Comment by MiNAH on February 5, 2010 at 3:29am

One of these wonderful days in time to come, I will come dance with you!
Thank you Mary for sharing once again.
So i'll take a rain check on that!
MiNAH

Comment by Tallgirl on July 24, 2010 at 7:15pm

Love it! I wish I had been able to learn these dances from my San Rafael roommate, who had been in the folk dance group at Hayward State. I got invited to many places like Ashkenazi in the Bay Area, but somehow I always got confused at the steps with reversals in direction!

Comment by Mary on July 24, 2010 at 7:21pm

Thanks! Ashekenaz is legendary among Balkan folk dancers...I was there one time, in 1977.

Most of the people in the weekly class I take are over 60, but some are younger, and some only started dancing around age 40. It's a great activity for staying young both mentally and physically. You'd be surprised how quickly the steps and patterns begin to make sense if you give it a few weeks! Maybe someday....

Comment by Tallgirl on July 26, 2010 at 12:20am

Let me know if you hear of a good group in the NE Sacramento area or around Roseville. I am needing a new form of exercise...to work off the aforementioned chocolate bars and mint chip ice cream!

Comment by Mary on July 26, 2010 at 12:41am

I've put out a query to my folk dance buddies up in the Bay Area to see what they can tell me about groups there. In the meantime, I found this link:

http://www.folkdance.com/sacramentocouncil/where.htm

I'll let you know what I hear. I've been doing this dancing since I was 19 (in 1972). It's how I kept my sanity during law school, and it continues to keep me in pretty good shape - and provide lots of enjoyment.

Comment by Tallgirl on July 26, 2010 at 12:58am

Thanks. One meets on a street by my job! I will check these out. Bellydancing seems to be mostly in the opposite direction of my commute, and I try to get right home these days anyway. I feel intimidated and old at health clubs, alone while mall-walking...but when dancing, I can put anything on my head and just get into the music and dance. Too bad dancing requires a fee...

Comment by Mary on July 26, 2010 at 10:59am

Yes, too bad it's not fee...but, most dance groups charge a fairly low fee, and are in need of whatever they can get...they don't tend to be money-making businesses, and just manage to pay the rent for the dance space.

I'll let you know if I get any more info.

Comment by Tallgirl on July 26, 2010 at 10:01pm

Good news! One uses the same gym that is at my teaching site, and although I can only catch part of it after work, they said I can watch 1/2 of it for free on Wed. Whoopee! Still waiting for a call-back on the one that is listed for my county, very close to my home!

Comment by Mary on November 1, 2010 at 7:07pm

Thanks for the link, Marjan. No, I'm not familiar with Anastasia, but the music and rhythm is very familiar. I'll check them out more when I have time. Right now (literally, right now) I'm practicing for a rehearsal tonight!

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