Calendar
Weekly Dance: Fridays 7:30-10 pm at the Dance Academy
1117 Massachusetts in downtown Lawrence. Here are directions.
For more info: Phone Craig at 785-843-6034
Recently taught:
Ali Pasa (Turkey), Belasicko Oro (Macedonia), Bicak (Bulgaria)
Cherkeska (Bulgaria), Dobrudzanski Bouenek (Bulgaria),
Dobrujanska Ruka (Bulgaria), Hora Aggadati (Israel),
Hora Fetalor (Romania), Karagouna (Greece), Kopacka (Macedonia),
Kritikos Syrto (Greece), Kulska Sira (Bulgaria), Ma Navu (Israel),
Olahos (Hungary), Pandalas (Bulgaria), T'filati (Israel)
Requests for future teaching: Vulpuita (Romania), Batuta
Munteneasca
Other area folk dance groups, events, and concerts:
Sunday, Jan 27, 2008: 12th annual Lawrence Scottish Fest
at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Contras, squares and family dances
in Lawrence, Kansas City, Manhattan, Salina, Newton and Wichita
Kansas City - Tuesdays: Scandinavian Folk Dancing, Immanuel
Lutheran Church,
1700 Westport Road, KCMO. This group performs Scandinavian couples'
turning
dances and mixers, and welcomes newcomers. Some teaching. 816-444-4253
or
contact
Topeka - Saturday nights: International Folk Dancing led by
Bob Shapiro and
Elaine O'Gara from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church,
1821 SW 37th St., Topeka, KS. No experience or partners needed. All ages
welcome. Most dances will be easy, but other dances can also be done if other
experienced dancers participate. $2.00 donation suggested to help the church
defray expenses. For more information contact Bob or Elaine at
785-286-0761
or .
Wichita Grapevine International Folk Dancers
Sundays 5-7:15pm
Contact Joyce at (316) 683-1122 for info.
Folklore Village in Dodgeville, Wisconsin:
For more about Folklore Village visit www.folklorevillage.org.
Chicago -
Check out www.ethnicdance.net for more info
on Chicago area events
Learning to folk dance
OK, weight on the left. And ---
Here are some ideas about how to enhance the process of learning
international folk dancing.
1. Come early, come often. Research shows that what really
counts is muscle
memory - doing the same movements over and over again. How do you get to
Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.
2. Pick 5 to 10 dances that you really like (the ones where you say to
yourself as it ends: "I liked this dance!" Go over to the program book and
see what dance it was, or ask someone. Keep a list. Request "your"; dances
often (programmers LIKE requests). Get the music - play it in the car.
When you can dance your dances while talking to a friend in the line, you've
got it! it's time to pick the next 10 dances.
3. Tune into the steps. Identify and work on some basic
figures: grapevine,
step-hop, 1-2-3, pas-de-bas, lift-step etc. Once you can
recognize and do
this dance "language", you can master any dance fairly quickly because
you
can recognize the sequences.
4. Line strategies for intermediate to advanced dances:
Once a dance has started (while you're hanging back to see if you know
it)
join in the middle. The first 3-4 spots in a dance line are where
the
"hotshots" will congregate to do extra variations. If you need to
concentrate on steps or are unsure of the dance, the middle section is
good.
The end is OK, but you may feel "dragged" (and may, without meaning to,
drag
the line).
NEVER HESITATE TO GET IN THE LINE - the longest journey begins with
a single
step-hop. BUT - be aware that on more complicated dances, the
dance is more
fun for everyone if you're able to move in the line of direction!
One way to work on steps is to dance behind the line. Another is
to pick a
dance you really, really want to learn, and ask that it be taught.
5. Oh yes, and don't forget ... Come early, come often!
Resources
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Visit other parts of the Kansas Folk Music and Dance Resource Center at
www.kansasfolk.org for information on
other Kansas folk and acoustic music, dance, and heritage.
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