Previous Folk Dance Events

Armenian Folk Dance Day
with Dalila Heath November 2007

Dalila, who is Armenian, was born in Cyprus in 1974. Once she discovered her love of dancing she joined various ethnic folkdance classes. She was a founder member and principal dancer of the Arax Armenian Dance Group run by the Tekeyen Cultural Association in London. She has travelled with groups both in England and abroad, and has appeared twice at the Eastbourne International Folk Dance Festival. Currently Dalila is director of Akhtamar Armenian Dance Group. She also gives solo performances for charity and takes workshops in Armenian Folk Dance. Dalila is the principle Armenian dance teacher of the Society for International Folk Dancing (SIFD).

The following dances were taught over the day: Assoulis, Karoun Karoun, Yerek Vodk, Im Gousans, Chour em Arec, Sasna Polzare, Erzroomi Shoror, Teen, Lourke, Shkgerdan Aghchic, Shatakhi Shoror.

Dances from Aegean and Ionian Islands and the Black Sea
with Angie Saravelaki Feb 2007

Angie Saravelaki is a performer and teacher with Dora Stratou the Greek national folk dance group which is based in Athens. She has taught Greek folkdance at several different venues in Britain in the last few years.

The following dances were taught over the weekend: Issos and Pentozalis(Kos), Tripatos, Pyrgysikos, Patitos and Siganos-Ytrehatos(Chios), Soysta and Pana Horos(Karpathos) Syrtos and Kritikos(Rhodes), Syrtos, Zeibekikos, Aptalikos and Karsilamos(Mytilini), Syrtos Divaratikos, Manetas and Ballos(Kefalonia), Pentozali(Crete), Syrtos, Hasapikos, Hasaposervikos and Olmaz(Erythrea), Tik, Kotsari, Seranitsa and Tromahton(Pontos).

Yugoslavian Folk Dance Workshops 2000-2006
with Paja & Madelon Milic

Paja & Madelon Milic are well known to Balkan enthusiasts and have taught at the Eastbourne international folk dance festival, the Society for International Folk Dancing (SIFD) Summer School and earlier weekend folk dance courses at Bognor Regis.

Paja is from Banat, an area in Serbia which is characterised by its particularly 'leg-tangling' dances. He and Madelon have performed and taught folk dance extensively in Europe since he moved to Holland over thirty years ago. They joined Ciga and Ivon Despotovic and helped popularise the international folk dance movement in Holland.

November 2006

The following Yugoslavian folk dances were taught over the weekend: Posiv Kolo, Ripna maca, Ljiljino Kolo and Porodinka Kolo(Serbia), Bracno Oro(Albania), Vaskino Oro, Kopacija-Malesorks and Svekrvino oro(Macedonia),Berouska tesko oro and Maki Maki(Gypsy).

Febuary 2003

The following Yugoslavian folk dances were taught over the weekend: Cupino kolo (Serbia / Kosovo), Romo Cocek (Macedonian), Lajkovacko kolo (Serbia), Ajsino oro (Albania), Bracno oro (Albania), Vlaski tanc (Vlaski) , Berovka (Macedonia), Pristinka (Kosovo) and Svatovka (Serbia)

November 2001

The following Yugoslavian folk dances were taught over the weekend: Sano Duso / Vranjanka (Serbia - Vranje), Posla rumena - Tmo mome (E.Serbia), Strumicka Petorka (Macedonia), Legnala Dana (Macedonia) , Kolubarski vez (Serbia), Dragisino kolo (Serbia), Bufcansko (Macedonia), Cuperlika (Macedonia), Lesnoto (Macedonia), Kacerac (Serbia), Trbjanac(Serbia) and Florinka (Gipsy), Cacak (Serbia), Srba (Serbia)

October 2000

The following Yugoslavian folk dances were taught over the weekend: Pembe (Macedonian), Cica Obrenovo Kolo, Carapanka kolo, Gajdasko Kolo, Vo Krusevo ogin gori, Pristinka (Kosovo), Malo Vlasko Kolo, Bobino kolo, Vajta n' Elbasan (Albanian), Kratko Vlasko Kolo and Gnjilane (Kosovo)

General International Folk Dance Workshop
with Jan Knoppers Feb 2005

Jan Knoppers is a versatile performer and teacher who teaches folk dances from all over the world, specialising in those of the Far East. He works in Holland bringing performances to schools as part of the Dutch policy of international cultural education.

The following international folk dances were taught over the weekend: Moustabeikos (Greek Macedonian), Kostilata Thessalia (Greece), Ka'afe (Georgia), Dzaghkats Baleni (Armenia), De Valse Zeeman (Holland), Syrtos Nisyros (Greece), Kalya Bandi (India), Lagu Sopo Sopo (Molucca) and Khanty-Mansi (Siberia).

