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!!!!!!!!

Coming in September

Our weekly Intro to International Dance Class will start again on Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 7:30 pm at YLI Hall, 1400 27th St at N, in Midtown, Sacramento. Please come and bring your friends! We will review the Greek dances for the Greek Food Festival that starts the next day. A group of our local dancers usually meets at the festival Friday evening.

SIFDAC puts on a fun Mountain Dance Camp during the second weekend of September. You will recognize several of our local dance teachers conducting the workshops, and familiar faces at the parties. There will be time to socialize, especially during the meals.
We have added an afternoon beginning workshop. The dances from the workshop will be played during the Saturday night party.

Dance in the Woods
http://www.folkdance.com/sacramentocouncil/DIW.html
September 11-13, 2009
$120.00 per person includes lodging with 3 meals Saturday and 2 meals Sunday.
No meal provided Friday, so please bring something to share.
At Camp Sacramento, off Hwy 50.

New this year:
1). Folk singing, Toba will play traditional folk songs on her guitar while we sing along.

2). Late afternoon beginning dance workshop 3:30-5:00 PM. Come learn those easy dances that everyone should know.

Remember the parties are all request, including the four requests from your registration form.
http://www.folkdance.com/sacramentocouncil/DIW_Form.html
This is a fun weekend event!
Contact Roy

Thursday, June 18

After a few easy warm up dances, reviews of Rumelaj and Oy Memo, we will be teaching the dance Sweet Girl a line dance from the Armenian community. After we teach we will do request from the class dance list. See list above for the dances.

Plans for Thursday, June 11

After a few easy warm up dances, we will be teaching the dance Rumelaj (video). This is a fun Roma (gypsy) Cocek. After we teach we will do request from the class dance list. See list above for the dances.

Plans for Thursday, June 4

We will start out with some easy dances, then teach Oy Memo (video) line dance from Turkey. Have a further demostration of Hula E Huli Makou (video), we will see if we can get Yvonne to face forward, followed by open requests from the taught dance list. Think about what dances you want to do.

Plans for Thursday, May 28

We will start out with some easy dances, then teach Koritsa (video) from Albania. Have a demostration of Hula E Huli Makou (video) followed by open requests from the taught dance list. Think about what dances you want to do.

Plans for Thursday, May 21

Thursday May 21, 2009.

For the remaining classes until our summer break, we will sample dances from countries we have not explored yet: Russia, Albania, Armenia, and Turkey.

This week, after a few warm-up dances, we will be teaching Ya da kalinushku lomala ("I have picked the snowball-tree"). This is a lovely women's line dance from Russia. Its video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faALhSrcoZY&feature=channel_page . The dance notes can be found here Stockton Folk Dance Camp Syllabus 08 .

This will be followed by request dancing from the taught dance list above.

This coming Thursday, May 14, we will start with a few warm-up dances. Then Toba will share a slow Israeli line dance Kvar Acharey Chatsot, which she uses for her cool down dance for our Sunday Israeli dance class. then we will review Ba La.

After the review we will take requests from the current dance list.

The mid-term party last week was a lot of fun! We danced the following requests:
Waves
Kortanc
Syrto
Carnavalito
Tsamiko
Dana
An Dro Retourne
Hora Mare
Zemer Atik
Circle Reinlender
Raka
Hora de Munte
Cicerenella Tarantella
Setnja
Chilili
Ba La
Robin Ddiog
Syrto (again)

Hope to see everyone, this Thursday, May 7. It will be an all request party from the taught dance list. Come and dance some fun dances. We will discuss the future focus of the class during the 8:15 break.

Thursday April 30 Class

Last night, we tried something new. Instead of a set program for the entire evening we started with a few warm-up dances, taught two dances, and then, did dances requested by the class members.

