Learning more about international folk dancing
Live-music events on the Calendar provide chances to simply join in and dance, even if you've never tried it. But taking in a few classes definitely helps.
Tapestry's Saturday Beginner Classes
BEST BET: Check out these sessions at Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis. As Tapestry's web page puts it,
This is for anyone who wants to learn the fundamental steps and patterns that are the building blocks of the dances of the world. No need to have ever danced before. You'll learn a variety of line and couple dances from many countries: the Balkans to England, the USA to Israel, and everywhere in between. Feel free to start at any time, and come whenever you can. There's no need to bring a partner; there will be plenty of opportunity to trade off partners and learn all the steps. Above all, we want you to have fun as you learn to dance together. Remember: we are the "folk" and these dances are meant for us.
Sat 7:30-9:30pm, on a drop-in basis. Runs generally September through April (Check Tapestry's calendar for exceptions). $5 (group discounts available; contact Tapestry office). Taught by Ed Stern, Fer Horn, Kathy Gray and Theresa Mish. Here's a link to Tapestry's web site and calendar for directions and contact information.
Tapestry Fridays, and other options
Saturday nights tough? Summer's here? Friday International Dancing at Tapestry offers beginning and intermediate teaching from 7:30-8:45, followed by request dancing that includes many beginner-friendly selections. In fact, all the local international folk dance groups offer teaching as part of their evenings. See the details in the section below.
IFD group directory
These local and nearly-local international folk dance recreational groups offer teaching and request-dancing to the public.
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Twin Cities Metro
- Tapestry Folkdance Center
- Tapestry has three international folk dance evenings:
-- Beginners' Classes, detailed above;
-- a General IFD event each Friday with teaching 7:30-8:45 and requests 9-12pm. $7 ($5 members; group discounts available); and
-- Advanced Dancing the second Tuesday of the month, 7:30pm, $6 ($5 members).
Tapestry also hosts other regular folk dance and swing nights,, and special events and workshops that include live music for IFD. Tapestry also rents space. :: 3748 Minnehaha Ave S in Minneapolis :: 612-722-2914 :: www.tapestryfolkdance.org - University Folk Dancers
- Tuesdays 7:30-10:30pm (formal teaching 8-9pm), Audubon Neighborhood Center, Buchanan St and 29th Ave NE, Minneapolis; $2 donation. Contact Myrtle Hoppe, 612-789-2659.
- Sundowners
- Usually 2nd, 4th and 5th Saturday evenings. Contact Myrtle Hoppe, 612-789-2659.
- Hillel Israeli Dancing
- All Israeli dance, with teaching; 7-10pm Sundays; $3 (students free). At Hillel, 1521 University Ave SE, Minneapolis :: Visit Hillel's page at www.tc.umn.edu/~hillel/
Farther Afield
- Eau Claire WI International Folk Dancers
- Fridays 7:30pm, $1 (!) at YMCA Fitness and Training Center, 206 Emery St, Eau Claire WI. First Fridays are Beginners' Nights, all dances easy and taught. Check their (new!!) calendar www.cs.uwec.edu/~wagnerpj/ecifd
- Winona MN International Folk Dancers
- Meets 7:30-9:30pm Mondays, Valencia Art Center on the St. Teresa campus of St. Mary's University, Winona MN. $3 ($2 members). Web page is www.hbci.com/~cscudier/ or contact Sue O'Brien at sobrien (at) winonacotter (dot) org.
- Folk Dancers of the Fox Valley, WI
- Mondays 7pm at Lawrence University Memorial Union in the Riverview Lounge during the school year, South Greenville Grange during the summer. $1 contribution. Info at www.angelfire.com/music4/walenski/FolkDancers.html or contact Barb Westhofen at 920-734-4029
- Madison WI International Folk Dancers
- Wednesdays and Sundays each week; in good weather, outside on the Library Mall. Info at plantpath.wisc.edu/~tdd/mfdu.htm
- Milwaukee WI International Folk Dancing (Hart Park, Racine)
- Events and schedules at www.gainesnet.com/milwauke.htm. Hart Park meets Tuesdays (except 2nd Tues... meets Thurs); call Forrest at 262-662-2293 for info. Hart Park group now frequently has live-music parties. Racine meets Fridays; call 262-637-5246 for info.
This page was last updated on Monday March 17, 2008.
Happy Dancing!
