NewsFebruary-April 2008

Volume 28, Issue 1www.tifd.org

Inside this Issue:From the Editor 2TIFD Board of Directors 3TIFD Board Election Results 3TIFD Joins NFO 3News from Local Groups 3Calendar 4Fiddler’s Dream Now My Dream Too! 5Dance Tours for Folk Dancers with Wanderlust 5Camp Musicians 6A Thank-you from the Reissers 6Party Helpers Get a Big Thank-You 6CD Review—Shakin’ Down the Acorns 7Texans at Balkanalia! 7Greetings from George Kontos 7Texas Camp Memories 8Lyrics - Körtánc (Hungary) 10Recipe - Welsh Rarebit 10Jokes 10

Hall of Fame Inductees

Texas International Folk Dancers honored Joane Rylander and Don Weeda by inducting them into the Hall of Fame during Texas Camp 2007. Both Joane and Don have given tirelessly of their time and talent in bringing live music to dance events for many years and richly deserve the honor. Congratulations, Don and Joane!

TIFD President Chris Broad presents the awards to Joane (above) and Don (below). Photos by Jane Parsons. More camp memories on page 8.

Camp Syllabus Index Updated

The Texas Camp Syllabus Index has been updated and now includes information on most years from 1954-2007. Look for it on the TIFD website.

Page 2 February-April 2008 TIFD News

Deadline for the next issue of TIFD News is

April 18

The TIFD Quarterly Newsletter is published on the first of the month, in February, May, August, and November; the eLetter is sent on the first of the remaining months. Uncertain who to send your news to? Send to Sally and Deborah, both at editor@tifd.org, and we will sort it out from there.

TIFD News is published four times a year for the members of Texas International Folk Dancers, a non-profit educational organization. Submissions for publication are welcome, yet subject to editing. All opinions expressed are those of the author exclusively. Material herein may be reproduced with the editor’s permission.

CALENDAR LISTINGS: Send email to editor@tifd.org and webmaster@tifd.org.

ADDRESS CHANGES: For newsletter mailing list or TIFD Member Directory, contact TIFD, PO Box 4516, Austin, TX 78765, Attention: Chuck Roth, 512-453-8936, tifd@austin.rr.com.

SOUTHWEST FOLK DANCE DIRECTORY: Send additions and corrections to Leslie Gompf, SWFDD@tifd.org.

GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Email editor@tifd.org or mail to TIFD News, PO Box 4516, Austin, TX 78765

From the Editor - Connected to Timeless Music

Some time back I purchased a CD of traditional music of the British Isles played on hammered dulcimer by Tony Elman. Not only was the music a real treat (see Julia Harris’ review) but the liner notes were very touching. I’m reprinting an excerpt with permission, and hope that you too will find the inner connection to traditional music and musicians of this and other cultures. “. . .I taught myself how to play the mandolin, guitar and banjo, all for the love of this music. Whenever possible, I traveled to old-time fiddle conventions that were held throughout California. I’ll never forget one spring day in 1974 at the California State Fiddle Contest in Madera, when an old man who had been fiddling for over sixty years was introduced to the audience of fiddlers, families and friends. This man was dying of cancer and expected to live only a few more weeks. As I watched him play his tunes for the last time, I got choked up with tears and wandered outside into a wedding reception for two young fiddlers who had just been married. People were singing, dancing, laughing and the air was filled with joy. Somehow,between the old man and the wedding celebration, my heart was torn open. The music and all these people who were keeping it alive struck a very deep chord inside me. In that moment I understood that old-time music contains a part of all those who have ever played it. I realized that these tunes are, in fact, alive. That old man and countless others gave me so much when they passed their music on to me. The only way I know to thank them is to pass it on once more. I hope these tunes bring you joy. . . .The precise origin of many tunes is unknown, but all of them originate in someone’s heart.”

2008 TIFD Membership Directory

Thanks to all TIFD members who renewed their membership or attended Texas Camp. The enclosed membership directory is intended for personal use by TIFD members and any commercial use is forbidden.

