Sharpes Assembly
by Caroline Lanker
The Sharpes Assembly English Country Dance weekend was held October 21-23 at the Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring, FL. Eighty-three dancers were in attendance, mostly from Florida, but also from Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Alaska.
David Millstone was the caller and the band was Full Circle (Veronica and Ted Lane). For the Saturday morning teaching session, David chose dances from the book The Blind Harper Dances, a collection of modern English Country Dances set to the music of Turlough O’Carolan, a blind Irish harper. Saturday afternoon consisted of other modern English dances. With that repertoire, most of the dances done at the teaching sessions were new to most dancers there, making for an interesting and enjoyable time. Much of the music was unfamiliar to the musicians, too, but David had sent the scores ahead and the band did an admirable job with them.
The Saturday lunch was prepared by the Melbourne and Titusville English dancers, headed up by Bernice Roth, Willa Davidsohn, and Fannie Salerno and assisted by several others.
David Millstone presents Catie Geist with a copy of the dance, Catie's Line Dance, which was written for her by Michael Barraclough.
Photo by Caroline Lanker
The traditional fancy dress ball was held on Saturday night. Some dancers wore period costumes from the 17-1800’s, women wore long gowns, and many men dressed up as well. The lights and drapes in the ballroom of the Kenilworth Lodge added to the visual feast of the evening. All in all, it was a very enjoyable weekend.
A big surprise on Saturday afternoon was a dance written especially for Catie Geist (an FFDC member who is instrumental in organizing the Sharpes Assembly). It seems that at Sharpes Assembly 2010, the caller, Michael Barraclough, made an offering for the silent auction of writing a dance to honor anyone named by the highest bidder on the item. The highest bidder was Susan Brehm from Naples, FL, who asked that the dance be named for Catie. As David Millstone explained, he had conspired with Michael Barraclough to surprise Catie by introducing the dance at the Sharpes Assembly. The band was in on the secret, too, as they had to learn the tune before the weekend. According to David, Michael had actually written four dances named for Catie, of which David chose one, Catie’s Line Dance, to teach in Sebring. It’s a rather nice English Country Dance done in a longways set (not a “line dance” as most of us know the term). Perhaps it will endure in the English Country Dance repertoire!
FFDC dancers who attended the Sharpes Assembly were: Virginia Marszal, Bernice Roth, Ruth Ann Fay, Delores Lustig, Caroline Lanker, Ann Hinman, Fannie Salerno, Willa Davidsohn, and Gary Lanker, shown above, and Catie Geist, shown in top photo.
Prez Sez
The months go faster and faster! Last month found us at a wonderful Fall Fling, which I personally really love, because there are lots of people there! Even some new people! Tampa is so tiny, we love having some other people to dance with, catch dances we had forgotten we know, learn a few new ones from people who traveled in different directions during the summer. It’s sorta like Johnny Appleseed, traveling the country and planting new trees/dances.
Lots of you signed up for the FFDC Presidents’ Weekend, thereby receiving either a free T-shirt or DVD. Good for you! I also got to Bobby Quibodeaux’s 66th birthday party, wrote a song to Route 66 and then couldn’t remember the tune when it was time to sing it. Oops!
I hear the extra activities sponsored by different clubs did very well and look forward to details in this newsletter.
Plans for Presidents’ Weekend are coming along. The design for the T-shirt is settled – see the picture on page 11. The color will be stonewash green – a sort of gray-green or maybe you’d call it greenish gray. The style choices will be regular and women's, which is not a scoop, nor a V, but built for a woman. If you’re debating buying one, this will help you decide yea or nay. I can’t please everyone. Obviously I like it. Some people at Fall Fling had a chance to give some opinions.
Some offers of donations for the new and improved Olga Princi Scholarship auction have been coming in, but we need more! It doesn’t have to be “big” – clever, or cute, or funny is good. Keep thinking!
Also someone at the Fling suggested someone to receive the scholarship, but I need those suggestions in writing (at least in an email), please.
