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President's Letter
Plans are moving ahead for Florida Folk Dance Camp 2008, even though it will be in a hotel environment. We'll have a more complete announcement by Fall Fling, but it's looking as though we will have Susan Lind-Sinanian for Armenian and possibly some Arabic and Assyrian dances for variety. We haven't settled on a second teacher, but one of our members called with very high praise for a young couple who are available to teach Romanian. Yes, it's been only a few years since we last had Romanian. But it's one of our more popular cultures and this couple brings an entirely different perspective. If you have preferences and recommendations, please let me know.
Speaking of letting me know, Arleen has written asking for a more complete breakdown of how people voted regarding the change to the Kenilworth Lodge for 2008 and 2009. [See My Opinion] I apologize for not getting this into the last Florida Folk Dancer. Arleen mentions that she hasn't talked to anyone who was in favor of holding camp at Kenilworth Lodge other than board members. From the sampling of opinions I've received, the membership is about evenly divided, with a slight majority favoring the hotel over the camp.
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Remember that the question was put to the membership via e-mail and snail mail prior to the June-July issue of the Florida Folk Dancer. Actually I began sending out requests for opinions via private e-mail a little earlier. Then the announcement went to all the membership through snail mail and the Florida Folk Dancer explaining the situation and asking for the opinion of the membership.
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votes, that would be nine for Kenilworth and five for Camp Crystal Lake. But even ignoring the opinions of the board members, the people who responded were at least evenly divided.
Pat also gave our Vice President the floor at her July 4th party, which was attended by a number of members from the central Florida area. Again, there were those who favored Camp Crystal Lake and those who favored the Lodge. It is not just a decision made for the convenience of the board members. People gave a number of different reasons for their preferences either for Camp Crystal Lake or the Kenilworth Lodge.
Cost was a predominant factor. The hotel will definitely be more expensive than Camp. Additionally, for some it will be farther (150 miles farther from Atlanta), for others it will be closer. So some will find the drive cheaper, others will find it more expensive. I did check with some of the Atlanta contingent. They're obviously not happy with the extra time, but they are good people and promised their continued support. More on cost later.
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I received eleven responses, that's about 10% of the membership. There's some difficulty in the counting because Pat from Orlando simply noted that all of her group was in favor of Camp Crystal Lake, but I didn't count individual names from the group. Jan Lathi's group from Palm Coast was also in favor of Camp Crystal Lake and she gave me names and reasons. Basically I counted everybody for whom I had a name.
Of the eleven responses, six favored Kenilworth Lodge, five favored Camp Crystal Lake. That number does not include board members Willa Davidsohn, Fannie Salerno, or me. If you add our
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Climate control was the next factor mentioned. There are no two ways about it, the dance rooms at the Kenilworth Lodge are climate controlled. They will be neither too cold nor too hot. Perspectives change, and I'm well aware that there are people who have accepted 90 degrees at Silver Springs but will complain about 78 at Kenilworth. We will pick a midrange temperature and stick with it. It will be warmer than 65 and cooler than 80.
Food was also a factor in my mind and in some of the responses. It's a factor both ways. Food service is a major workload for the volunteers. Being in charge of our own meals allowed Terry and company to serve exceptional meals. And our instructors for 2008 would love to contribute food recipes and menu suggestions. So losing access to a good kitchen is both a blessing and a curse. We will lose that at the Kenilworth Lodge. And of course this ties into cost as we will not be providing dinner on Friday or Sunday evenings.
One person mentioned a possibility that I've been thinking of for some time, but still not sure how to arrange it. With two dance rooms we could have parallel programs. Possibly couple oriented requests in one room and Balkan oriented requests in the other. Maybe craft teaching in one room and dance instruction in the other. Maybe music workshops. Just some thoughts.
And then there are those of us who just like the Camp environment. It's more fun and free than a formal hotel. I usually stay comfortably (or not, depending on the temperature) in my camper van, and prefer that to a hotel room.
