Happy Feet Folk Dance Page

They're called Opanci

Watch out!  I've got happy feet!Welcome! Come on in! Next page




Page Two

Welcome! This page is called "Happy Feet" because we are folk dancers. We both enjoy several international styles, including Balkan folk dances (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Greek, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, etc.), Romanian, Hungarian, Israeli, Turkish, Armenian, French-Canadian, Cajun, Breton, Scottish, Irish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Russian, and even Japanese. Concerning the arrangement of this document, in order of appearance, the arrangement is:

  1. About Humboldt International Folk Dancers (next) - Page Three
  2. International Folk Dance general schedule - Page Four
  3. Teaching and dance schedule--2008 - Page Five
  4. About Club Band - Page Seven
  5. Chubritza's schedule - Page Eight
  6. Contra Dancing - Page Nine
  7. Events - Page Ten
  8. Folk Dance links - Page Eleven
  9. Bottom and links - Page Twelve
  10. Back to the top














Page Three - Humboldt Folk Dance Club

International Folk Dancing is held at the Presbyterian Church (aren't you proud of me? I can spell it!) on 11th and G Streets in Arcata, California. We ask for $3.00 at the door. If you are strapped for cash, or are uncertain, come in and have fun. If you have $3.00 worth of fun, pay us when you can. The money goes to rent the building, for upkeep on the equipment, and to pay a small amount to our teachers, who deserve a lot more.

Important note: There are chemically sensitive people who attend our dances, some with allergies and asthma. We ask that you come to dancing without wearing fragrances for their benefit. This includes underarm deoderants with scent, aftershave colognes, perfumes, fragrant soaps, hand lotions, pomades, mousses, and scented talcum powders. It is a real hardship on the sensitive to try to dance when they cannot breathe, so please be compassionate and come scent-free. Also, those of us who are sensitive are also bothered by smoke (asthma!), so please do NOT smoke anywhere near any entrances. After all, people are trying to breathe!

Next - about International Folk Dance in Arcata / Teaching and dance schedule--2008 / About Club Band / Chubritza's schedule / Contra Dancing / Events / Folk Dance links / Back to the top / Index--back one page / Bottom and links












Page Four
Humboldt Folk Dance Club Dancing General Schedule: We dance every Friday night at the Presbyterian Church on 11th and G Streets, Arcata, California. Generally, on first Friday of the month, we dance downstairs in the Gold Room to live music. On other Fridays, we dance upstairs, in the gym. The entrance for both nights is the doorway to the farthest uphill (north). On first Fridays, go straight and stay level once inside the main door. You will enter a dining hall. The Gold Room will be on the right after you reach the tables. On all other Fridays, turn left after the main door and go up the flight of stairs to the gym. We generally have teachers from 7:30 P.M. to 9:15 P.M., followed by general dancing until 11:00 p.m., except for the first Friday of each month. There is a request board during general Friday night dancing, so you can request your favorite dances, provided, of course, we have them.

The First Friday party is held in the hall downstairs in the Gold Room, in the same building. The potluck (finger food only, please) on party nights begins at 7:30 P.M., with live music beginning around 8:00 P.M. We don't generally have teachers on first Fridays because it is a live music night. The jam session after the last band lasts until around 11:00 p.m.
Teaching and dance schedule / About Club Band / Chubritza's schedule /
Contra Dancing / Events / Folk Dance links / Back one page / Back to the top /
Index--Page two / Bottom and links









Page Five - Dance Schedule for 2008
  • January 25 - 7:30-9:15 p.m.Special teaching session: Michael Mavris will teach Greek dances. If you have a special recipe for Greek finger-food, this is the time to bring it! Teaching is a continuation from last week's lessons. Live music will be provided by members of Club Band from 8:45-9:15. Featured: Island Syrtos, Kalamatiano, Hasapikos, Hasapaservikos. $4.00. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing with Greg & Becky Deja.
  • February 1 - 8-11 p.m. First Friday Dance Party: Dance to live music featuring Club Band, Chubritza, et al. (Bring finger food/drinks to share.)
  • February 8 - 7:30-9:15 p.m.Teaching session: Greg and Becky Deja will be teaching. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing.
  • February 15 - 7:30-9:15 p.m.Teaching session: Greg and Becky Deja will be teaching. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing.
  • February 22 - 7:30-9:15 p.m.Teaching session: Greg and Becky Deja will be teaching. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing.
  • February 29 - 7:30-9:15 p.m. Teaching sesson: Greg and Becky Deja will be teaching. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing.

Schedule continued / About Club Band / Back one / Chubritza's schedule / Contra Dancing / Events / Folk Dance linksBack to page three / Index - Page 2 / Back to the top / Bottom and links / Back to page four













Page Six - Dance Schedule for 2008, continued
  • March 7 - 8-11 p.m. First Friday Dance Party: Dance to live music featuring Club Band, Chubritza, et al. (Bring finger food/drinks to share.)
  • March 14 - 7:30-9:15 p.m. Teaching session: Craig Kurumada will be teachig. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing.
  • March 21 - 7:30-9:15 p.m. Teaching session: Craig Kurumada will be teachig. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing.
  • March 28 - 7:30-9:15 p.m. Teaching session: Craig Kurumada will be teachig. 9:15-11 p.m. Request dancing.
  • April 4 - 8-11 p.m. First Friday Dance Party: Dance to live music featuring Club Band, Chubritza, et al. (Bring finger food/drinks to share.)