Wordplay

Hungarian Palindrome:Indul a görög aludni(Hungarian for “The Greek is going to bed”)

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TIFD Board of Directors

Chris Broad, President 713-791-1088 guy9bro@yahoo.comKatie Pedersen, Vice President 281-463-2790 kpedersen2000@hotmail.comLisa Horn, Secretary 713-208-1491 lisaehorn@sbcglobal.net Anne Alexander 512-453-4463 cervuli@mail.utexas.eduTom Miller 405-771-5021 tridanman@yahoo.comMike Revesz 512-302-5880 mrevesz@austin.rr.comMisi Tsurikov 512-372-9193 tsurikov@mailcan.comRowena Young 713-806-3785 rowenay@stevesfamily.net

TIFD Treasurer: Georgia Horn 281-242-0598 georgiahorn@alltel.netTIFD News Editor: Sally Jenkins 918-335-5908 dansingsal@hotmail.comMembership Chair: Chuck Roth 512-453-8936 croth@austin.rr.comTexas Camp Co-chairs: Lisa Horn and Joan Furstenberg

TIFD Board Election Results and Next Meeting

Congratulations to newly-elected TIFD Board members Bruce Bostwick, Shelley Allison and Susie Thennes. These new trustees will take office at the February 23 TIFD Board meeting. The next TIFD Board meeting will take place on Saturday afternoon, February 23, 2008 in Houston. TIFD members should notify Chris Broad if they want to attend or if they have an issue they would like the Board to consider.

TIFD Joins NFOTIFD recently joined the National Folk Organization. NFO has many of the same objectives as TIFD, but on a national level. NFO sponsors an annual conference for people interested in promoting folk dancing. They also help sponsor an annual “Pourparler,” which is a workshop for those who teach folk/ethnic/world/traditional dance in schools and/or at community events. They publish a quarterly newsletter and their website is www.nfo-usa.org They provide opportunities for networking among folk dance leaders. The NFO is growing and offers priceless contacts with people involved in teaching, performing and administering all sorts of folk dance and music events and facilities worldwide. NFO leaders encourage attendance and input from everyone at the annual meeting (Feb. 28-March 2, 2008, see Calendar).

News from Local Groups

Dallas IFDFolk musician Shirley Johnson of Austin was passing through Dallas in mid-November and graciously shared her singing and accordion expertise on short notice with several lucky DIFD members. Hosted on the evening of Nov. 15 at the home of Gary and Cathy O’berg, she taught the group four tunes: the Croatian love song, “Ranom Zorom;” Dalmatian coast fishermen’s song, “Ribari Sa Jadrana;” the Macedonian lesnoto, “Zapevala Sojka Ptica;” and a sprightly, traditional Bulgarian ruchenitsa from Thrace, “Mila mamo.” As if this were not enough, Shirley brought us homemade Croatian nutbread, or Potica (Po-teet-sa) in addition to the baklava and assorted teas provided by Gary and Cathy. Aspiring folk singers in attendance included the O’bergs, Floretta Rodgers, and Shelley Allison. They hope to be joined by other interested singers and to present one or more of the songs on a Friday night to DIFD dancers.

Houston IFDSeveral dancers from Houston went on the Jim Gold tour of Greece in October 2007. Photos of this trip are available at jimgold.com/shareBrowsePhotos.aspx?selectCategory=Greece%202007 You may recognize a few dancers…..even some who do not live in Texas any more. Next time we hope some of the tourists will send a report to editor@tifd.org!

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Calendar

February 7, 2008. Concert of traditional music from Scotland and Shetland Isles, featuring Jacqueline Schwab on piano and Reinmar Seidler on cello (both members of Bare Necessities), in Tulsa, OK. scotfiddle@aol.com or salandalan@sbcglobal.net

February 8-9, 2008. English Country Dance in Oklahoma City, Bare Necessities playing. Sold out.

February 15-17, 2008. Bayou Bedlam contra weekend, Houston. KGB playing, Carol Ormand calling. www.hatds.org or bb08@hatds.org

February 22-24, 2008 Ukrainian & Polish Workshop with Tom Masterson teaching. Knoxville, TN, sponsored by Oak Ridge Folk Dancers. Info at www.discoveret.org/orfd or Taylorb0@usit.net or (865) 470-9536

February 23, 2008 60th Annual Festival of the Oaks (folk dance festival) in Berkeley, California. Loui Tucker teaching Romanian and other favorites, exhibition dancing by Jubilee Dance performers. For more information contact Mel Mann at (510) 527-2177 or meldancing@aol.com

February 28-March 2, 2008 National Folk Organization annual conference (with dancing!), Orlando, FL. See story p. 2. www.nfo-usa.org

March 7-9, 2008. The Great Dance Escape contra dance weekend in Post, TX (near Lubbock). www.thegreatdanceescape.org Peg Hesley calling, Mimi & Allison and Traditional Blend playing.

March 7, 2008. Tulsa IFD 39th Anniversary Party. Bring food, wear your best folk dance costume, dance to live music by Nick Bratkovich, and get a preview of the Israeli Workshop set for the following day. Location still up in the air. salandalan@sbcglobal.net for more information.