Something else you can weigh in on: do you think we should cut down on snacks? The groups that prepare go to lots of trouble, time and money to provide us with practically whole meals. Since we have a meal at 6 pm – do we need that much at 9:30? Perhaps just fruit, cheese, pick food – what say you? I will check prices of the hotel handling that sort of thing, and if not too expensive – that would take the onus off of all of us!
Don’t forget to sign up for the February Presidents’ Weekend! The deadline to register in order to get a room and meals is January 10. Look for final information about Presidents’ Weekend “camp” in the next newsletter (there’ll be one more before “camp”).
From the Editor
Gary and I are home and plan to stay here for awhile. We are taking advantage of all the dancing we can manage within a two-hour drive. Between folk dancing, Scandinavian, English Country, and square dancing, that’s a lot. Now we’ve added round dance lessons.
Round dancing is a form of ballroom dancing that consists of couples moving around in a circle doing steps at the direction of a cuer. Dances are choreographed to fit particular recorded music. Most of the square dance clubs alternate rounds with squares at their dances. I got tired of sitting and watching while other people danced. (Can you imagine that?) Gary had taken some round dance lessons back in another life. So we started trying to round dance. Some things are easy to follow, like basic waltz and cha-cha steps, and a vine. But they have some unfamiliar terminology – like “crab walk”, “fish tail”, and “sliding door”. And what they call “scissors” is a sort of Yemenite step. Anyway, we weren’t very good. This fall, we found a beginning round dance class and we’re doing that – along with everything else.
We danced at our FFDC Fall Fling in Melbourne Village on October 29, of course. By the way, how do you like the Fall Fling group photo on page 11? I think it is the best ever – no closed eyes, no hidden faces and the focus is good on almost everyone. Thank you to all of you who cooperated to achieve that result.
I hope you are taking every opportunity to dance, in whatever style trikes your fancy. Dancing is a wonderful way to raise your spirits.
Joy of Dancing
by Betty Nehemias
There’s nothing like dancing,
Creative, expressive, physical
Movement to music,
Dancing frees the impulses.
The spirit itself
Sweeps through the mind and
Out through the body.
Dancing releases our capacity
For exuberance and exhilaration.
Resulting in ecstasy which purifies
And unshackles happiness.
Body and Spirit become one,
The result is joy!
Dancing is a language,
A composite language of
Spirit, senses and body.
It can be a language of delight
Or despair.
Telling what we otherwise
Cannot tell
Dancing communicates all.
Kathakali Dance
by Terry Abrahams
Kathakali is the theatrical dance of Kerala (in Southern India). Known for the elaborate performances, it was formerly staged only for the rulers of Kerala. Women participate in modern performances, breaking the tradition of an all-male cast, as they enact an episode from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. Complex costumes and elaborate facial paint enhance the moods, emotions, and inner sensibilities that are shown by expression, gesture and action. Heroes have green faces, villains have red or black, and holy men and women have yellow. Drama is added with the narrative verse, sung with an accompaniment of drums, cymbals and other instruments.
Kathakali performers putting on makeup.
Photos by Terry Abrahams
Olga Princi Memorial
Scholarship Auction
by Judith Baizan
Your Auction Committee has been oohing and aahing over the donation ideas that have come in so far. Folks are getting serious about coming up with a really special item that will inspire a frenzy of bidding. Why not, when it's for the cause that's dear to all of our hearts: our hope to strengthen and spread the joy of dancing? Our auction will fund scholarships to bring in young talent that will carry our mission into the future. Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty and each of us resolve to do our part in making the Olga Princi Memorial Scholarship Auction at FFDC Presidents’ Weekend 2012 a phenomenal success!
Send in your donation idea now! What will it be? A service could be appropriate. (John might offer a piano tuning, if we can just figure out the logistics.) What exquisite little something – folksy or otherwise – can you decide to live without? Be clever! Try for a laugh! Sometimes it's not the actual item, but the thought it's wrapped in that excites the bidding.