Last night's program:

Waves (line from Hong Kong)
Kortanc (line from Hungary)
Carnavalito (line from Bolivia)
Taught Tsamiko (line from Greece)
Taught Ba La (couple mixer Cha Cha from Israel)
Hora Mare (line Romania)

The following dances were played at the request of class members:
Zemer Atik (line from Israel)
Syrto (line from Greece)
Dana (solo Gypsy from Romania)
An dro retourne (line from France)
Robin Ddiog (line from Wales)

Good news. The Sacramento International Folk Dance and Arts Council has agreed to continue the class through the last Thursday in June. We will take a summer break for July and August. We hope to resume in September.

This coming Thursday will be the midterm party. We will not be teaching any new dances and it will be an all-request party from the current taught dance list (see below).

Please contact us if you want to see changes in the class. Roy Butler click name for email.

Now that we have 27 dances in our list we will slow down a bit: only teaching one dance a meeting and reviewing only when the class needs a review.

The format for the rest of the class will be three simple warm-up dances, teach one new dance, review the prior week's dance, and then, dance requests from the class.

Please tell us about what you want to get out of the class. The class is for you!

Everybody: come to next week's midterm party. Make a request and dance your favorite dances!

Long time dancers: please join us! As you can see from the dance list, we do a number of fun dances, and your presence makes it easier for the beginning dancers.

Taught Dance list

1. An dro retourne (line from France)
2. Ba La (couple mixer Cha Cha from Israel)
3. Carnavalito (line from Bolivia)
4. Chapelloise (couple mixer from France)
5. Cicerenella Tarantella (couple from Italy)
6. Cha Cha (couple from USA and Cuba)
7. Chilili (couple from Bolivia)
8. Circle Reinlender (couple mixer from Norway)
9. Dana (solo Gypsy from Romania)
10. Fast Hassapiko (line from Greece)
11. Hora Mare (line from Romania)
12. Hora de Munte (line from Romania)
13. Kortanc (line from Hungary)
14. La Bastringue (couple from France)
15. Lesnoto (line from Macedonia)
16. Pravo (line from Bulgaria)
17. Raka (line from Bulgaria)
18. Reinlender/Schottische (couple from Norway, Sweden)
19. Robin Ddiog (line from Wales)
20. Setnja (line from Serbia)
21. Shibolet Bassadeh (line from Israel)
22. Syrto (line from Greece)
23. Tsamiko (line from Greece)
24. U'sest (line from Serbia)
25. Ve David (couple mixer from Israel)
26. Waves (line from Hong Kong)
27. Zemer Atik (line from Israel)
    
    Dance to Live, Live to Dance.
    Roy

So far we have taught a total of 25 dances at Introduction to International Dance (see list below).

This week Barbara will teach Tsamiko, which will then give us three of the four main dances done at Greek food festivals: Syrto, Fast Hassapiko, and Tsamiko. Remember that fancy steps and turns are optional: stay in your comfort zone. We are dancing for fun!

Yvonne and I will introduce the popular Israeli Cha Cha mixer Ba La.

The night will start with a few warm-up dances.

1. Waves (line from Hong Kong)
2. Kortanc (line from Hungary)
3. Carnavalito (line from Bolivia)
4. Tsamiko (line from Greece)
5. Ba La (couple mixer from Israel)
6. Hora Mare (line Romania)
7. Followed by class requests from the taught dance list.

We encourage dance requests from the group. Dolly requested Syrto last week. Patty requested La Bastringue and Cicerenella when she attended our Social Dances of the World class last Sunday. If you don't remember the names of your favorite dances, tell us a little about them or show us some key steps and we should be able to guess. Here is what we have taught so far:

Taught Dance list

1. An dro retourne (line from France)
   
2. Carnavalito (line from Bolivia)
3. Chapelloise (couple mixer from France)
4. Cicerenella Tarantella (couple from Italy)
5. Cha Cha (couple from USA and Cuba)
6. Chilili (couple from Bolivia)
7. Circle Reinlender (couple mixer from Norway)
8. Dana (solo from Romania)
9. Fast Hassapiko (line from Greece)
10. Hora Mare (line from Romania)
11. Hora de Munte (line from Romania)
12. Kortanc (line from Hungary)
13. La Bastringue (couple from France)
14. Lesnoto (line from Macedonia)
15. Pravo (line from Bulgaria)
16. Raka (line from Bulgaria)
17. Reinlender/Schottische (couple from Norway, Sweden)
18. Robin Ddiog (line from Wales)
19. Setnja (line from Serbia)
20. Shibolet Bassadeh (line from Israel)
21. Syrto (line from Greece)
22. U'sest (line from Serbia)
23. Ve David (couple mixer from Israel)
24. Waves (line from Hong Kong)
25. Zemer Atik (line from Israel)