Finally, most of those who had volunteered to do much of the actual work for 2008 and 2009 strongly favored Kenilworth Lodge, and yes, I gave their desires a great deal of weight. The workload for the volunteers was a factor mentioned by several of those who responded, and I feel it's appropriate to consider it. The vast majority of the membership simply comes and dances. But there are a large number of volunteers, some visible and some not, who get up early and go to bed late. If they make everything go well, most are unnoticed. But the people who worked in the kitchen and dining area or lugged snacks and drinks back and forth to the dance hall, will find life much easier at Kenilworth. There will still be plenty to do just making the dance activities happen.
We will definitely appreciate all the volunteers who will help at Kenilworth. But much of the non-dance related work will be handled by hotel staff. This does relate to costs because we were planning to hire additional help at Camp Crystal Lake, so the cost there would have been higher this year as well.
So there you have it. There are pluses and minuses to every decision. Everyone will pay a bit more, but we get climate controlled dance rooms, maid service, and more people will be able to enjoy more dancing. Some will drive farther, some will drive less. I know full well that the membership is divided over the issue of where to hold Camp 2008. I wish I could please everybody. I've laid out the issues I considered in making the decision, and it was ultimately my decision. I ask all to give it a shot for these next two years.
And after two years, there's always the next President and Board. The manager at Camp Crystal Lake indicated to me that he had been pleased with our group, and there is indeed a possibility that we could return after the buildings there have been repaired. So that decision will be my challenge to the next officers. If there's a significant contingent who prefer the camp environment, you have the option of stepping up and making it happen in two years.
-John Daly
My Opinion
by Arleen Kaufmann
First, may I say think you to Melbourne for accepting FFDC leadership. However, I am very concerned that I see no breakdown of its membership's opinions on camp for 2008. All I hear is that the officers decided on Sebring. What did the membership vote for? I would like to see figures, please.
I haven't spoken to anyone who voted for Sebring except the officers in Melbourne.
As the cost to attend the 2008 "camp" at Sebring is approaching $300 per person with food (as in two dinners out) and gasoline being higher for the extra 280 miles round trip, I would think this would decrease attendance.
The question that should be asked is "would you prefer to attend camp in 2008 at Camp Crystal Lake, or Sebring if that becomes a choice - and will you come?
Ruthy and Dany Do It Again
by Terry Abrahams
Camp Karmiel USA 2007 was once again the highlight of my Israeli Dance Year. The Pre-Labor Day Israeli dance weekend was held at Forrest Hills Resort near Dahlonega, GA, August 24-27 and was directed by Dany Benshalom and Ruthy Slann, with this being their 12th year for this camp, but only the third year at this location. Not only is the site absolutely gorgeous, tucked in the hills of Georgia, but the resort is the perfect combination of Mother Nature, careful nurturing of the grounds (including growing their own vegetables), and extremely comfortable rooms in the big lodges.
View of the Grounds, between the Dining Hall and the Dance Hall
Photos this page by Terry Abrahams
This place is a conference center, but caters to weddings and honeymooners. The rooms are like a hotel, with all the appropriate accommodations, but also each lodge has a wonderful living room and kitchen area, lovely front porches, and extremely helpful hot tubs! (The honeymooners have cabins far away; the lodges are for the guests). If you feel like spending even more money, the resort has all kinds of stuff such as massages, facials and horseback riding, as well as a big swimming pool and neat friendly dogs and cats. If the dance floor were a skosh bigger and the rental of the camp a skosh smaller, it would be perfect.
I drove over to Pat and Bobby’s on Wednesday night, We started out Thursday a.m. and got to Atlanta in time for dinner with numerous Atlanta dancers and Tim from Augusta, (we totaled 12), followed by dancing with the Atlanta group, and spent the night with David Digby and Dorothy Archer, who are wonderful hosts (Dorothy just keeps putting out wonderful food!).
Friday we were off to camp, where Bobby and Pat led the international dancing from 4:30 to 6:00; then the Israeli dancing started.