All we need, for now, is the description of your donation, its estimated value, and a minimum sale price. Send this to Terry at president@folkdance.org and watch for further details in the next newsletter.
The word is participate; the time is now!
We saw a performance at the Cochin Culture Centre, recipient of the Kerala Tourism Excellence Award as the “best performing art centre”. They stage daily shows. Before the show begins, an explanation is given on the story to be performed, giving the audience an insight into the spirit of the drama and its emotional vivacity. This included one of the actors showing facial emotions while someone narrated and explained. The cast we saw were two men, one acting as a woman. We had “canned” music instead of live, but it was none-the-less fascinating.
Our group went early and got to watch them get their makeup and put costumes on. Makeup can take up to three hours; we saw about a half hour’s worth. We also got to have our picture taken with one of the actors afterwards.
Lezginka Dance Company a Real Treat
by Terry Abrahams
We had short notice for this performance, but those of us who managed to get to the show were certainly not disappointed. The incredible performance was held on October 27 in the clubhouse at Lake Ashton, a gated community in Lake Wales. The large room includes a stage. The problem was that it is a very small stage, and there is no curtain, nor wings, and the chairs were placed flat on the floor, making it difficult to see the dancers’ feet. If dancers were to go off to the wings, they went down the stairs and exited to the floor or into a dressing room. However, that did not deter them from putting on a wonderful show.
Men's Dance
Photos courtesy of Lezginka Dance Company
The group is the state dance company of the Russian republic of Daghestan and they introduced the audience to the “customs of the Daghestan people, its courage and noble-mindness, proud and unique national character…,” quoted from the program. They did 15 traditional dances, with stage performance choreography, some men only, some women only, some combined, some festive, some somber, some romantic, some beautiful, some fun. The dancers were exquisite, the girls stunning, the boys handsome, their technique faultless – I still don’t know how the girls float across the floor, looking as if their feet aren’t moving – the men on their toes and lots of gymnastics. The costumes were absolutely gorgeous – they just couldn’t have been any better.
The dances were quite varied, never a boring moment, and there were two that were just amazing – really outstanding to me. One was a sword dance (well, of course I liked it). I know we’ve all seen many, but this was outstanding, in spite of the small stage. The other was a drum number by the men. Every dancer had a drum – three different sizes – and the dance was done only to the drums, no other music. I can’t describe how phenomenal it was.
We, being Gary and Caroline Lanker, David and Lou Davia, Andy Pollock, Ursula Tison, Judith Baizan and I, were not the least unhappy that most of us drove an hour plus, and are only sorry that you all didn’t attend. You really missed a good one!
I bought the DVD to show at camp. It is lovely, although not quite the same as the performance we saw; sadly, they do a different sword dance, but the drum dance is there. Do watch it when you’re resting at the FFDC Presidents' Weekend. Or you can find pieces of their performance on YouTube. [Go to YouTube.com and search for “Lezginka dance company”. “Lezginka” is the name of the “national" dance of Daghestan; a search for “Lezginka” brings up many versions, danced by different groups or by ordinary people at social gatherings .]
Registration for FFDC Presidents’ Weekend, 2012
Registration for Presidents' Weekend, February 17-20, is open. Paper registration forms were mailed with the September-October Florida FolkDancer.
If you are reading this newsletter on the website, click below to bring up your preferred version of the registration form:
Registration form to print
Online registration form
Otherwise, the registration forms are on the FFDC website, www.folkdance.org. There are links to the registration form – printable or online entry – on the home page.
Registration closes January 10, 2012.
Sarasota Grapeviners
by Judy Merkt
As all of you know, Florida's "season" has officially returned and the Grapeviners have started to welcome back our snowbird members – Sharon Brannon from Nova Scotia (Sharon also dances with Sarasota's Scottish dance group), Sue Gordon from Massachusetts, Lynda Harris and Kevin McDonnell from Colorado, and Andree Juneau from Canada. More of our northern friends will be arriving over the next couple of months until we are a "full house" once again through April of 2012.