Thursday April 23 Class

If class keeps going as it is we will continue after May 7th. We have been making rent each week with a little to spare. Bring your friends and help us continue the class.

For long time dancers come out and dance with us. Yes we do the easier dances but that doesn't mean slow or boring, when you do the social style dances.

The weeks program:

Barbara Bevan will be teaching Hora Mare from Romanian.
Yvonne and I will start with Cha Cha

Program

Kortanc
Robin Ddiog review
Setnja review
Cha Cha teach
Hora Mare teach
Ve David Review
Shibolet Bassadeh Review
U'sest
Dana
Reinlender

Hora de Munte

Well the April 9 class went well. We introduced Barbara Bevan who taught Kortanc and reviewed Lesnoto. Yvonne and I started on Couple Reinlender (Norway) or Schottis as it is called in Sweden. I taught An Dro Retourne from France and reviewed Pravo and Syrto.

Next Thursday Yvonne will add the pivot turn to the Reinlender and review La Bastringue.

Barbara will add another country to our list Great Britain, when she teaches the Welsh dance Robin Ddiog.

I will teach Setnja a fun Serbian Dance in the Cha Cha pattern like Kortanc. Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow. I will also review U'Sest, a popular Serbian village dance
Program

Waves
Kortanc
Fast Hasapiko
Reinlender
Setnja
Robin Ddiog
La Bastringue
U'Sest
Cicerenella
An Dro Retourne
Pravo
Lesnoto

Hope to see you there.
Remember if we can reach critical mass we will continue the class past May 7.

This coming Thursday April 9, we will be introducing another local teacher Barbara Bevan.
She will teach a nice dance from Hungary, Kortanc.

Yvonne will start the couple Schottis (video) and review Cicerenella Tarantella adding the traveling polka step.

I will teach An Dro Retourne (video) and review Pravo and Syrto.

Program
Waves as warm up.
Zemer Atik
Circle Reinlender
Start Schottis
Kortanc
Cicerenella Tarantella
An Dro Retourne
Syrto
Dana
Pravo
Lesnoto ending.
We will also do Chilili and Hora de Munte if we have time.
Roy

April 2, 2009 Class

The first Thursday Class went well.

Yvonne and I reviewed eight dances.

Fast Hasapiko
Carnavalito
Zemer Atik
Chilili
Circle Reinlender
Waves
Hora de Munte
Lesnoto

Toba taught Raka
and I taught Dana.

Links to video of these dances are available on the main class page.
Introduction to International Dance
Roy

Class is starting Soon

Sacramento International Folk Dance and Arts Council's new Introduction to International Dance continuing class will start this Thursday, April 2, 2009. The class will be hosted by yours truly Roy Butler. I addition to myself , Yvonne Couvillion will be a regular teacher and we will welcome guest teachers from time to time.

The class got off to a good start with our free party on Sunday March 29, 2009

We taught the following dances during the openning party.

1. Fast Hassapiko
2. Circle Reinlender
3. Pravo
4. Cicerenella Tarantella
5. Zemer Atik
6. Chapelloise
7. Syrto
8. Chilili
9. Carnavalito
10. U'sest
11. Waves
12. Ve David
13. Hora de Munte
14. La Bastringue
15. Shibolet Bassadeh
16. Lesnoto

This Thursday we will review a number of the dances taught and teach a new dance Dana.
Video of Dana can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUTBxBTwUx4

Dance to live. Live to dance.
Roy