Howdy Dancers!
Kalispell International Folk Dancers meet again this Saturday June 20 from 7 to 10
p.m. at the Salvation Army gym, 110 Bountiful Drive, Kalispell.
For those in the Bozeman area or heading that way, Cecelia reminds that this is
also the Summer Solstice weekend at Hallie's Weather Rock Barn, featuring a picnic
in view of sandhill cranes, music jam and dancing! Stay over and see the stars or
drive home in near dark.
June 20 - 21st, 2009
Summer Solstice at Weather Rock on the Alluvial Plains of the Shields Valley
Early evening of Saturday, June 20th
Rain or Shine - Dress for Montana weather
Overnight camping available
Picnics - hiking - night time star gazing (new moon darkness)
Dancing in the Loft of the Barn - Music Jams at the Bunk House
Bring to share - Pot Luck meals - snacks - goodies - beverages
Sorry no dogs during this event.
Stamp and Camp in the Flathead Valley is the following weekend, June 27-28. Connie
reports that the plans are finalized. Dancing Saturday afternoon at the Salvation
Army gym in Kalispell. Marvin will host the potluck dinner at his house the 27th. He
said he has built a deck big enough to folk dance on! Dance party Saturday night at
the SA gym.
Potluck breakfast Sunday morning at Russ and Missy's. Missy has to work that weekend.
Sharon said she'd make a 9x13" oven dish, and Marianne (she's back!) said she'd bring
some fruit or a fruit salad. We usually have about 20? people so will need more food to
feed the out of town guests. Rose heard from Ann Kyle in Calgary, who will be in
southern Alberta for that weekend and may join us.
For Contradancers, Kathy Neff reports that there are no plans for any official summer
contradances in Kalispell. She had considered calling an informal one on August 8 with
recorded music, but the Gym was no
t available that day. The plan now is to start officially the 2nd Saturday of
October and continue till May, but the November date is a little up in the air due
to the Rails to Trails contradance fundraiser. More definite dates and details
will be announced when they are finalized.
Meantime, there are the Shy Bear Farm Summer Contra Dances near Arlee.
Date: 3rd Sat of June, July, and August.
Seattle Folklife 2009 review from Cecelia:
I attended for the first time in over 5 years, but only on Sunday. I loved the IFD
schedule that day, and I ran in to Ann and her sister of Missoula, and former Bozeman
resident Tonya. Overall there were at least 15 venues for performance and participation
from every continent, not to mention impromptu street action.
The afternoon at Center House had 3 bands for an International Folk Dance Party. As
each band set up, basic steps were taught for the next set. There's a huge amount of
foot traffic through that area, so IFD got great exposure during prime time. Many folks
stopped to try it. A dance list had been printed and distributed, so experienced
dancers could plan breaks around their favorites. As performances ended at other stages,
those costumed performers would pop in and add some flare. It was great to see the
Schuplattler performers smoothly execute the northern European numbers, and the
announcer warned if the dance was complex so that the floor would clear and crashes
were minimized.
Sunday evening was for Balkan dancing, with 7 different orchestras. There was no
teaching. During band changes, individual musicians filled in. At one point, 3 gaidas
were clustered on the dance floor. How is it that those guys haven't gone deaf??
It was loud but totally thrilling to dance around Balkan bagpipes again. Occasionally
there was a familiar tune, like Karamfil. But mostly it was village style, so a
pravo or rezinitza would start and you just had to pick carefully which leader/pattern
matched your skill level. This was frustrating for my mother-in-law, who's used
to recorded music and familiar tunes. But for my daughter and niece, I think they
could've danced all night. Indeed, I'd guess that the mean age on the dance floor
was 30. I had to leave early, so will be glad to hear what others have to say.
For more information on international dancing and links to music, events and other
information, visit the Kalispell International Folk Dancers web site, where you can
also find recent dance lists:
http://montanafolkdance.org/flathead/
Here are the Kalispell dances from Saturday 6-6-09. And Cris sends thanks to whomever
brought Dyson's jacket by their house.
Cepelarsko Horo Bulgaria
Trite Pati Bulgaria
Ljaski Bulgaria
Zensko za raka Macedonia
Karamfil Macedonia
Dance Of Ikaria Greek
Zorba Greek
Jove Malaj Mome Bulgaria
Ma Navu Israel
Zorba Greek
Hora ca la Caval Romania
Lakodalmi Tanc Hungary
Ajde Jano Serbia
Lakodalmi Tanc Hungary
Valle Pogonishte Albania
Zaeskata Bulgaria
Momacka Setnja Serbia
Valle Nuseve Albania
Rustemul Romania
Valle Nuseve Albania
Narino Turkey
Heyamo Turkey
Gori More Macedonia
Malilzvorski Opaas Bulgaria
1. Russ
2. Missy
3. Roger
4. Jackie
5. Cris
6. And Dyson
7. Karen
8. Rose
9. Marvin
10. Connie
11. Marianne
Happy dancing,
Don