dance cred”: he’s taught in >70% of the states, Canada, 5 countries in Europe, and – along with calling Squares and Contras at many other festivals – has performed at every NEFFA festival since 1969.

We’ll be on for a bit over an […]

By |2021-02-10T11:13:17-08:00February 10th, 2021|Culture, Information, Live|0 Comments

Mainewoods Dance Camp 2021 – A Virtual Day at Camp Feb 13

Mainewoods Dance Camp

Just one week away!
A Virtual Day at Camp
Saturday, February 13, 2021
beginning at 11am EST
Meeting ID: 869 9258 6607
Passcode: 257715

There’s loads of dancing!
3 workshops, a review, an evening party and late night dancing!
Send us 2 or 3 dance requests for the evening Dance Party and/or Late Night Dancing.
dancerequests@mainewoodsdancecamp.org

and more ways to have fun:
A culture corner, Singing and making music, and cooking!
Sing and play along to Dobra Nevesco, Opincuta, and Tragnala Rumjana with Debby Szajnberg. The link to the music is
www.mainewoodsdancecamp.org/Music.pdf

Make a Romanian dinner with recipes from our chef, Riki, who has offered many recipes for your Virtual Day.
www.mainewoodsdancecamp.org/RomanianRecipes.pdf

and even more ways to have fun!

Make a video of a folk dance being done in snow shoes or swim fins. Be creative! Any folk dance will do but you will get extra points for including a grapevine. Videos due ASAP. Copy your video into this folder.

Chat with folks in dinner time breakout rooms. We’ll create new breakout rooms for each course, so you can choose whether to come for Mocktails and Cocktails, Main […]

By |2021-02-05T14:15:50-08:00February 5th, 2021|Culture, Dance, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

Watch Anytime! Romanian Dancing with Camelia and Neluțu on YouTube

Missed the Romanian Dancing with Camelia and Neluțu?

No worries! You can watch it on YouTube anytime at this YouTube link.

Online Romanian Dance Party with Camelia and Neluțu Motoc –

By |2020-12-26T11:56:58-08:00December 26th, 2020|Anytime, Culture, Dance, Party, Romanian|0 Comments

Mainewoods 2021 – A Virtual Day at Camp Feb 13

SAVE THE DATE!!

Anticipating Cabin Fever?
Come spend a virtual day at camp with us!

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Enjoy many of our favorite Mainewoods traditions:

  • Dance Workshops and Reviews with Featured Guests
  • Ethnic Theme Day
  • Dance Swap
  • Music Class
  • Ethnic Recipes
  • Cocktails and Mocktails
  • Evening Dance Party followed by Late Night Dancing

Activities occur from morning until late night.
Join as many as you would like—one, two or all of them!

More details with some surprises to follow…

By |2020-12-21T18:47:25-08:00December 2nd, 2020|Culture, Dance, International, Live, Party, Workshop|0 Comments

Susan Worland & Richard Powers at SOFA Thursdays at FACONE Nov 5 and 12

Guy Fawkes Adventure

with Susan Worland

Thursday, November 5, 2020
7:00-8:30pm EDT

Online via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England

Remember, remember, the 5th of November!

Susan Worland, fiddler extraordinaire, presents a Guy Fawkes Adventure! In Britain Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated as Bonfire Night; on November 5 crowds gather to eat, drink, and socialize outdoors with friends. Susan will give us some history and play some music, then move on to a few of the tasty foods and beverages that might be enjoyed at a Guy Fawkes Day bonfire.

→Join this workshop via Zoom by activating this link.

Donate on the FAC website.

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!

Richard Powers

CanCan and Apache […]

By |2020-10-31T22:09:34-07:00October 31st, 2020|Culture, Information, Live|0 Comments

NorCal preview of the History of the Embrace in Tango Dance Nov 8

We’re hosting a private viewing of “The History of the Embrace in Tango Dance”. Dedicated to the unfolding development of the famous “abrazo de tango”, this documentary short by Argentine dance researcher Gustavo Benzecry Sabá is live from Buenos Aires during a private showing via Zoom. Bring along your favorite Argentine wine & popcorn.

Note: This is a nice complement to Richard Powers’ talk at the 2020 camp. He’s listed as one of the research resources, too.

