Howdy Dancers! Kalispell International Folk Dancers meet again this Saturday June 20 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Salvation Army gym, 110 Bountiful Drive, Kalispell. For those in the Bozeman area or heading that way, Cecelia reminds that this is also the Summer Solstice weekend at Hallie's Weather Rock Barn, featuring a picnic in view of sandhill cranes, music jam and dancing! Stay over and see the stars or drive home in near dark. June 20 - 21st, 2009 Summer Solstice at Weather Rock on the Alluvial Plains of the Shields Valley Early evening of Saturday, June 20th Rain or Shine - Dress for Montana weather Overnight camping available Picnics - hiking - night time star gazing (new moon darkness) Dancing in the Loft of the Barn - Music Jams at the Bunk House Bring to share - Pot Luck meals - snacks - goodies - beverages Sorry no dogs during this event. Stamp and Camp in the Flathead Valley is the following weekend, June 27-28. Connie reports that the plans are finalized. Dancing Saturday afternoon at the Salvation Army gym in Kalispell. Marvin will host the potluck dinner at his house the 27th. He said he has built a deck big enough to folk dance on! Dance party Saturday night at the SA gym. Potluck breakfast Sunday morning at Russ and Missy's. Missy has to work that weekend. Sharon said she'd make a 9x13" oven dish, and Marianne (she's back!) said she'd bring some fruit or a fruit salad. We usually have about 20? people so will need more food to feed the out of town guests. Rose heard from Ann Kyle in Calgary, who will be in southern Alberta for that weekend and may join us. For Contradancers, Kathy Neff reports that there are no plans for any official summer contradances in Kalispell. She had considered calling an informal one on August 8 with recorded music, but the Gym was no t available that day. The plan now is to start officially the 2nd Saturday of October and continue till May, but the November date is a little up in the air due to the Rails to Trails contradance fundraiser. More definite dates and details will be announced when they are finalized. Meantime, there are the Shy Bear Farm Summer Contra Dances near Arlee. Date: 3rd Sat of June, July, and August. Seattle Folklife 2009 review from Cecelia: I attended for the first time in over 5 years, but only on Sunday. I loved the IFD schedule that day, and I ran in to Ann and her sister of Missoula, and former Bozeman resident Tonya. Overall there were at least 15 venues for performance and participation from every continent, not to mention impromptu street action. The afternoon at Center House had 3 bands for an International Folk Dance Party. As each band set up, basic steps were taught for the next set. There's a huge amount of foot traffic through that area, so IFD got great exposure during prime time. Many folks stopped to try it. A dance list had been printed and distributed, so experienced dancers could plan breaks around their favorites. As performances ended at other stages, those costumed performers would pop in and add some flare. It was great to see the Schuplattler performers smoothly execute the northern European numbers, and the announcer warned if the dance was complex so that the floor would clear and crashes were minimized. Sunday evening was for Balkan dancing, with 7 different orchestras. There was no teaching. During band changes, individual musicians filled in. At one point, 3 gaidas were clustered on the dance floor. How is it that those guys haven't gone deaf?? It was loud but totally thrilling to dance around Balkan bagpipes again. Occasionally there was a familiar tune, like Karamfil. But mostly it was village style, so a pravo or rezinitza would start and you just had to pick carefully which leader/pattern matched your skill level. This was frustrating for my mother-in-law, who's used to recorded music and familiar tunes. But for my daughter and niece, I think they could've danced all night. Indeed, I'd guess that the mean age on the dance floor was 30. I had to leave early, so will be glad to hear what others have to say. For more information on international dancing and links to music, events and other information, visit the Kalispell International Folk Dancers web site, where you can also find recent dance lists: http://montanafolkdance.org/flathead/ Here are the Kalispell dances from Saturday 6-6-09. And Cris sends thanks to whomever brought Dyson's jacket by their house. Cepelarsko Horo Bulgaria Trite Pati Bulgaria Ljaski Bulgaria Zensko za raka Macedonia Karamfil Macedonia Dance Of Ikaria Greek Zorba Greek Jove Malaj Mome Bulgaria Ma Navu Israel Zorba Greek Hora ca la Caval Romania Lakodalmi Tanc Hungary Ajde Jano Serbia Lakodalmi Tanc Hungary Valle Pogonishte Albania Zaeskata Bulgaria Momacka Setnja Serbia Valle Nuseve Albania Rustemul Romania Valle Nuseve Albania Narino Turkey Heyamo Turkey Gori More Macedonia Malilzvorski Opaas Bulgaria 1. Russ 2. Missy 3. Roger 4. Jackie 5. Cris 6. And Dyson 7. Karen 8. Rose 9. Marvin 10. Connie 11. Marianne Happy dancing, Don