Dany does a marvelous job of teaching the old and new, his choices are always good to my ears and feet, and he’s such a sweet teacher. Ruthy taught a couple too, doing her usual good job, and Joseph did a line dance we could all do! I don’t think there was a bad dance in the lot. I have a lot of teaching to do!
By the way, the best part of this camp is that Dany realizes that few of us who attend this camp do couple dances, so he taught one very old very simple, circle, couple dance, and one cute Latin style couple dance. We did no couple dances during the parties, and it was a pleasure for all of us. I think some of the Gainesville, FL gang did some couple dances during the afternoon break.
We also snuck in another hour of international, and someone led salsa dancing for an hour, but Pat, Bobby, Bernice and I played bridge! Something for everyone! Lots of Florida people were there – a number of the usual Gainesville and Jacksonville groups, Suzan and Bernice from Cocoa and Melbourne, Karra from Ocala, Veronica from Orange Park, Ariela from Gainesville. It was good to see good friends from other years, the food was very, very nice, T-shirts and buttons abounded, videos were made, and the dancing was SWEET!! Could there be a better weekend?
Atlanta News
by David Digby
The Atlanta International Folkdancers are not meeting the two Monday nights of September 10 and 17 because four of our small crew of regulars are visiting France.
Liz Nunan, Dorothy Archer, Jim and Sara Osborn flew to Paris on the 5th, planned to drive to Brittany for about a week, then back to Paris for a few more days, and fly home on the 19th. Jenneine Lambert was planning to meet them over there for part of that time.
I didn't sign up to go because of job uncertainties. Having me here at home is very nice for the cats, however, and a tree guy is coming tomorrow to check out the tree that was struck by lightning while Bob, Pat and Terry were here. I'm keeping myself very busy, even without so much dancing.
I will press the crew to write up their adventures for the newsletter next month.
Tampa!!!!
by Terry Abrahams
This is a real shorty. First, I want to thank Pat for all the long and arduous work she has done with the DVDs from every camp. I’ve only had time to look at a couple, but what memories! We were younger way back when! Thank you Pat!
I had a big month – NY for my sis’s play, Toronto for the workshop and honoring Teme, a wedding in Reno with a side trip to Tahoe and Camp Karmiel in Georgia (see Ruthy and Dany Do It Again). Jen Velt and I went into Orlando twice last month - once for a going away party for a dancer in the Israeli group, and the other to see Darcy Silvers, who used to be in charge of the Orlando group. She was in town to get her son settled in to college.
Now I’ll settle down after a PET scan (as Tim put it, to see if there are any pets in there), a medi-port and the start of the chemo and radiation. It hasn’t happened yet, so I’m still dancing, but decided not to fence since my stitches are right where I get stabbed! Bernice promised to share her wigs with me, and I’m looking forward to curly hair afterwards! And that’s all I know for now about me.
Judith and Ernesto are off to Houston for the Labor Day weekend, Ursula’s doing teeth, Ken is due back, Andi is back, Jen has started grad school, and all is well with the world. I told you this would be short! I’ll bet you didn’t believe me.
Darcy Silvers visiting Orlando's Israeli Group - Debbie Meitin, Linda Ingoglia, Darcy Silvers and Jen Velt.
Photo by Terry Abrahams
Israeli Dance is Alive and Well in Sarasota!
We will begin our third year of Israeli Style Folk Dancing on September 10th. Mary Finegold will introduce current popular dances acquired at recent workshops as well as review old favorites upon request. We dance on Monday evenings 7:30 - 9:00 at the Colonial Oaks Park Community Center, 5300 Colonial Oaks Blvd. 34233 Sarasota.