Our group hosted a workshop by South Florida choreographer Ira Weisburd on November 2nd. Ira has just finished an eastern US region tour, doing both line dance and folk dance workshops, that took him through New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, Kentucky, Ohio,
North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. We took the opportunity to invite him to Sarasota on his way back home. Our group has already embraced a number of Ira's dances over the past couple of years, and we added six more (four circle dances and two line dances) to our repertoire during a very nice workshop on our regular Wednesday dance night.
All but a few of our regular dancers were in attendance as well as several others – 36 of us in all. A number of folks had met Ira in years past and were able to "catch up" during two short breaks over the course of the evening. We gave the evening everything we had for three hours, enjoyed every moment, and decided that we were very gracious hosts to a home-state choreographer! And, we're now on YouTube – oh my!
[To view the videos, go to www.youtube.com, search for ‘Ira Weisburd Sarasota’ and you will see the videos listed. Double-click on the one you want to view.]
Ira Weisburd and dancers.
Photo by Judy Merkt
Our next event is our Annual Snow Ball on Wednesday evening, January 25th. By this date, all of our snowbirds will have returned and we will have a simply grand time! It will be a request-only session with no teaching. Anyone planning to attend can email or otherwise notify Susan Barach or me of their dance requests. Andi will put together her usual well-designed playlist for us to enjoy. Beverages will be provided by the committee; attendees are asked to provide light snacks to share, and the entry fee is the usual $5. Contact information can be found on the FFDC website calendar section. All are welcome.
We will dance every Wednesday evening throughout the holidays, no "down-time", so if you happen to be in Sarasota on a Wednesday, you will be most welcome in our circle. And just a note on Sarasota (in case you'd like to take a mini-vacation sometime): there is an absolutely marvelous spread on Sarasota in the November edition of US Airways Magazine – 48 pages long! It is a wonderful profile of our city and all it has to offer.
At the Ira Weisburd workshop: near front: Ira Weisburd; seated: Sharon Brannon, Judy Merkt, Mary Finegold, Varda Ruskin, Linda Nicoli; first standing row (short row on left): Demetri Babiak, Faye Babker, Delores Lustig; Second standing row (long row): Janina Kozma, Shirley Babiak, Eva Stunkel, Ursula Tison, Andi Kapplin, Susan Barach, Ruth Brandwein, Lou Paige, Marsha Kistler, Faith Kibler, Beverly Mann, Rich Nicoli, Thekla Kahn, Ann Paige, Naomi Linkous; Last standing row (some on chairs): Mandy Boots, Marie Millett, Linda Peterson, Sergio Zigras, Barbara Zigras, Bill Hopkins, Kay Hislop, Bill Schwarz, Edna Schneider, Beverly Hollows
Photo by Diane Kopecky
Gainesville Folk Dance News
by Jack Seltzer
Wow! We finished off October with dancing day and night – Friday to Monday – north and south. What more can you ask?
Thanks go to the Melbourne folkdance group that hosted that fun all day dance fest called Fall Fling, in an old World War II vintage field house. We learned Tokyo Polka, Hora Veche, Syrto Kitrinou – dances others found along their travels on folkdance cruise ships (Pat & Bobby), summering up in Vancouver (Andi), or at a rustic folkdance workshop in Maine over the summer (Jean). We came home Sunday with a few toe bruises (my long toe next to my former big toe on my right foot) and sore leg muscles, but thrilled to be able to participate with all these excited folks coming from all around the state.
Prior to that endless Saturday dance, we began with our annual Halloween party here in Gainesville. Jesters, clowns, peasants and gypsies were some of the dancers for the evening. We really should dress like that more often, as you couldn’t help but smile when looking around the circle during a dance – a funny night!
dance called Yemenite Feet. It was an upbeat, fun and extremely quick three-hour session of dancing non-stop.
Come Tuesday morning, exhaustion set in from the prior four days. Wednesday an uplifting feeling settled in; Thursday I was looking forward to dancing Friday again. Just a fine last four days of October!
In November, we started our new schedule – dancing first and third Fridays. We’ll continue that schedule at least through February.
