Greetings, Folkdancers! The annual Stamp-n-Camp Flathead Valley folkdance gathering is this weekend, June 23-24, and Russ reports that he has heard from quite a few dancers from around Montana who will be joining us. Major change is that the dancing will be at our usual Flathead Folkdancers' Saturday venue, the Salvation Army Church gym on "Pill Hill" (as the hospital neighborhood on Kalispell's north side is affectionately known to some of us). For a Stamp-n-Camp update, see below. Dances of 6-16-07 Seta Serbia Ajd' Noga Za Nagama Croatia Robin Ddiog Wales Rondeau de Garein France Andro (bagpipes) Brittany Newcastle England Djado mitjovata Bulgaria Black Nag England Gorani Armenia Tamzara Armenia Hole In The Wall England Barsgeren yeghanag (Persian Melody) Armenia Duke of Kent's Waltz England Dance from Plav Montenegro Devojce, Devojce Macedonia Verapceto (Verapcheto) Bulgaria Pravo Bulgaria Trugnala Rumjana Bulgaria Jiana Romania T'Filati Israel Pidhichtos Banas North Thrace Jacob's Ladder (Shulam Yaakou) Israel Bavno Oro Macedonia Rustemul Romania Pomasko Sirto Bulgaria Tervelska Tropanka Bulgaria Melissa's Waltz USA Satovcensko Horo Bulgaria Lakodalmi Tanc Hungary Ma Navu Israel Be'er Basadeh Israel Gori More Macedonia Dance Above the Rainbow Ireland Rezijanka Slovenia Kostursko Oro Macedonia Joc batranesc de la Niculitel Romania Dancers Gary Roger Russ Missy Jackie Don Rose Marvin Lauren Sarah Lanny Carolyn Sharon Kathy Connie Jon FOR STAMP-N-CAMP, Russ has the following final update: There is a change I would like to point out from the previous itinerary for Saturday June 23rd. We will do all of our dancing at the Salvation Army Church gym. Starting at about 12:00 noon, we will meet and share dances, do requests and whatever participants want to do. Between 4:00 and 5:00 we will break and go to my place, and set up for the night and get the potluck ready which we will eat there. At 7:00 or so, we will then go back to the church gym for our dance partywhich will go until our heartiest of souls are ready to give it up. Sunday morning will consist of breakfast at my house and dancing in the "Chicken House Dance Hall". Directions are as follows: To the Salvation Army Church and gym, drive north on hiway 93 up the hill from downtown Kalispell, turn Rt on Conway (which leads to the Emergency Room of Kalispell Regional Hospital). Turn right onto Claremont by the E.R. and go one block to Bountiful and hang a left. The church is on the end of the street. Out of towners shouldn't worry much about food. Bring something simple to transport like drink items, fruit etc. Look forward to seeing you! Russ -------- RE. NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL. The following, from Max in Butte, is repeated for those who missed it last month: If you haven't already heard, The National Folk Festival will be held in Montana; yes, in Butte, for three years, beginning July, 11, 12 & 13, 2008; the first time it has been this far west. It is free and open to the public. I am asking you to write letters to the organizers of the National Folk Festival to support participatory dance activities. The festival will have seven performance stages with lots of great entertainment. However, we should do what we can to assure that dance is present as a participatory activity. I'm asking you to support a request for one or more dance venues. Dance is just a part of folk life. Think of all the dancing at the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle. Please write one letter to the National Council for the Traditional Arts, National Folk Festival 2008-10 Planning Committee, 1320 Fenwick Lane, Suite 200 Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA. Tell them your favorite types of dance... folk, contra, line, belly, ballroom, period costume balls, salsa, western swing, hip-hop, etc. and tell them that you would like to see venues for public dancing at the festival in Butte. Be sure to tell them it's the way our dance traditions continue; when other people see that they are fun and accessible and done by fellow folks in their community. And if you feel comfortable with it, tell them what workshops you would like; tell them what musicians, dance teachers, historians, scholars, callers and dance groups you would like to see at the festival. Don't be afraid to be specific in your wants; whatever is needed to share and enjoy your types of dancing at a level worthy of the National Folk Festival... think of national level musicians, dance teachers, workshop leaders and callers for the dancing you do... and ask for them by name. This is the National Folk Festival after all. Then, send a second letter to the local planning committee; National Folk Festival, Local Planning Committee, c/o Mainstreet Uptown Butte, P.O. Box 696, Butte, MT 59703. Tell them that you have just written the national committee and then repeat your requests. It is through expressing our desire for venues for public dance, with live music, teachers for workshops, callers, etc. that they will know what we expect to find to do at the National Folk Festival. Dance, after all, as a folk art, is ultimately participatory; it's what we dancing folks do. Please write and send these two letters; they should be sent now while the basic planning process is still fluid and the teachers, callers and musicians arenít yet booked for July 2008. Also, please pass this request on to other dancers; we need all the support we can get. Thank you, and if you have further ideas about how to promote participatory dance at the Festival, or if you have questions, contact me at maxneva AT copper DOT net, 1920 Monroe Ave, Butte 59701 or 406-723-3623. Max Maxwell. Now get out your pen and paper, two envelopes and stamps ....... -------- Don S