NOIFD passes a 5-week test!

What a great party we had on September 26! We did 24 dances, mostly ones that Lita has been teaching and reviewing. Three of the favorites were the Russian trio dance Troika, the high-energy Bulgarian Cacak, and the Greek Miteritsa, pure fun for all.

The refreshments were superb. Mini-muffulettas, a wild rice and pecan dish that looked like plain dirty rice but was a gourmet delight, fresh-baked rye bread with cream cheese, a large delightful wedge of Brie, several fine desserts and a few nice bottles of wine and more. When I closed the room, I inherited some great left-overs... and made two good meals from them! Thanks for that!!!

Our experimental 5-week run has been a success. We have shown that there are enough dancers to create a group in New Orleans. Of the 22 dancers who joined us in the last five weeks, 13 came three to five times. Of the remaining 9, at least 4 could become regular members.

We could go on dancing every Saturday… except for two things. One is equipment. We need a second laptop to run the iTunes juke box software. My own personal computer is what we are using now… and I can’t loan it out; I need it for my webmastering business. And I want backup so I won’t have to be there every Saturday, sick or well, heck or high water.

Once we get a second computer for the club, we will need two or more people willing to run the program when I can’t be there. I think we will find them. George has some experience running Israeli when Elliott is out of town, and Christopher has his own laptop and knows how to use iTunes.

I want to thank all who came, especially those who brought friends. Some came early and/or stayed late to help set up and close down.

We will not meet in early October. I will ask FPC management if we can book a Halloween party on October 31st. Lita will be at a dance camp, but Barry Ivker will be available for teaching.

Then I plan to book at least one Saturday per month -- more, when we get a second computer and programming help.

Many in the group discussed doing the Oktoberfest at the Deutsches Haus on Saturday October 3, 7:30pm. If you go, I’ll see you there, for wurst, schnitzel, kraut, beer, ooom-pa-pa bands, waltzes, polkas, and the chicken dance.

It has been a delight to serve all of you. Thank you for your support and encouragement! Long live New Orleans International Folk Dance!

Septober Fest on Saturday September 26, 2009

This is the last of five Saturdays we booked at First Presbyterian’s Church Hall, since August 29.
The format will be like most any IFD party. Pot luck… share something to eat or drink, wear folk or folksy costumes, and do your favorite dances. Think about your requests. I know I will put up two easy party dances, Miteritsa and Polster Tanc. Teaching will likely be limited to quick introductions of simpler dances that everyone can enjoy.

If you can bring any guests or family, please do so. For this night, guests and family are free... though we would ask a minimum contribution of $1.50 per person, what the Church charges us. Some may wish to make a sustaining contribution of $4 or $5 per family...

This huge 80’ by 40’ foot room was built 70 years ago. It has a solid wood floor. Whether weekly folk dancing continues or not, it can be a great place for parties and festivals. It could easily accomodate 100 or more dancers and spectators. There is a stage, if we get a live band. Chairs and tables are available, as well as a kitchen.

I'd like to make this an agenda item: plan for an Octember Folk Fest on Saturday October 31. It could be modeled after Houston’s IFD’s half-day workshop: teaching from 1-5, Pizza-Potluck Dinner, and Dance party from 6:30 till 9pm. It would be a great time to entertain the Baton Rouge dance group, and to share some or all of our best teachers… Jim and Idabelle Burke, Vonnie Brown, Lita Pinter, and Barry Ivker.

Building a Repertoire

Dancing continues. A welcome new face is Marianne, who danced with CCID in this fine hall ten years ago. She now lives in Jackson, MS... but plans to come most Saturdays. Weeknights would be impossible for her. Fortunately, she spends the night with a friend in Carrollton.

And we are building a repertoire. By the time the September 26 rolls around, we will be able to have a party, perhaps with less teaching and more open dancing.

First two classes! 31 Dances!

Palmer Hall, First Presbyterian Church, New Orleans

NOIFD may continue past September! There are enough people. Willing hands are appearing. Classes have been held on two Saturday evenings.

The hall was superb. We had 17 people on 8/29 and 15 on 9/5. Only four men… so we won’t be doing couple dancing for a while. This is fine for a start, there are many line and open-circle dances that are favorites, done in IFD groups all over the world. We will get enough men in time: CCID often has more men than women on Thursday nights.

Lita and Barry combined to do what they have done for decades, teaching with grace and enthusiasm. Formal teaching was a bit over one hour.

DANCES TAUGHT
Ajd'na Ljevo
Alunelul
An Dro Retourne
Erev Ba
Ersko Kolo
Haire Mamougeh
Heyamo
Ivanica
Karagouna
Kortanc
Lesnoto Medley NAMA
Mishal
Nebesko Kolo
Oneg Shabbat
Port Said
Raca
Sarajevka
Sham Hareh Golan
Trgnala Rumjana
Tsamikos
Zajecarka

REQUESTS
Bavno Oro
Haroa Haktana
Le Laride
Ma Navu
Mayim
Miserlou (Never on Sunday)
Olahos
Setnja
Ugros

Folk Dancing in Metairie

CCID, the Crescent City International Dancers, meet on Thursday nights in west Metairie. See their web site at http://www.folkdancers.net/ccid/ This little video shows what folk dancing is like out in Metairie. 'Request time" happens after the teaching. People pick their favorite dances.