March 8-9, 2008. Israeli Folk Dance Workshop, Tulsa, OK. Clarence “Skip” Ellis of Boulder, CO teaching old and new Israeli dances. www.geocities.com/tulsaifd/index.html or salandalan@sbcglobal.net or (918) 335-5908 for more information.

March 13-15, 2008. National Accordion Association Festival, Richardson/Dallas. www.accordions.com/naa/index.htm

March 14-16, 2008 San Antonio Folk Dance Festival, 50th year. All-star cast of teachers, musicians, and other presenters. Vonnie Brown, Sandy Starkman, Bob Leibman, Nick Bratkovich, Miroslav Marcetic, Anne Pittman, Marlys Waller, Mihai David, Paul Collins, Phyllis Diamond, George Fogg - you get the idea! www.safdf.org

March 15, 2008. Czech Heritage Day Festival. Northeast of Pineville, Louisiana. Family-oriented event. It starts at 10 am with dancing of the Czech Beseda and goes through the day with various performances, sales of kraslice and kolache, an accordionist and band from Houston (both Czech). It’s a small, intimate affair, but it might be part of someone’s weekend trip to Louisiana. Nicole and I (David Holcombe) will put up anyone at our home. 318-443-4148 or daniho402@gmail.com.

March 28-30, 2008 Spring Breakdown, contra dance weekend in Columbia, MO. http://mmtd.missouri.org

March 29, 2008 Blue Moon Contra Dance in Lawrence, KS. Advanced dance whenever there is a 5th Saturday. www.lawrencebarndance.org

April 4-6, 2008 When In Doubt, Swing; in Dallas. XVIII (that’s 18 for you non-Romans) Contra Dance Weekend, featuring Nils Fredland calling to the music of Footloose.www.geocities.com/nttds/

May 23-26, 2008 (Memorial Day weekend), Traditional Music & Dance Camp, FolkMADS, Socorro, NM. Lisa Greenleaf calling; Groovemongers and Al & Alice White & Friends featured bands. www.folkmads.org

June 2008, 2nd weekend, Flamingo Fling contra weekend in OKC

June 2008 - Mendocino Folk Dance Camp, Mendocino, CA. www.mendocinofolklorecamp.com

June 13-15, 2008, San Antonio, Texas Folklife Festival http://www.texancultures.utsa.edu/tff/tff2008/index.html

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June 19-26, 2008 Pinewoods Folk Dance Camp, Plymouth, MA. Cristian & Sonia, Alix Cordray, Gideon Morse, Marianne Taylor. www.facone.org/programs/program/pinewoods/pinewoods.htm

July 9-13, 2008, Door County Folk Festival in Sister Bay, WI. www.dcff.net

July 20-26 and July 27-Aug 2, 2008, Stockton, CA. Stockton Folk Dance Camp www.folkdancecamp.org. Teachers: Daniela Ivanova, Hennie Konings, Richard Schmidt, Roberto Bagnoli, Cristian Florescu & Sonia Dion, Tineke van Geel, Jerry Helt.

August 1-3, 2008 Mountain Playshop, Swannanoa, NC. Teachers & details will be posted on website by March 15, 2008. www.mountainplayshop.org

August 7-10, 2008 New Mexico August Folk Dance Camp in Socorro, NM. Lee Otterholt (Balkan, Greek, Albanian) and Ewa and Tommy Englund (Swedish couple dances). www.unm.edu/~lpetri/swifdi/

August 16-September 1, 2008, Mainewoods Dance Camp, in Maine. 3 sessions. Teachers TBA. www.mainewoodsdancecamp.org

Labor Day Weekend, Westfest in West, Texas. www.westfest.com/

Fiddler’s Dream Now My Dream Too!by Susan Downs, Bartlesville, OK

Friends had been telling me about Fiddler’s Dream for months, but having been to “all-volunteer” events before that were disappointing at best, and due to the time of year it takes place (between Christmas and New Year), I really did not think it would be something I would enjoy. Boy, did I have that all wrong! Every objection I had in mind was blown away!The organizers of Fiddler’s Dream put a lot of time and thought into this event, and it shows! Dancing was available at all hours of the day and night, and also workshops with great instructors to make you a better dancer, or caller, or musician, or bird lover, or….. and the food was delicious! There was so much to do, but it was scheduled in such a way that you had plenty of time to catch your breath. What a delight to meet, and dance with, so many good dancers – some again and some for the first time. If I have any choice in the matter, I won’t miss another one. Everyone needs to try it at least once – once is all it takes!

