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*International Folk Dancing Groups*
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Special
Events
Sunday, May 24: Covington Dance and Fundraiser for the Finnish Music Festival in June. Enjoy and dance to the music of Wil Kilpela, Tanja Stanaway, Les Ross Se, Oren Tikkanen and more. 1:00 - 5:00 pm, cost $5, at the Covington Multipurpose Bldg, M-28. More info call 355-3459. Wednesday, May 27: Duquesne University Tamburitzans will be performing in Marquette at Kaufman Auditorium; 7:30 pm. Advanced tickets $5 and $12, at door $7 and $15. Sponsored by the Marquette Int'l Folk Dancers and the NMU Int'l Folk Dancers. For more information call 228-0472. Saturday, June 27: Covington Finnish Music Festival, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm ET at the Covington Pavillion and Event Center, M28. This is a popular annual event with a full day and evening of music, dancing, and workshops. Along with dancing by the stage to great live music by Les Ross Sr & The Finnish American All Stars, White Water, Thimbleberry Band, and Wil Kilpela Friends, there will be several Finnish Ballroom Dance Workshops throughout the day. For more information contact Randy Seppala 906-355-2459, or Jim Lohmann 906-355-2382. July 17 - 19: Annual Hiawatha Music Festival , Marquette, MI, with a vast array of live music and dancing. Friday night dance music by White Water, and ***; and dance workshops throughout the weekend. For more information, see www.hiawathamusic.org. July 23 - 25: Blueberry Dance Festival -- Performance, Workshops, and Competition with Byron "Illastik" Reynolds and Celia Weiss Bambara. Hip-Hop, Contemporary Fusion, and Choreography. For more information pick up a flyer at Marquette Arts & Culture Center (906-228-0472) or Second Skin Shop (906-226-2263). Saturday, October 10 starts the 2009-2010 season of the "Second Sunday Folk Dance with White Water", with a special Fortune Lake Fall Fiesta with a fun filled day of dance workshops and music by White Water and Glen & Judi Morningstar as well as The Front Parlor Dance Band. The usual Second Sunday format will begin at 4:00 (even though this first event is the second Saturday!) From November through April,
monthly Second Sunday Folk Dance activities begin at
4:00 pm Central Time (5:00 Eastern) with concerts by the ever popular
and wonderful musicians "White Water" (Dean and Bette Premo) and their
special guest musician(s). At Fortune Lake
Lutheran Camp, located between Iron River and Crystal Falls. 1st Sundays: Dance to live music at Gwinn. 2nd Sundays: Dance to live music at Rock Community/Senior Center located at 3892 W Mapleridge Rd. 1:00 - 5:00 pm. Cost $5. Lunch is available. All proceeds benefit the Rock Senior Corporation. For more info call Alice at 356-6588. 3rd Sundays: Dance to live music at Trenary Town Hall. Crystal Falls Iron County Folk Dancers -- Wednesdays – Folk Dancing at Crystal Falls Town Hall, corner of US 141 and US 2, 6:30 pm CT. All are welcome, no experience or partner needed. 2nd Sunday Folk Dances with White Water – Every second Sunday from October through April. Begins at 4:00 pm CT with a concert by White Water, followed by a concert by a special guest musician(s). Then dancing until 7:00 ct. No experience necessary, Bette and White Water leads participants through a variety of dances. A family event for all ages. Admission is $7, plus a welcome donation for the dinner. The event ends at 7:00 pm CT. Check their website for schedule and more information: www.white-water-associates.com/second.htm Escanaba Bay de Noc Int'l Folk Dancers -- Open to anyone who is interested in dancing a variety of folk dances from around the world**. New dances with instruction are added periodically. We dance a variety of mostly non-partner International dances, some contras and set dances, and other odds and ends. Great fun and good exercise! There is no formal membership -- just show up to dance and you become part of the group. New dancers are welcome. You don't need a partner and no experience is necessary. Main dance teacher/leader is Sue Robishaw (also the author of this page). A small nightly donation is requested to cover expenses. Location: Bonifas Arts Center, 700 First Ave So, Escanaba (Studio entrance, in the back). Dates: Monday evenings (with occasional exceptions) from mid-September through mid-June. Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm EST. For more information contact: Carol Irving, 786-0331; or me (Sue Robishaw), 644-2598, sue@manytracks.com. ** Dances (in order
introduced): KorTanc, Ersko Kolo, Alunelul, Miserlou, Setnja, Biserka,
Trgnala Rumjana, Ali Pasa, Nevesto Acano Mlada, Schottische, Zemer Atik, Pata
Pata, Bannielou Lambaol, Hora lautareasca din Dolj, Opsa, Cacak, Makedonsko
Devojce, Savila se Bela Losa, Makedonijo, Erev Ba, Mori Shej, 12th Street Rag,