Yes, we know Julieta knows how to throw a party! On November 27th, we all had a blast dancing, eating, drinking and laughing on her back porch for four to five hours. What perfect weather, also!
Arlene Bargad and Charles Willett at the Gainesville Halloween Party
Charles Willett, Jualene Lewis, Julieta Brambila (in foreground), Arlene Bargad, June Littler, and Mireille on the deck at Julieta's.
Photos by Jack Seltzer
Linda Seltzer, Gary Dockter, and Sharon Dockter dancing on Julieta's deck.
On the fourth day, Halloween day, we attended a three-hour workshop, organized by Andy Weitzen, with Ira Weisburd, a choreographer from south Florida. It was a fine Israeli – novelty dance workshop, that moved along all evening. Ira went through 13 dances in three hours. Among the dances were Israeli Hasspico Mozart (Israeli with slight Greek touches to Mozart music – far out), Cha Cha Espana (a novelty line dance that I’d like to do in our group, a gypsy-styled dance called Hatzoani, and a
Orlando International Folk Dance Club
by Pat Henderson
October and November brought many opportunities for dance parties and festivals. October 5 was Bobby's 66th birthday, so the club had a Route 66 party for him. He dressed appropriately in a shirt with Chicago on it and my shirt said Beverly Hills so we covered the route! Terry Abrahams came for the party, brought buttons, and presented her usual poem for the occasion. Phyllis Dammer also wrote a poem for Bobby. Many dancers came in travel attire; Bobby wore cargo shorts (rare for him).
Phyllis Dammer reading 66th Birthday Poem for Bobby Quibodeaux
Photo by Terry Abrahams
Halloween Party. Front: Pat Henderson, Bobby Quibodeaux, Deane (“Deanna”) Jordan, Mary Jean Linn; back: Ann Robinson, Larry Wartell, Ellen Spielvogel, Betty Nehemias, Juanita Schockey, Fred Schockey, Caroline Lanker, Manuel Mora-Vals, Palmira Mora-Vals, Kelly Fagan, Joe Birkemeier, Lucy Birkemeier, Mary, Nicki Wise, Jan Lathi.
Photo by Gary Lanker
On October 26, we held our annual Halloween party. Deane Jordan took the prize for best costume as he came as Diana, or was it Deanna? We welcomed Ellen Spielvogel from Hawaii that night.
Bobby and I had not been to an Oktoberfest in a few years so we attended one on October 14 in a community close to home and it was fun. We happened to be there at the beginning when a big keg was tapped and shared with everyone – for free!
The dancing and partying continued when most of our members attended Fall Fling in Melbourne on October 29. (See Fall Fling Fun.) It was fun to have it Halloween weekend; some dancers wore Halloween costumes or orange and black. Thank you to the Melbourne group for a fantastic day.
Recent travelers were Joe and Lucy Birkemeier to Chicago to celebrate her 80th birthday with family. Jan Acari took her second trip to Italy. Mary Jean Linn and her husband traveled to Atlanta for a big contra weekend November 11-13.
Speaking of Atlanta, David Digby, the founder of our group, had his birthday on Friday, 11-11-11. Only three dates this century take that form (10-10-10 and 12-12-12 being the other two).
Bringing out the big keg at Oktoberfest.
Photo by Pat Henderson
The annual Orlando-area Serbian Festival was October 15. Bobby and I were joined by Larry Wartell as we watched several performing groups and a Serbian chorus from Atlanta. They have started constructing their church; it looks very European in design.
Going Greek
by Kelly Fagan
‘Tis the season: Deane and I have been on a mission of celebration and dance over the last six weeks or so – visiting Florida’s Greek festivals. From the tent-covered grassy dance floor of St Augustine’s Festival on that weekend it raaaaaained (October 7-9)….to the delightful indoor dance floor, food, vendors, and hospitality of Lecanto (October 27-30)….to the magnanimous Maitland (November 4-6) with friends from our Orlando “village”….to November 10 in Daytona. We were tickled that Kay and Tony joined us in Daytona from Flagler!
