Happy Holidays! Kalispell International Folk Dancers gather to dance Saturday, Dec. 21, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the Salvation Army Community Center gym, 110 Bountiful Drive. Hope to see you there! The consensus was that we should not plan on having a New Year's Eve party. Some want to attend the Kalispell First Night events that night, while others have other commitments. But perhaps we should gather to dance as usual Saturday, Dec. 28, and bring a few treats so we can have a little holiday dance party on that night. For more information about IFD events, plus past play lists and links to free music, photos and some great dance videos, see our web site at: http://montanafolkdance.org/flathead/ If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please let me know by replying to this email. DANCES 12-14-13 Ne Veruje Srce Pameti (Croation Love Song) Croatia Ma Navu (Mana avu) Israel Devevichiya Kharovanaya Russia (Russian Circle) Eleno Kerko Macedonia Zorba Line Dance Ira Weisburd's version Zorba Greece Kak po Logu Russia Ya da kalinushku lomala Russia Lugovonjka means "duckling" Russian We didn't remember this one so well. So, here is a video on YouTube of some Chinese folk dancers that are doing this dance quite well and the same way we do it except for the bow part at the end of the dance sequence. They keep their arms crossed on their chest, we learned it from the Calgary Tineke van Geel Workshop in 2004, that you start with your arms crossed but end opening them as you bow. Siriul Romania Orijent Serbia Oi Devoiche Bulgaria Ciganja Romanian Gypsy Momino Horo-N.W. Vlach Bulgaria Rum Dum Dum Serbia Hore pe Seshe Romania Tsamika Tria Greece Bavno Oro (bongos) Macedonia Sitna Zborenka Bulgaria Djado mitjovata Bulgaria Clopton Bridge England Ajde Jano (rock) Serbia Oseh Shaloam Israel Kritiko Serviko Greece-Crete Alunelul de la Urzica Romania Arnautsko Horo Bulgaria-Pirin Zimushka Russia Oj Cvjetjot Kalina Russia Lesnoto-Pile Slavej Pile Macedonia DANCERS: 1. Russ 2. Roger 3. Sharon 4. Max 5. Eva 6. Don 7. Rose 8. Sally 9. Connie 10. Jackie Z Happy Christmas To All, Don At the end of the evening Eva was talking about a book she really likes. The Dancing Goddesses: Folklore, Archaeology, and the Origins of European Dance A fascinating exploration of an ancient system of beliefs and its links to the evolution of dance. From southern Greece to northern Russia, people have long believed in female spirits, bringers of fertility, who spend their nights and days dancing in the fields and forests. So appealing were these spirit-maidens that they also took up residence in nineteenth-century Romantic literature. Archaeologist and linguist by profession, folk dancer by avocation, Elizabeth Wayland Barber has sleuthed through ethnographic lore and archaeological reports of east and southeast Europe, translating enchanting folktales about these “dancing goddesses” as well as eyewitness accounts of traditional rituals—texts that offer new perspectives on dance in agrarian society. She then traces these goddesses and their dances back through the Romans and Greeks to the first farmers of Europe. Along the way, she locates the origins of many customs, including coloring Easter eggs and throwing rice at the bride. The result is a detective story like no other and a joyful reminder of the human need to dance. 150 illustrations and 9 maps And we have heard from the Neff's: Hi dancers, We are heading towards the Christmas break here, and there is lots of Christmas here in Ibillin. There is special music and dance next to a tall Christmas tree right at the top of the village. You can see us in action on YouTube: Seven Jumps or you can find it through our blog at: http://neighborseastandwest.org We miss you but we will be back soon. Sam and Ruth