Come and join us if you are in town. Contact phone:(941) 727-5109. -Mary Finegold
The History of Mayim
On August 27, 1937. the dance "Shafte Maim" was created in Kibbutz Na'an. The kibbutz, established in 1930, was about to shut down due to drought and lack of water. In 1937 in one of the drillings they found water, which saved the kibbutz. On August 27, 1937 they celebrated this event with "Chag Hamaim", with readings of Poetry, Music, Songs, and dance. The choreographer was Elza Dovlon. One of the dances performed was called "Ve'she'avtem Maim" to a song composed by Emanuel Amiran to words from Isaiah 12–3*. "Shafte Maim" quickly became a popular folk dance and was presented in 1944 in the first Dalia Folk Dance Festival. It is still danced today, and has come to symbolize Israeli Folk Dancing internationally.
Submitted by Terry Abrahams
*Isaiah 12-3: “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation”. (King James Edition of the English Bible)
Orlando
by Pat Henderson
Orlando International Folk Dance Club is up and dancing again after our summer hiatus. On September 5, we had 21 dancers with Pat Pieratte visiting us from Tallahassee. It was good to see everyone again and to see that we could fill our room.
The past month, many of our members traveled. Emilie Brozek visited New York City with her granddaughters and saw her sister while there. Phyllis Dammer traveled to upstate New York. Ann Robinson and Juanita Schockey went to Mainewoods Camp, saw the Dion and Florescu team and brought some Romanian dances back with them. Mary Jean Linn went to Newburyport, Massachusetts to see a new great nephew. She also attended her 30th high school reunion in Hershey, Pennsylvania but she actually went to school in India.
Dancing on the Dock
Bobby, Jan and Pat, with Halifax NS Dancers
Photo by an unidentified Canadian
Bobby and I made a major trip to Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Jan Lathi and a former college colleague of mine went with us. Jan, Bobby and I danced on the dock of the ferry terminal with the Halifax international group. Bobby enjoyed tracing his Cajun roots; we found the Doucet Home on Prince Edward Island, which was lived in by the Doucet family from the 1700s until 1982 when it was made into a museum. Bobby's mother's family name is Doucet. We stayed in Church Point, NS one night, which was special to Bobby since he was born in Church Point, Louisiana! It was interesting to me to learn that the Acadians were the first Canadians when they settled in this area in the 1600s.
Bobby Quibodeaux in Church Point, Nova Scotia
Photo by Pat Henderson
Bobby and I were home six days from this trip and then we left for Dahlonega, GA for Karmiel USA weekend. (See Ruthy and Dany Do It Again.)
Kelly Fagan is singing and dancing in Oliver at the Helen Stairs Theatre on September 14-16 and 21-23. If you see this in time and are interested in attending with a group, contact me.
We hope to see you all at Fall Fling, October 20.
Sarasota Grapevine Dancers
by Marie Millett
We look forward to Andi's return on the 19th and I will gladly relinquish the teaching to her. I have appreciated help from Eva, Delores, Estrella , and Judy in the teaching. We have enjoyed around 15 dancers most evenings all summer.
Judy has just returned from a walking tour in Ireland and had a great time even though they got rained on every day.
Several of our dancers are looking forward to the more comfortable quarters at Kenilworth Lodge for the Folk Dance Camp in February.
From the Editor
I didn't leave myself much space, but do want to explain -
Arleen sent me her note to be published in the newsletter (My Opinion). I shared it with John, so he could provide the information she wanted in this issue (President's Letter).
I hope the change in venue won't prevent anyone from coming to camp! -CL
Gainesville
by Jack Seltzer
GATOR GAMEDAY up here in Gainesville today (Sat. Sept. 1)!!!! A day so many folks in this town crave, all year long. The national champion Gators begin their football season today at 12 noon. “High Noon” with Gary Cooper was always one of my favorites. Beating the odds, as he gunned down all of the bad guys. I highly doubt Western Kentucky will be able to pull it off against the Gators today.