Dance group performing at Serb Fest.
Photo by Pat Henderson
Remembering a Fellow Dancer
by Delores Lustig
Folk dancers in the Chicago area as well as Florida are mourning the loss of Phyllis Spiegel, who passed away October 13 in Chicago. Phyllis was active in her folk dance group in Chicago and served for many years on the committee for the Lake Geneva Folk Dance group.
As snowbirds, she and her partner, Don Winnick, danced with the Sarasota Grapeviners. Although her physical health kept her from dancing a lot in recent years, Phyllis retained her interest in the folk dance community. She will be remembered for her warm personality, lovely smile and her gracious hospitality for visiting dancers.
Delores Lustig, on the left, with Sarasota winter dancers Kathy Fico, Phyllis Spiegel, Don Winnick and Ron Fico at the Lake Geneva Folk Dance Camp 40th Anniversary celebration. (From the September/October 2010 Florida FolkDancer)
On Thursday, November 10, Bobby and I joined Kelly and Deane along with Kay and Tony Afonso at the Daytona Greek Festival for Deane's birthday. The next day, the Daytona Beach News Journal ran photos of us dancing at the festival.
Our annual holiday party will be December 14 - see Holiday Parties. We wish everyone a most joyous holiday season.
Deane Jordan leaps into the air, as Pat Henderson, Kelly Fagan, and Bobby Quibodeaux dance along at the Daytona Beach Greek Festival.
Photo from the Daytona Beach News Journal
Tampa Trivia
by Terry Abrahams
Tampa grew by four people November 4! We had visitors from Roanoke Virginia – nice dancers, nice people. Would someone please MOVE here? Another week Caroline and Gary showed up! Yay!
Four people from our Israeli group did a performance for a Catholic School’s international festival and were well received.
I taught folk dancing for the Great American Teach-in, which went very well. I taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades and Special Ed – ½ hour each. I brought many of my costumes and headpieces (that even you have not seen), many of my instruments (flutes, drums, tambourines, etc.) and a big book of maps to go with their globe, so did show and tell for about 15 minutes, then taught two dances to each group. Hokey Pokey, Tcherkessia, Chicken Dance, or Seven Jumps. Lots of lugging stuff in and out, but fun.
Fall Fling found Bill, Ursula, Andi and I attending. Andi taught Halte Mich Sest and Tokyo Polka, both very well received. Andi is a gold mine with her dances from Vancouver. I had a nice fall design in my computer, so made buttons for everyone to add to the festivities. Great fun seeing everyone. Looking forward to FFDC Presidents’ Weekend – a/k/a camp. I finally got the pictures from my trip to India printed – now to get them into one or two scrapbooks, in time for “camp”.
We’ve been going to festivals as they come up. Some of the dancers from days of yore are attending here and there – Dylan, Bonnie, Don Kersting, Lee and husband, Bobbi Ward, Maria Pasetti. We started with the Oktoberfest in St. Pete and had a very negative event. They tried to get us to move from what they said was a reserved table, but there was no sign on the table. It ended with a brouhaha and we left, eliminating it from next year’s schedule.
We had better luck at the Serbian Church festival, although they were out of stuffed cabbage, Ursula’s reason for attending, but she managed to have fun anyway. Vicki Kulifay went to AutumnFest at Epiphany of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church in St Petersburg on November 5. November 11 we went to the Tampa Greek festival, which worked out well, since our Rec Center was closed for Veterans Day. The live music was outside, so we were a little cold, but it being a Friday, there were fewer people, thus more room to dance. Even Judith and Ernesto’s kids were there, as well as a folk dancer from California here for a conference.
There’s an India Festival today (11/12), I just noticed, and there used to be a Czechoslovakian festival in Mazarkytown, but I can’t find it online. But I must say, I found lots of others around the state; I’m going to delve into this and see if there’s anything we should attend. Well, I’m festival-ed out here. Bye.