Sun, Nov 8, 4 pm start

$10 general admission / $9 for SFDC attendees

Purchase at www.tangoandmoredance.com

To get the Stockton Folk Dance Camp promo code, email Gigi at moc.ecnaderomdnaognat@ecnad

Gigi (510) 326-6415

By |2020-10-29T15:37:34-07:00October 29th, 2020|Culture, Information, Live|1 Comment

Online Classes with Helene Eriksen & ANAR DANA Oct-Dec 2020

Dear friends,

ANAR DANA projects are still welcoming drop in visitors if you are a current or former member of ANAR DANA (if you aren’t but have dance experience you can contact me about the option of drop ins). This way you can dance with your dance sisters anywhere in the world and brush up on some topic you may have done yourself, or learn something you always wanted to.  To that end, in the calendar below I have listed which dances we will be working on on each day through the end of the year.  In the second half of December I will be taking a break to take care of my family. Drop-ins are $55 for one unit (ie one day including the Awaken Your Dancing Body! class of that day.)  We hope to see a lot of old faces and also give the current dancers the chance to meet their fellow dancers in other locales.

For those of you who were interested in the new workshop series on Music Mapping: I’m sorry I dropped the ball.  I have been overwhelmed with what I am doing at the moment.  BUT, I will […]

By |2020-10-25T21:48:34-07:00October 25th, 2020|Culture, Dance, Live, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

2020 Kolo Festival Update – November 26-29

Kolo Festival 2020 FlyerGreetings & Salutations, all y’all!

If you haven’t subscribed to our YouTube Channel, please do!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC54ZTwuzkIpDEdlsF6Mn9Qg/

And enjoy checking out the bands that will be providing music for us this year:
https://kolofestival.org/music/performers.html

And our teaching staff:
https://kolofestival.org/teachers.html

Lots more to come, soon!
-Bill

Download flyer here

By |2020-10-21T13:44:58-07:00October 21st, 2020|Balkan, Culture, Dance, Greek, International, Live, Music, Party, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments

Skandia Ball – Virtual via Zoom – tomorrow – Sat, Oct 10

The date has arrived! The Skandia Ball is this Saturday, October 10, 7:30-10:00pm PT, a virtual reunion and gala dance evening on Zoom, with an exciting lineup of music broadcast live from Seattle and Sweden, a virtual allspel, and special presentations. Costumes are encouraged with video on (and sound off).

See amazing flyer here with lots of details!

If you haven’t already bought your ticket, now is the time! Here is the link:

http://skandia-folkdance.org/skandia-ball.html

$15 US for Skandia members, $20 US for non-members

Registration closes Saturday 2:00pm PDT

66th Annual Skandia Ball – Virtual via Zoom
Saturday, October 10, 2020  7:30- 10:00 p.m. PDT

The Skandia Ball will be online this year, but still LIVE! Here’s what is planned for the 2 ½-hour virtual event.

  • Three sets of dance music featuring musicians well loved by Skandia dancers
    • Skandia Kapell, one of Seattle’s great music traditions, from Seattle, WA
    • Staffan Jonsson and Samantha Ohlanders, a dynamic fiddle duo (with a Seattle connection!), from Järvsjö, Sweden
    • Mats and Ulf Andersson, fiddlers much loved by Seattle dancers, from Jämtland, Sweden
  • A traditional […]
By |2020-10-09T13:12:55-07:00October 9th, 2020|Culture, Dance, Live, Party, Scandinavian|0 Comments

2020 Kolo Festival online – November 26-29

Kolo Festival 2020 Flyer

2020 will be our 69th festival! (Details here)

2020 Dance Teachers confirmed!

  • Joe Graziosi – Greek & Pontic dances (and some rebetika!)
  • Sonia Dion & Cristian Florescu – Romanian line & couple dance
  • John Filcich – Traditional kolos
  • John Morovich – Croatian dances

As always, there will be live music from: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Norway, Romany communities, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, USA!

Bulgarian/Macedonian Jam & Sing-along
Booklet (for all instruments)
Tam Jam charts, here!

Download flyer here

By |2020-10-08T13:02:11-07:00October 8th, 2020|Balkan, Culture, Dance, Greek, International, Live, Music, Party, Singing, Workshop|0 Comments
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