Class Canceled

We have canceled the Thursday night class due to lack of interest. Since we came back this September we have not made rent for even one class. Watch this space because SIFDAC will be offering another free workshop in the Spring.

Welcome to the blog for Introduction to International Dance.

This is where you can find the current information on the class and International Dance.

We use the term International Dance for the class because it not only covers traditional folk dance but also covers some of the more modern urban ethnic dances currently being done around the world.

Many of the traditions we are teaching are still alive and vibrant both in the countries of origin and in the diaspora of peoples around the world.

So at our class you can expect to see a dance from Serbia, U'Sest, or a dance done by the Serbians of Sacramento, Sa Sa.

This is an Introductory Class. The general format for the class is to dance a few of the easier dances that need little to no review. Then we teach one to two new dances, and continue working on a harder dance. Followed by a quick review of some of the dances taught in the past, especially any requests of favorites.

Dance Etiquette

Remember when dancing as in the rest of your life the golden rule, do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

We cover two main types of dancing in class: couples dances and the more communal line dances.

Line Dance

Line Dances are the dances done in a line or circle of dancers holding hands in a chain. There are a few basic rules to line dancing to make the dancing more fun and comfortable for everyone.

1. Be aware of the direction a dance moves and who is leading the dance.
2. Do not join at the head of the line unless invited; instead join at the trailing end.
3. Observe the hand-hold used by the rest of the line, the floating hand when everyone else is down, or down when everyone else is up, may annoy the people dancing with you.
4. Support you own weight, hold up your hands, so you don't drag down on your neighbors.
5. Do not squeeze your neighbor's hand; instead provide a good firm hook connection.
6. Keep up with the person on the side to which the dance is moving. Most of the line dances we do move mainly to the right but a few do move to the left.
7. If you drop hands in a dance, as when turning, reconnect with the person in front of you and leave your other hand in a position for reconnection that is convenient for the person behind you.

The Class Dance List

The following is the taught dance list for Introduction to International Dance.

For the rest of the class session we will be adding one dance a week to the list, then dancing requests from the list. If you are having trouble remembering which dance is which, remember that videos of many of them can be found on the main class page. You are also welcome to describe your requested dance to us until we guess the name.

1. An dro retourne (line from France)
2. Ba La (couple mixer Cha Cha from Israel)
3. Bele Kawe (solo dance from Africa)
4. Carnavalito (line from Bolivia)
5. Chapelloise (couple mixer from France)
6. Cicerenella Tarantella (couple from Italy)
7. Cha Cha (couple from USA and Cuba)
8. Chilili (couple from Bolivia)
9. Circle Reinlender (couple mixer from Norway)
10. Dana (solo Gypsy from Romania)
11. E Huli Makou (hula from Hawaii)
12. Fast Hassapiko (line from Greece)
13. Hora Mare (line from Romania)
14. Hora de Munte (line from Romania)
15. Koritsa (video) (line from Albania)
16. Kortanc (line from Hungary)
17. Kvar Acharey Chatsot (line from Israel)
18. La Bastringue (couple from France)
19. Lesnoto (line from Macedonia)
20. Oy Memo (video)(line from Turkey)
21. Pravo (line from Bulgaria)
22. Raka (line from Bulgaria)
23. Reinlender/Schottische (couple from Norway, Sweden)
24. Robin Ddiog (line from Wales)
25. Rumelaj (video) (Gypsy line from Macedonia)
26. Sa Sa, (Northern California Serbian Community)
27. Setnja (line from Serbia)
28. Shibolet Bassadeh (line from Israel)
29. Syrtaki i.e. Zorba's Dance (line from Greece)
30. Syrto (line from Greece)
31. Sweet Girl (line from the Armenian community)
32. Tsamiko (line from Greece)
33. U'sest (line from Serbia)
34. Ve David (couple mixer from Israel)
35. Waves (line from Hong Kong)
36. Ya da kalinushku lomala (circle from Russia)
37. Zemer Atik (line from Israel)

Last Chance for Class

Well it was a good try while it lasted.

Attendance during September was a disappointment, in that we did not make rent for even one class during the month.

We are going to give it one last try on Thursday Oct. 1. If we do not have at least 10 paying dancers we will close the class. So if you like the idea of an easy teaching class come out and join us.

September 24, 2009

Coming September 24, 2009
We will be teaching two dances new to the class



Toba will teach Liljano Mome a Bulgarian Širto



Barbara will teach Narodno Oro from Macedonia

September 17, 2009

Coming September 17, 2009

We will be working on Syrtaki "Zorbia's Dance" by popular demand, teach me to showoff when we're working on Greek.

Syrtaki is really two dances Slow Hasapiko which speeds up to the Fast Hasapiko. We will be teaching the basic step to Slow Hasapiko, which is a dance were the leader improvises and the line follows. We have already taught the Fast Hasapiko.

Last week we taught SA SA a fun dance done by the local Serbian Community.

First Class Back September 3, 2009

Our first class of the fall session will be Thursday September 3, 2000.

We will review the Greek dances that we have taught so far.

Syrto (video)
Fast Hassapiko (video)
Tsamiko (video)

This is in preparation for the Greek Food Festival, which begins Friday the 4th at the Sacramento Community Center.

Bring your friends lets all have fun and a good time.
Hopa!!!!!!!!