Dance Tours for Folk Dancers with Wanderlust

Turkey: March 26-April 4, 2008, with Helene Eriksen. www.helene-eriksen.de

Armenia: May 11-22 and October 1-12, 2008, with Tineke Van Geel. www.tinekevangeel.nl

Turkey and Central Asia, many various dates and options, with Bora Özkök: www.boraozkok.com or www.culturalfolktours.com

Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Norway, Hungary, Poland, various dates: www.jimgold.com

Russia, June 28-July 9, 2008 with Mel Mann: www.folkdanceonthewater.org

Dancers at Louisiana Czech Heritage Day Festival; see Calendar for details.

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Camp Musiciansby Don Weeda and Joane Rylander

Thank you very much to Texas Camp Band 2007! Thanks to everyone’s efforts we had lots of compliments and had so many people up and dancing to spirited music that the dance floor was often full! We hope everyone had as much fun as we did! Texas Camp Band 2007 was:

Mike Revesz Anne AlexanderJoane Rylander Lane Foster HarrellFranklin Houston Dena HoustonLisa Shawley Kert PetersonWally Washington Al FeivesonPeter Washington Holly PlotnerShelley Allison Don WeedaJim Lucke Lola LuckeKathleen McDonagh

And guests:Bruce Bostwick Cristian Florescu

plus honorable mention of Carson Talbot who would have played if only we could have found him an instrument (hopefully next year!) Many people contributed to the success of this year’s live music, more than we can list here. Our very special thanks to:Joane, who wrote up by hand all of the new Finale

charts for this year, organized all of the live music events, and helped keep our rehearsals on track.

Franklin, who sent us the charts for songs played in previous years and for revising several for our use.

Lisa, Kert, Franklin and Anne for their special appearance and by preparing tunes for salsa dancing in less than a day.

Oscar, for helping Lisa and Kert with the salsa tunes preparation.

Sonia and Cristian, for listening to their ipod to transcribe for us the words to Dana while at Camp.

Joane, Kathleen and Anne, for learning to sing Dana in less than a day.

Norris and Mike, for performing Te Aven Baxtale. (Norris started to learn the song at Camp.)

Kathleen, Anne, Mike, Joane, and guest percussionist Cristian, for the Slavadillo sets.

Holly and Anne, for leading the Scandi music.Dena, Joane, Anne, Holly, Franklin, Al, Suze for

contra music.

Anne S. and the singers for the Croatian songs and Licko Kolo.

Wende and Lisa H., who helped keep all the music on track during the parties.

Bruce and Gary, who kept all the different groupings appropriately and cleanly amplified, a near-impossible task.

To everyone who volunteered for a solo for the once and future Pravo Trakijsko Horo -- someday we will perform it!

Thank you to everyone, and to everyone, opa!

A Thank-you from the Reissers

Dear TIFD Membership, On December 20, at 1:00 AM, Kurt and I came home after a solstice celebration, opened the back door and were greeted by blasting Balkan music. Wesley and Colin were in the family room dancing, going over the Romanian dances from camp 2007 and the Bulgarian dances from camp 2006. What could we do but join in? It filled our hearts to see the joy Wes and Colin find in dance. Wes intends to teach camp dances at his dance group at UCLA, and he’s been carefully reviewing and studying notes and videos. Over Christmas break we all attended the Boulder International Folk Dance party, and even though the boys aren’t well-known at this group, they jumped in and led lines. We had parents coming over to ask how we succeeded in getting our boys to dance at all. Growing up with it helped, but Texas Camp and the friendships they created there remains the greatest influence on their interest in dances of other cultures. The Reisser Four (Kurt, Susan, Wesley, and Colin) want to heartily thank you for giving Wesley a Bobbi Gillotti scholarship last year and one to Colin this year! They’re putting them to good use.

Party Helpers Get a Big Thank-Youby Wende Waters, Program Coordinator

I’d like to send out a big thank you to all the people who helped program during the evening parties at Camp: Sue Coffman, Jo Soto, Holly Plotner, John Pedersen, John and Emily Clement, Lisa Horn, Marie Clement, and Wally Washington. Also, thanks again to Bruce Bostwick (sound) and Joane Rylander (live music[ian] wrangler). Until next year, dear friends!

