http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/-t1.htm Why this forum? Get roomfuls instead of handfuls at your events. Tell us what's working for you. Post here unless your topic is specific to one of the group types below. Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:20:27 GMT 10 http://illiweb.com/fa/prosilver/site_logo.gif http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/-t1.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/theme-nights-t34.htm Sonia I commented on a suggestion in my International group about theme nights, and Jeremy posted a timely and thought-provoking reply just as I was drafting an email to our group of leaders. When you add a demo or lesson, how much of the evening does it take up? Is part of the time devoted to the regular repertoire? Do you let the dancers know what's coming up ahead of time? Do you have more info on what the Toronto folk dancers are doing? I looked up the Ontario Folkdancer website, but ... General Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:20:27 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/theme-nights-t34.htm#99 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/theme-nights-t34.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/care-and-feeding-of-wood-dance-floors-and-fledgling-dance-groups-t33.htm Sonia I've been holding a weekly dance group in my living room for a year now. I had the oak floor refinished before I moved in, so it was pretty much pristine when we started dancing. At the time I didn't know I would be starting a dance group, so I didn't get an especially hard finish. About three months in, I noticed a series of gouges along the dance path on the floor, and asked everyone to wear clean, soft-soled shoes. It's hard for me to police that, on top of running the music and dancing, ... General Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:21:14 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/care-and-feeding-of-wood-dance-floors-and-fledgling-dance-groups-t33.htm#96 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/care-and-feeding-of-wood-dance-floors-and-fledgling-dance-groups-t33.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/why-a-forum-revisited-t31.htm denismurf Obviously life went on undisturbed during the almost 2 months when I could pay no attention to this forum. Question now is, should it continue? It's certainly worth it from my perspective as a Balkan/ethnic dance teacher since I learn something from every posting. My next community college class starts Feb. 25, and I hope to get some collective wisdom from you on how to run a class of half total novices and half veterans of one 8-week class that ended way back on Nov. 19. Also, how ... General Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:49:53 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/why-a-forum-revisited-t31.htm#89 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/why-a-forum-revisited-t31.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/annual-memberships-to-dance-groups-t32.htm Sonia Most of the dance groups I attend charge a per-session fee of $2-3 to cover room rent and equipment. I noticed that one group I visit occasionally (the Scandinavian group I mentioned earlier) has annual memberships for $40. Thinking that this would save weekly hassle for regular dancers, I proposed a similar annual membership to the committee who runs the local International group. The idea went over like a lead balloon, with objections that it would be more work to keep track ... General Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:09:16 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/annual-memberships-to-dance-groups-t32.htm#91 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/annual-memberships-to-dance-groups-t32.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/broadcasting-the-dance-list-t4.htm Kim Each week after our session, since I live with the programmer, I look at the whiteboard with our program on it and send an email with the list (and perhaps some nmemotic commentary) to those who were there as well as regulars. It doesn't take long, seems to contribute some cohesion, and is intended to help fix dances in the members' minds. We are very much an "oh that dance" sort of group which knows what to do when it hears the music. Names have meant little (and I can't assert ... General Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:33:28 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/broadcasting-the-dance-list-t4.htm#4 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/broadcasting-the-dance-list-t4.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/the-incredulous-grin-of-a-returning-dancer-t27.htm Sonia I'm sure you've witnessed at least one, and maybe you've worn one yourself - the incredulous grin that a returning dancer wears as she/he rediscovers familiar music, movement, and the magic of dance after a hiatus of many years. In my case, I drifted away from dancing as I got busy in college, and didn't reconnect until I moved to Portland fifteen years later. I had researched the scene here online, but didn't actually go until after chatting with a stranger next to me on an airplane. ... General Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:15:31 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/the-incredulous-grin-of-a-returning-dancer-t27.htm#76 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/the-incredulous-grin-of-a-returning-dancer-t27.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/balkan-dance-class-in-la-t26.htm Elizabeth Mahina taught by Paul Petruscu & Yasemin Yildiz
at Ara School of Dance
6925 Canby Ave #103
Reseda, CA 91335
class cost $25 for 2 hour workshop
contact ElizArtist@verizon.net or dacianroman@yahoo.comfor details or
website www.elizartist.com for specific directions]]> General Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:13:14 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/balkan-dance-class-in-la-t26.htm#68 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/balkan-dance-class-in-la-t26.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/sound-systems-t3.htm Kim When Denis left St. Louis we largely replicated the sound system he was using for the Monday night group: --an iPod and some variant on an iHome. This suits our smallish room in a recreational center and our group which ranges from a dozen to two dozen. It is not high tech or audiophillic, but it suits. I can envision improvements (see below) but I think the basic concept is solid. The iPod (or, conceivably, a designated lap top with iTunes or--and Denis had looked at these a ... General Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:22:33 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/sound-systems-t3.htm#3 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/sound-systems-t3.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/more-on-terminology-t23.htm denismurf When this forum was being organized, we also considered using "lite" or "laid back" instead of "inclusive" and "serious" or "advanced" instead of "performance-level." This terminology is subject to discussion and can be changed, if there's consensus for doing so. Here's another example of what we mean, from Buffalo in late 80's. When we (Denis and Judy) arrived in 1987, there was one fairly large group (30 to 40 per Friday night) ... General Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:32:38 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/more-on-terminology-t23.htm#47 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/more-on-terminology-t23.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/your-first-dance-group-t10.htm Sonia
Sonia]]> General Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:44:30 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/your-first-dance-group-t10.htm#12 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/your-first-dance-group-t10.htm http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/great-outreach-free-workshop-and-dance-party-t14.htm Sonia I witnessed great outreach from a dance group I attend very infrequently. They're Scandinavian, not Balkan, but I think their methods can be applied by any group. They held a free afternoon workshop teaching two dances that are fundamental to their repertoire, but almost impossible to pick up on the fly (Hambo and Snoa). There was a party with live music that evening where there was a lot of opportunity to practice the new dances. They did a lot of cross-over publicity to other ... General Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:42:53 GMT http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/great-outreach-free-workshop-and-dance-party-t14.htm#18 http://balkan-ethnic-dance.forumotion.net/general-f1/great-outreach-free-workshop-and-dance-party-t14.htm