George Fogg to Call Dances
in Melbourne
George Fogg, English Country Dance teacher, caller, researcher, and author from Boston, MA is coming to Melbourne Florida in January. There will be two opportunities to dance to his call.
English for International Dancers Weekend
The Brevard International Dancers will host “English for International Dancers!” the weekend of January 6-8, 2012, at the Melbourne Village Community House (the same venue as Fall Fling). This workshop is designed to introduce English Country Dance to the international folk dancers of Florida.
The schedule includes international dance parties Friday and Saturday night, with English/Early American workshops Saturday during the day, and more English/Early American dancing Sunday morning. The Saturday workshops will progress in difficulty from introductory dances in the morning to increasing complexity in the afternoon. If English Country Dance is new to you, for maximum enjoyment don’t miss Saturday morning.
The price for the weekend is $40 per person. There is a limit of 40 dancers for this event. To register, send your name, address, email, phone and a check for $40 made out to Jean Murray to: Jean Murray, 4380 3rd St., Grant, FL 32949. A complete schedule of events is in the calendar on the FFDC website, www.folkdance.org. Driving directions are on the website – look under “Places to Dance in Florida”; “Melbourne”. For more information, contact John Daly at john@dalypreservation.com.
Melbourne English Country Dance
George Fogg will call the dances at the regularly scheduled English Country Dance evening in Melbourne Village on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, from 6 to 9 pm. No reservation is required. The suggested cost for the evening will be $5 per person. Please bring a snack to share at the break. The location is the same as for the weekend workshop. For more information, please call Catie Condran Geist at 321-427-3587 or write to catiegeist@att.net.
T-Shirt Design
This is the T-shirt design for the FFDC Presidents' Weekend 2012. The dance names may not be legible here, but you can see the design,
Holiday Parties
Flagler Beach
The Flagler Beach Folk Dancers will host a holiday party at the Ocean Marina clubhouse in Beverly Beach on Saturday, December 10, 11 am to 8 pm. Bring potluck food or drink to share. Call Betty Nehemias (386-439-1424) or Jan Lathi (386-447-8396) for further information.
Orlando
The Orlando International Folk Dance Club's holiday party will be Wednesday, December 14, at its regular place. The party will begin with a potluck supper at 6:30 pm, followed by dancing. Pat and Bobby can accommodate overnight guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Pat for information.
Melbourne
Melbourne (Brevard International Dancers) will host a holiday party on Friday, December 30, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Community House in Melbourne Village. Holiday snacks to share would be welcome. Some of us will be in festive holiday attire for an evening of dancing! Limited overnight hosting space is available. For more information, contact Jean Murray at Trialgenie@cfl.rr.com".
Fall Fling Dancers: Front: Caroline Lanker, Jean Murray, John Daly, Terry Abrahams, Bobby Quibodeaux, Judy Merkt, Minnie Berkowitz; second row, seated: Virginia Marszal, Willa Davidsohn, Andi Kapplin, Bernice Roth, Pat Henderson, Palmira Mora-Vals, Ann Robinson, Juanita Schockey; standing: Arleen Kaufmann, Lou Davia, Ursula Tison, Fanny Salerno, Ruth Ann Fay, Mary Jean Linn, Julius Horvath, Susan Barach, Linda Nicoli, Bill Schwarz, Rich Nicoli, Manuel Mora-Vals, Jack Seltzer, Linda Seltzer, Wally Washington, Joan Washington, Marilyn Frew, Jan Lathi, Bob Frew, David Davia, Ann Hinman, Fred Schockey, Gary Lanker.
Photo by Jean Marszal
New Dance Group in Naples, Florida
Richard Eddy is starting an international folk dance class at Fleischmann Community Center (1600 Fleischmann Blvd, south of Coastland Mall between US41 and Goodlette-Frank Road). Richard is a member the Florida Folk Dance Council and of the International Dance Council of UNESCO and has danced in Europe (Rome, Vienna, Munich, Innsbruck), and USA (NYC, Iowa, and Minnesota, as well as Sarasota). Class will meet Thursdays 10-11:30 am. There is a $5 fee to the Center per session. Contact Richard richardteddy@gmail.com or 703-303-4719. He invites folks to bring their music and dances to enrich the group.