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CD Review—Shakin’ Down the Acorns: Irish & Appalachian Folk Tunes

by Julia Harris, Tulsa, OK

It was fun to be reminded of this recording Shakin’ Down the Acorns. I listened to it hundreds of times as a new player to the hammered dulcimer, and Tony Elman became one of my musical heroes. I still enjoy his straightforward style that takes advantage of the unique qualities of the instrument and the uncomplicated but interesting arrangements. Tony takes advantage of recorders and cello with guitar and bass to keep this collection of traditional favorites interesting. The dance tunes are obviously played by a dancer. This CD still lifts my spirits and my feet every time I hear it.

Greetings from George Kontos

George Kontos, a former member of TIFD, recently contacted one of our members. We thought we’d let you know how he’s doing. George danced in Austin with AIFD and other groups in the 1970’s and in Houston in the 1980’s. He then took a job in South Florida for 6 years, followed by another one in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). He is currently in his 6th year at Western Kentucky University and just started dancing again. He’s glad to hear that many of his old (oops, scratch that, “long time”) friends are still dancing, including Dena and Franklin Houston, John Ramage, Jo Soto, Georgia Horn, and Chuck Roth. A pictures of George with one of his new dancing friends is shown below. If you would like to contact George, he can be emailed at george.kontos@wku.edu.

Texans at Balkanalia!

Shelley Allison and Marie Clement, below, were each pleasantly surprised in August to discover another familiar Texas face at the Balkanalia! folk music and dance camp in Portland, Oregon.

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Texas Camp Memories Photographs by Alan Jenkins (AJ), Jane Parsons (JP), and Misi Tsurikov (MT)

Left & below: Opening Ceremonies (MT)

Acrobatic dancers! (Above MT, below AJ)

Left: Don Weeda and musicians (AJ)

Happy dancers (above MT , below AJ)

K and Oscar, salsa teachers (JP)

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Cristian and Sonia, Romanian teachers (with another famous Transylvanian) (JP)

John Pederson and his trusty axe (AJ)

The Floor Crew strikes again! (MT)

Dancers perform Dana (MT)

Above: Party decorations (JP)Right: ARKAN! (AJ)Below: Camp Band (AJ)

Page 10 February-April 2008 TIFD News

Recipe - Welsh Rarebit

According to Jeff “the Frugal Gourmet” Smith, this really is from Wales. It is very easy to make, and can be served at a brunch or even as a side dish for another meal.

1/2 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated1 tsp. butter1 T. Worcestershire sauce2 tsp. all-purpose flour1 tsp. dry mustardBlack pepper to taste (no extra salt is needed)1/4 cup beer

Place all ingredients except beer in a double boiler and cook, stirring often, until a smooth sauce is obtained. Add the beer and heat, stirring, for a few more minutes. Serve over toast (or treat it like a cheese fondue and dip bread cubes in the sauce).

Jokes

Q. Where do hamburgers dance?A. At a meatball.

***

In Turkey, Nasreddin Hoja is a traditional character in folklore and jokes. Here are two Hoja stories:

Hoja had nothing to eat in his house. So he went for a walk beside the lake of Akshehir. Ducks were swimming in the lake. Then he began to drink the water of the lake. “Hoja Effendi, what are you doing there?” asked a man. “I am drinking duck soup”, Hoja replied.

Hoja was once a judge in a village. One day a man came to him crying, “Your cow has killed mine!” Hoja said, “You silly fellow, how can a cow know that it is a crime to kill another cow? Case dismissed!” The man said, “Apologies, effendi, I said it wrong. My cow has killed yours.” “Ah, that is a different affair,” Hoja said. “Let’s check the law book.”

adapted from jokes at www.business-with-turkey.com

Lyrics - Körtánc (Hungary)

Várba harangoznak Városba dobolnak A gyimesi legények Táborba indulnak Nagy a hire.

Ki lesz a kapitány? Majd lesz Jancsó Ignác Hát a kapitányné? Majd lesz Réczika Tercsi Nagy a hire.

Ennek a Tercsinek Szép selyem szoknyája Ennek az Ignácnak Fáj a szíve rája Nagy a hire.

Ennek az Ignácnak Szép rojtos gatyája Ennek a Tercsinek Fáj a szíve rája Nagy a hire.

In the castle, bells are ringing In the town, drums are beating The boys of Gyimes [in Slovakia] Are going off to camp Great is their fame

Who’ll be the captain? He’ll be Ignác Jáncso Well then, the captain’s wife? She’ll be Tercsi Ráczika Great is their fame

This is Tercsi’s Her pretty silk skirt This is Ignác’s His heart aches for her Great is their fame

This is Ignác’s His handsome fringed pants This is Tercsi’s Her heart aches for him Great is their fame