Anyway, dancing in Gainesville has been going great lately. Linda and I will be teaching a one hour class in the ‘Art of International Folk Dancing’ at the Gainesville Health & Fitness Club. Wish us luck. They’re charging members $35, non-members $70. We’re hoping it will be another access to more folk to join us on Friday nights at 308 (our location on University Ave.). This class will run for 8 weeks so if you’re thinking of coming up here to dance at 8 PM Friday; make it 9 PM instead. We’ll be starting an hour later for these eight weeks (until Oct. 26th). Give us a call for more up-to-date info.
We’ve lost some folk (as it always seems we do) but the core of teachers has been consistently great. Plus, Charles Willett, June Littler, the Nishida family (Toshi, Jenna, and cutie Talia), and newcomers Jennifer and Katherine, UF students, have all flown around the dance floor with us.
Some of the highlighted dances we’ve been teaching lately are the fusion dance (incredible sounding music) of Daniel Sandu’s “Sa-Ti Sari Bosca”, taught by John Ward; “Hora Evreiasca” (amazingly unique) of Daniel’s, by Julieta Brambila. Stefan Craciun has been bringing a smile to us with a Daniel mixer called “Hora de la Inceput.“ Joyce Dewsbury has been bringing back some classics such as “Kyustendilska Ruchenica” (one of her favorites) & “Denjovo Oro.” I‘ve been reviewing “Eklizijsko Oro” of Jaap Leegwater fame(where has he gone?). Arlene Bargad has given us “Sham Harey Golan, Leor Huchech, Tzadik Katamar, & Tzur Chasidi” with all her turns, grapevines and camel steps here and there. Linda Seltzer greets folk every night with her “Hora din Goicesti and Buvčansko” from Pece’s gaida (what a musician he was) lore. Margaret Tolbert flies in later in the night and sends us all off and running with all her renditions of “Hora in Prav, Gaselnita and Hasapikos.”
We’ve been doing so many dances for our three hours every Friday night. August 31 was truly unbelievable. I was totally spent. But after my morning swim at the health club, I felt great!!!
See ya’ll soon and don’t forget, “Go Gators!”
P.S. The Gainesville Health & Fitness class that Linda and I started on Friday 9/7 had 27 folks signed up and ready to go. It went really well for an hour and we brought one lady, Denni, over to the regular group afterwards. Aaand - the Gators won their 9/1 and 9/8 games.
Hidden Dance Name Game
Find each of the listed dance names in the grid below. Names may be backward, forward, up, down and diagonal.
V X R O X Z R O H C L E D P F R
R F V J Y J O S T O W J V X B J
K S E H C S I T T O H C S K M V
R F G S J S E J C K N T A V Q R
S X I S O K I M A S T S J N X J
N V G U K T W X R U A E E Z H N
J F T P G A R M K D H S W L O G
I Q I C W C C Y R J O U F J M M
T O L O K I P A S A H V V Y Z Z
E A O R Q J S Q C P X A A M M M
C Z A R D A S I X I K A T R I S
G U C L S W N N F B N K S T P H
L L C H S A A G E I E E E B F Q
C H Z F P L D D C T M V C C R H
A K L O P T E W L R I Y U A O V
Y A K R U Z A M P W B O Z O R C
CACAK
COCEK
CZARDAS
DEBKA
DRMES
HASAPIKO
KOLO
KOPANICA
LESNOTO
MAZURKA
PAJDUSKO
POLKA
PRAVO
RACENICA
SCHOTTISCHE
SIRTAKI
SYRTOS
TSAMIKOS
USEST
WALTZ
Please note: The Florida Folk Dancer prints information on folk dance tours, camps and other events that may be of interest to our readers. This does not imply an endorsement or recommendation of any tour or camp (except our own FFDC events!).
October 5-7 Sharpes Assembly English Country Dance Weekend
Place: Kenilworth Lodge, 836 SE Lakeview Drive, Sebring, FL 33870
Guest teacher and caller: Brad Foster from Amherst, MA, Executive and Artistic Director of the Country Dance and Song Society
Music by Full Circle
More information at http://chagalo.org/ecd/
Contact: Catie Geist, 321-427-3587, catiegeist@att.net or Willa Davidsohn, 321-254-7090, annona2@earthlink.net
October 20-21 Fall Fling
Place: the Community House, 6200 Hall Road, Melbourne Village
Time: 11 AM to ?? on Saturday plus Sunday morning dance and clean up.