Russian Folk Dance Workshops 2003-2004 with Hennie Konings

Hennie Konings studied Russian folk dance in Moscow with Tatyana Ustinova and Olga Zolotova. He learned many Russian dance styles, both choregraphed for stage and the living folklore of the villages. In 1986 he ended his career as a performing dancer and dedicated himself to the teaching of Russian folk dance; he has since become a leading Russian dance pedagogue in Europe, the USA and Asia. His visits to England have made him well known and very popular.

November 2003

The following Russian folk dances were taught over the weekend: U menya molodoy muschena, Ti ne stoy kolodyets, Oy na gorke kalina, Na Yegora, Korobuschka, Simuschka, Doroschka, Notschka,Ureke and Ivanouna (Semonouna)

September 2003

The following Russian folk dances were taught over the weekend: Kubanskaya Liricheskaya, Ljublja ya Kazachenjku, Seyu-rassjevayu, Slobozhanskaya Poljka, Zapletisja Pletjen, U nas pod ljesom, Zeleneye Zhito, Padespanj and Lenochek

Macedonian Folk Dance Workshop with Ibrahim Rizevski Feb 2004

Ibrahim Rizevski started dancing with 'Lola Ribar' in Belgrade in 1972. By 1977 he was artistic director, solo dancer and drummer. From 1982 he was a professional dancer in the military ensemble in Belgrade, but now lives in Zurich and is artistic director to 'Sloga'. He has given many workshops on traditional Macedonian folk dance in Switzerland, France, Yugoslavia and Holland. His first appearance in England was at the Eastbourne festival in 2003,

The following Macedonian folk dances were taught over the weekend: Iovano Iovanke, Potrcano, Trite Stupki, Belasicko, Kalajdzisko, Bukite, Kumanovka, Jeni Jol and Staro Cunova Velosko Oro

Greek Folk Dance Workshops 2002-2003 with Maggie O'Regan

Maggie is a recognised teacher of the SIFD. She teaches a general range of international folk dances and has a special interest in Russian, Romanian and Armenian dance. Greek dance is another important speciality and she has danced with several Greek performance groups.

June 2003

The following Greek folk dances were taught on the day: Tapinas, Bella Olimbia, Karatzova, karagouna, Tou Ganbrou and Ajde Jano

June 2002

The following Greek folk dances were taught on the day: Ikariotiko, Sammarina, Zonoradiko, Zeybekiko, Tikfesko, Tai-Tai & Halai

Turkish Folk Dance Workshops 2000-2002 with Ersin Seyhan

Ersin Seyhan comes from the southeastern part of Turkey, but his teaching embraces all areas of modern and historic Turkey. He lives and works in Holland where he has an active performance group (Ozan), and helps organise the annual Zetten Balkan festival. Ersin first came to Bognor Regis in Feb 2000, and has returned to give several successful workshops since.

October 2002

The following Turkish folk dances were taught over this weekend: Ali Bey, Mendil, Tulum romen, Gelin Halayi, Ege Karsilamasi, Ramze, Trakya and Yaylalar

February 2001

The following Turkish folk dances were taught over the weekend: Canoynare, Ayrillik, Bablekan, Bahare, Ham Cocelek, Agir Kovenk, Fidadhe, Fadike and Drida

February 2000

The following Turkish folk dances were taught over the weekend: Istanbul Kasap, Cayda cira, Livan oy, Yaylalar, Gumbur, Hayat, Tulum Havasi and Guzeller

Bulgarian Folk Dance Workshop with Eddie Tijssen Mar 2002

Eddie Tijssen teaches Bulgarian folk dances at Zetten Balkan festival and is a gifted Bulgarian dancer. He has led many workshops in England, including the Eastbourne festival. Eddie has also arranged guided dance holidays to Bulgaria.

The following Bulgarian folk dances were taught over the weekend: Okopsko Pajdusko Horo (Okop / Trakia), Rusan na Ruska dumase (Sopluk), Ginka (Pirinska / Makedonia), Ivan Kalinu Dumase (Trakia), Gigensko Horo (Severnjasko), Lazarski Danets (Dabrudia), Svornato Horo (Rhodopite), Gagauzko Horo (Dobrudia), Graovsko Horo (Sopluk) and a Pravo

Christmas YU-Folk Festival Belgrade 2001/2

Ciga and his wife Ivon popularised international folk dancing in the Netherlands. After a long illness he wanted to visit Belgrade before he died and wanted it to be a folk dance festival. So his friends organised this festival so that for a final time Ciga could be promoting his national heritage. We were the UK contact for this festival. The teachers were Vladeta Vlahovic ('Curca'), Svetislav Trifunovic ('Trifa'), Milan Graovac ('Grale'), Ibrahim Rizevski ('Ibra'), Dragan Micic ('Mica') and Paja Milic ('Paja').