Note: the walls of the Community House were adorned with art work by local artists, which you can see in many of the photos. The painting in the photo at near left was done by Fannie Salerno.
Look for more event notices on the calendar of the FFDC website.
December 23 – 26 Machol Miami 2011
Israeli Dance Workshop
Teachers: Dudu Barzilay and Yaron Malichi
Place: Sherton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel, 1825 Griffin Road, Dania, FL
Contact: 305-690-4343, dancemiami@hotmail.com
Information: www.macholmiami.com
Photos by Fred Schockey and Caroline Lanker
International Folk Dance Tours
Please note: The Florida FolkDancer 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!)
June 9 –19 Tour of Norway
A Jim Gold tour, led by Lee Otterholt
Oslo, Bergen, Hovin, Voss
Contact for all Jim Gold tours: 201-836-0362, jimgold@jimgold.com
Information: www.jimgold.com
January 6 – 8 English for International Dancers
with George Fogg
Place: Melbourne Village Community House, Melbourne Village, FL
See George Fogg to Call Dances on p. 10.
December 26 – January 1 Berea College Christmas Country Dance School
Contra, English Country, clogging, Danish dance, Morris dance, etc.
Place: Berea College, Berea, KY
Contact: 859-985-3431, ccds@berea.edu
Information: www.berea.edu/peh/dance/ccds/
December 26 – January 1 Winter Dance Week
Roo Lester (Scandinavian); contra, English, etc.
Place: John C. Campbell Folk School, One Folk School Road, Brasstown, NC
Contact: 828-837-2775
Information: www.folkschool.org
January 25 Sarasota Snow Ball
Place: Bayfront Community Center, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Time: 7 – 9:30 PM
Contact: Judy Merkt, 941-379-6302, jamerkt@comcast.net
January 27 – 29 Florida Snow Ball
Contra dance weekend
Sponsor: Tampa Friends of Old-Time Dance
Registration open for wait list
Place: Gulfport Casino, Gulfport, FL
Time: Fri. 6 pm – Sun. 1:45pm
Information: www.floridasnowball.com
January 27 – 29 Greek Festival – Ocala
Place: St. Mark’s Greek Orthodox Church,
9926 SE 36th Ave., Belleview, FL
Time: Friday and Saturday 11 am – 8 pm; Sunday noon – 6 pm
Information: www.greekfestivalocala.com
February 3 – 5 Laguna Folk Dancers Festival
Teachers: Michael Ginsburg and Jerry Duke
Place: Ensign Intermediate School Gym,
Newport Beach, California
Contact: 949-646-7082
Information: www.lagunafolkdancers.org
February 11 Serbian Pearl Dance Performance
Annual concert and 30th anniversary celebration
Place: John Hopkins Middle School, 701 16th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL
Time: 5 pm
March 31 Spring Fling
Place: Whirl & Twirl Square Dance Hall, Orlando, FL
Time: 11:30 am – 7:30 pm
Contact: 407-275-6247, henderp@bellsouth.net
Return Address:
Florida FolkDancer
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.
2011 FFDC OFFICERS:
President: Terry Abrahams
813-234-1231,
president@folkdance.org
VP: Judy Merkt
941-379-6302
jamerkt@comcast.net
Secretary/Treasurer: John Daly
P.O. Box 500856, Malabar, FL 32950
321-482-6818
treasurer@folkdance.org
Corresponding Secretary: Pat Henderson
407-275-6247, henderp@bellsouth.net
Historian: Dan Lampert
dan300@dlc2.com
Newsletter Editor: Caroline Lanker
1963 S. Lake Reedy Blvd.
Frostproof, FL 33843
863-635-9366
editor@folkdance.org
Submissions: Send event notices for the calendar or the newsletter to Pat Henderson. Send all other 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