French Canadian step dancing. Plus various reels, contras, quadrilles and
squares. Hancock Copper Country Ethnic Dancers -- Fridays – Int’l Folk Dancing. 8:00 pm at the Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy St, Second floor ballroom, use side entrance. $3. Learn and perform dances from around the world. Beginners are welcome, and no partner is necessary. Contact: Mark Jindrich, 906-337-5650. newhouse@pasty.com. Iron Mountain "Dances of Universal Peace", First Presbytarian Church, Iron Mountain. 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Plan is to start a dance circle in Iron Mountain every first Friday of the month. For more information contact Barb Schieffer 715-696-6630. Marquette Fridays – Marquette Int’l Folk Dancers. 7:00-9:** pm, at Northern Light's Martial Arts' new location between Office Max & Jilbert's, 1500 W. Washington. Contact Bob Railey, 226-9617 or rmrailey@excite.com. No partner or experience needed. Mixture of line, circle, and partner dances from all over, specializing in partner dances. Repertoire is primarily from Europe. $3/person/night.Tuesdays – NMU International Dancers. 7:00 pm at the NMU University Center Sept-May when school is in session. June-July-August at Presque Isle Park. Contact Marge – msklar@nmu.edu, or 225-5702. During NMU breaks, dancing is in their home, so check ahead. No partner or experience needed. A wide variety of dancing, mainly line and circle, from a range of countries and regions of the world.one Thursday a Month – Scottish Country Dancing. 7:00 pm at St.Paul’s Episcopal Church on High Street between Ridge and Arch. Led by Dorothy Kahler, 249-5659. No partners or dance experience necessary. Dress comfortably, wear soft-soled shoes. Next dance dates: January 29 and March 26.For other dance and live music happenings in the Marquette area, check listings in the "Marquette Monthly", free at many locations or online at www.mmnow.com. What is International Folk Dancing? Folk dancing is what everyday people of a community might dance at gatherings such as weddings, parties, celebrations. Most ethnic groups have their own dances that are common in their countries or villages. The International Folk Dance groups are people who get together to learn and dance folk dances from around the world. Most IFD’s specialize in certain types and styles of dances, such as couple dances of Western Europe, square and contra dances of the US, circle and line dances of the Balkan regions, etc. Some groups specialize in dances from specific regions or countries, such as German dances or Scandinavian dances. Others do a little of everything! Folk dances are community dances that can be enjoyed and participated in by everyone. Where to Learn -- Where to Dance The best way to learn is in person. There is a great wealth of generous dancers in the U.P., and opportunities to dance (though you may have to drive a bit). A special thanks to all the folk dance group organizers and dancers who put so much into keeping these dances alive and strong, sharing generously of their time and talent, encouraging dancers and would-be dancers of all ages and abilities. Following is a list of dancing groups and opportunities in the U.P. If you know of others, please let me know. If there are no dances or teachers in your area, learn some dances and start a group! This is how community folk dancing begins and continues. Most importantly, get out and dance whenever you can, and bring your friends with you. * Andew Carnie -- http://dingo.sbs.arizona.edu/~carnie/
(old list) Dancilla -- www.dancilla.com/ Dick Oates -- www.phantomranch.net/folkdanc/ Dunav-Balkan -- www.dunav.org.il/index.html Evansville IFD -- www.evansvillefolkdancers.com/id103.html FD Fed of Calif -- www.folkdance.com/ Tom Deering -- www.seanet.com/~deerings/dnotes.htm Hugo’s -- www.mts.net/~jinks/fd/menu.htm Lloyd Shaw -- www.lloydshaw.org/ Miami Valley FD -- www.daytonfolkdance.com/mvfd/ Robert Shapiro -- www.recfd.com/ Sacred Dance Library -- www.sacredcircles.com/ Skandia FD -- www.folkdancing.com/ The Round -- English Country Dance site maintained by Hugh Stewart -- a large and informative site of Playford and Cecil Sharp dance info and descriptions. Also one of the best descriptions of dance figures I've seen in an article by Hugh Stewart. Not just for English Country dancers. -- www.srcf.ucam.org/round/
Animated Folk Dance GIF's by Marucho (used with
permission) * * Upper Peninsula of Michigan Copyright © 2008 by Sue Robishaw
~~~ ManyTracks
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* Folk Dancing
in the U.P.* *
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* There is a lot of information on
the internet. Many of the larger IFD groups and a number of individuals
have generous listings of dances, dance steps, video clips, and information on their sites.
Some of the sites I’ve found helpful are:
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