Howdy Dancers! Come enjoy a celebratory evening of international folk dancing in Kalispell this Saturday, Aug. 21, from 8 to 10 p.m., at the Salvation Army gym, 110 Bountiful Way. Take in the Northwest Montana Fair, then join in the dancing. A donation of $3 is requested to pay for rental of the gym. Here's a roundup of other dance events around Montana, courtesy of Cecelia in Bozeman: Bozeman International Folk Dance - Every Tuesday this summer, 7:30 p.m., SOB Barn at MSU August 28th: two workshops in Butte with Helene Eriksen. See below. Sept. 25th: Day of Dance in the Country, On the Park/Gallatin County line Nov. 20-21, 2010 Fall Folk Festival, Spokane http://www.spokanefolklore.org/FolkFestival.html For video of past festivals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMZ5dc48Puw Feb. 19-20, 2011 Steam & Stomp at Boulder Hot Springs July 8-10, 2011 The Montana Folk Festival in Butte http://www.montanafolkfestival.com/ Video clip: The first 2 minutes is of Sestorka (hoo ha) ...taking liberties with the choreography: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ystcmQibE4I Re. the Butte Workshops August 28th: Two workshops in Butte by the fabulous international dancer and teacher Helene Eriksen. 11am-2pm - Dances of the Nailiyat from Algeria ($45) For an example, see the first dance at http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=6010823 3pm-6pm - Dances of the Ghawazee from Upper Egypt ($45). A $10 discount is available if you enroll in both workshops dropping the price to $80. Sacred Ground in Butte will again host - A donation to Sacred Ground will be made from the enrollment fees. Call Norma or email logicmystic AT gmail.com for more information. It will be held at the MoFab on Park Street uptown. Eva says she hopes to be at the 11 a.m.workshop. Helene Eriksen is a wonderful teacher and an expert on some types of dances that expand the range of what we usually do for international dance. She gives historical and cultural information as well as teaching several dances. For contra dancers, the 27th annual Bear Hug Dance & Music Mountain Festival is coming up Sept. 10-12 on the west shore of Flathead Lake. Bands will be the Great Bear Trio and Sleeping Child String Band, with callers Sarah Van Norstrand and Marlin Prowell. A limited number of reduced rate scholarships are available for participants ages 17-27. For details and registration, go to: http://www.missoulafolk.org/bearhug/Current_Bear_Hug.htm International folk dancing takes place in Kalispell this Saturday, August 28, from 8 to 10 p.m. (summer hours), at the Salvation Army gym, 110 Bountiful Way. We will celebrate Rose's birthday with cake & goodies. Last weekend we had a large festive turnout to dance and celebrate Ruth & Sam's 50th anniversary and Connie's birthday. We didn't get a list of all the attendees, but it was a fine session. DANCES 08-21-10 Seven Jumps Denmark Zemer Atik Israel Toting Denmark Changerais-tu Brittany Gori More Macedonia Dance from Plav Montenegro Ve' David Israel Setnja Serbia Mayim Israel Melissa's Waltz USA Hambo Sweden An Dro Retourne Brittany Djado mitjovata Bulgaria Mori Odajo Macedonia Zensko za raka Macedonia Nama Lesnoto Medley Macedonia Duke of Kent's Waltz England Tankosava Serbia Snurrebocken Sweden Tervelska Raka Bulgaria Narino Turkey Tervelska Tropanka Bulgaria Sestorka Serbia Dospatsko Horo Bulgaria Jove Malaj Mome Bulgaria Joc batranesc de la Niculitel Romania For more information on international dancing and links to events, free music and other information, visit Kalispell Montana Dancers web site, where you can also find playlists from past dances: http://montanafolkdance.org/flathead/ Happy dancing, Don