Saturday lunch: pot luck - bring a dish; supper: left overs
Directions: New Haven Ave (U.S. 192) from I-95 or U.S. 1 to Dayton Blvd. (near the Home Depot). North on Dayton to Hall Road, which is marked with a sign "Historic Site Community House". East on Hall Road to the white building that looks like an old barracks.
February 15-18 Florida Folk Dance Camp
Place: Kenilworth Lodge, 836 SE Lakeview Drive, Sebring, FL 33870
More information in future newsletters.
February 28 - March 2 National Folk Organization Conference in Orlando
Featuring a dance workshop by Lee Otterholt
Times and places: Thursday, Feb. 28, day - Pre-conference visit to EPCOT. Thursday, Feb. 28, evening through Sunday, March 2, noon - conference, most at the Holiday Inn Select across the street from the University of Central Florida.
Saturday, March 1 - Lee Otterholt workshop, banquet and dance party at Whirl & Twirl Square Dance Hall.
You can register for the whole conference, including lunch on Friday and banquet dinner on Saturday, with a discount for NFO members. Separate admissions to the dance activities.
Contact: Pat Henderson, henderp@bellsouth.net, 407-275-6247
October 4 – 7 Atlanta Greek Festival
Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2500 Clairmont Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
www.atlantagreekfestival.org, 404.633.5870
October 5-7, Maitland Greek Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1217 Trinity Woods Lane, Maitland / Orlando, FL
www.orlandogreekfest.com, (407) 331-4687
October 12-13 Tallahassee Greek Festival
Holy Mother Of God Greek Orthodox Church, 1645 Phillip's Road, Tallahassee, FL
www.hmog.org/festival, (850) 878-0747
October 12-14 St. Augustine Greek Festival
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Special Events Field Downtown St Augustine US 1 and Castillo Drive
holytrinitygoa.org/greekfest, (904) 829-0504
October 26-28 Lecanto Greek Festival
St. Michael the Archangel Church, 4705 W Gulf to Lake Highway (SR 44 West), Lecanto, FL
www.stmichaelgoc.org, (352) 527-0766
Return Address:
Florida Folk Dancer
38 St. Andrews Ct.
Palm Coast, FL 32137
USA
FIRST CLASS
FLORIDA FOLK DANCER
Florida Folk Dancer is a monthly publication of the Florida Folk Dance Council, Inc., a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to further knowledge, performance, and recreational enjoyment of International Folk Dance.
2007 FFDC OFFICERS:
President: John Daly
321-482-6818
jdaly@palmnet.net
VP: Fannie Salerno
772-664-0580
fansale@aol.com
Treasurer: Jan Lathi
386-447-8396
amarjan1@bellsouth.net
Secretary: Willa Davidsohn
321-254-7090
annona2@earthlink.net
Historian: Dan Lampert
PO Box 151719
Altamonte Springs, FL 32715
dan@dlc2.com
Newsletter Editor: Caroline Lanker
1963 S. Lake Reedy Blvd.
Frostproof, FL 33843
863-635-9366
lanker2@attglobal.net
Submissions: Send all newsletter submissions to the Editor during the last week of the month, to be published the first week of the next month. Electronic submissions are preferred.
Copyright: Articles in the Florida Folk Dancer are copyright by the Florida Folk Dance Council, Inc., or by their individual authors.
Subscriptions are $15 per year and include membership in the Florida Folk Dance Council. The membership year runs from one Annual Camp (usually February) to the next. The newsletter is posted on the FFDC website and members with e-mail addresses are notified of its availability. Subscribers/members can also request printed copies to be mailed to them.
FFDC Website: www.folkdance.org
