Invite a friend to folk dancing. You never know how it will end up.
35 years ago, my friend Elka invited me to her folk dance class. It was a community ed class held at the local community college. It was my first introduction to hearing all of this wonderful music from around the world. Every week, I would go with Elka and her daughter Raychel (far right in the picture above). Sometimes after class we'd stop and enjoy a piece of pie or french fries with brown gravy. It was social, recreational, and SO fun to learn those fascinating dance patterns.
Our teacher was Linda Lowell. She wore calf-high red boots when she danced, and in my mind I can still see those red boots clear as day. As a beginner, my eyes were usually glued on Linda's feet! Linda had an amazing amount of energy and taught us tons of dances. She taught us to hambo. She taught us Cimpoi, Floricica, Trei Pazeste, Salty Dog Rag, Ciuleandra, and many more of what are still some of my favorite dances today. Linda helped us to sew costumes and booked us to do dance demonstrations in the community. In the picture above and below, our dance group was doing a performance as part of the Haydn Festival in Coos Bay.
Our teacher was Linda Lowell. She wore calf-high red boots when she danced, and in my mind I can still see those red boots clear as day. As a beginner, my eyes were usually glued on Linda's feet! Linda had an amazing amount of energy and taught us tons of dances. She taught us to hambo. She taught us Cimpoi, Floricica, Trei Pazeste, Salty Dog Rag, Ciuleandra, and many more of what are still some of my favorite dances today. Linda helped us to sew costumes and booked us to do dance demonstrations in the community. In the picture above and below, our dance group was doing a performance as part of the Haydn Festival in Coos Bay.
To share that experience with Elka (and so much more) makes her a significant person in my life. Last week, Elka came to my class! We hadn't folk danced together since our days together in the 1980s. It was nothing short of thrilling to dance once again with Elka. As we did Ma Na'avu side by side, it was as smooth
and easy as it was over three decades when we have done it last. I am forever indebted to Elka for inviting me to folk dance class - for introducing me to this wonderful hobby that has become so much a part of my life.
and easy as it was over three decades when we have done it last. I am forever indebted to Elka for inviting me to folk dance class - for introducing me to this wonderful hobby that has become so much a part of my life.
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