Next - About Club Band / Back one / Chubritza's schedule / Contra Dancing / Events / Folk Dance links /
Back to page three / Index - Page 2 / Back to the top / Bottom and links / Back to page four


















Page Seven - Humboldt International Folk Dance Club Band

Do you play a musical instrument? Are you interested in learning new and wonderful rhythms and musical forms from other cultures? You can explore and enjoy participating in Club Band! Club Band is currently meeting at Robert Bell's house in McKinleyville (1090 Vista) at 6:30 P.M. on Mondays. If you want to join, it's best to either e-mail me at starfire at humboldt one dot com (sorry, but you'll have to type this in. I've had to take measures due to the spam problem.), or call me or Robert Bell. We're both in the Humboldt County phone directory. I live in Arcata; he lives in McKinleyville. We do not hold auditions, as it is a community band, made up mostly of folk dancers who love to play the music as well as dance it. All levels of skill welcome. Keep in mind, however, that we may not have instruments to loan, so bring your own if you have one. Members who play your particular instrument may be able to help you with some technique, but please be aware we cannot afford the time to teach you your instrument during our weekly practice sessions, as we are a performing group.

Current Members: Robert Bell - bouzouki, mandolin, guitar, violin, and voice; Joyce Burton - dumbek, tupan and voice; Patrick Edgar - violin; Evaonne Hendricks - accordion, flute, kaval, clarinet, trombone, pennywhistle, zills, bones, guitar, banjo, violin, and voice; Rick Kruse - Stand-up bass, violin, and voice; Leah Kruley - oboe, recorders, and keyboard; Sue Portugal - recorder, cornet, guitar, and voice; Cynthia Romano - Dumbek and voice; Guy Smith - Accordion par excellence, violin, voice; Janet Whitworth - flute, alto sax, tambura, guitar, and voice. Members drift in and out due to everything from family commitments, illness, or exhaustion.

Chubritza's schedule (next) / Back one / Back to Dance Schedule / Contra Dancing / Events / Folk Dance links / Back to top / Humboldt Folk Dancers / General schedule / Bottom and links / Index - Page Two











Page Eight

CHUBRITZA

Chubritza generally plays for the first Friday parties at the Presbyterian church in Arcata. For more details on performances, it's best to contact them. Try their website: Chubritza.

The current members of Chubritza are (in alphabetical order): Randy Carrico - saxophone, clarinet, tambura, violin, prim, cornet, vocals; Debra Dukes - bass, tambura, tupan, percussion, and vocals; Janet Finney - frula, flute, accordion, brac, tupan, tambourine, dumbek, vocals; Craig Kurumada - gajda, clarinet, tupan, prim, accordion, vocals; Linnea Mandell - bugarija, accordion, tupan, tambura, vocals; and Kroy Rubin - dumbek, guitar and tupan.

Contra Dancing schedule (next) / Back one / Events / Folk Dance links / Back to the top / Humboldt Folk Dancers / General dance schedule / Folk dance schedule--2007 /
Index - Page Two / Bottom and links






Page Nine

Contra Dancing

You don't need to know anything about dance to enjoy, and you don't need to bring a partner. Contra Dances are usually held the second Saturday of every month at 8:00 pm at the Arcata Veterans Hall, 14th and J Streets, Arcata, California. Admission is $6.00 general, $5.00 for HFS members. It has been requested that participants wear no fragrances, as there are chemically sensitive people present. For more information, call (707) 822-7190. Sponsored by the Humboldt Folklife Society.

Next page - Events / Folk Dance links / Back one / Bottom and links / Back to top / Humboldt Folk Dancers / Back to general dance schedule / Back to folk dance schedule / Back to Club Band / Index - Page Two



















Page Ten

Events - The Arcata Folk Dance Festival is now being held every other year. Our next festival is in April of 2008. It would have been great to do it every year, but it is a lot of work to put on a festival like this, and we needed more help than we had to do it yearly. Humboldt Folk Dancers has been losing money on it because of the amount of preparation and etc. This year's dance camps include Mendocino Balkan Camp,check EEFC for details, and Mendocino Folklore Camp. Check their website at Mendocino Folklore Camp for details.

Please, if you know of an event locally, or semi-locally, and I have not listed it here, e-mail me at starfire at humboldt one dot com (I hate spammers!), and I will try to get the chance to post it. I don't always know what's going on.

Next page - Folk Dance links / Back one - Contra Dancing / Top / Bottom - and my links /
Humboldt Folk Dancers / General folk dance schedule / Back to folk dance schedule /
Back to Club Band / Back to Chubritza's schedule / Index - Page Two











Page Eleven
Some Folk Dancing links. Some bands, some information sites:

Idle feet are the Devil's toenails! So Dance!!!

Kick up your heels a little!Yes, it's dancing the Macarena.Just a little blue.Yes, this is the YMCA song.Watch out, I've got HAPPY FEET!Do the pickle dance!Okay, guys!  Kick!  Kick!
Bottom and links / Back one--Events / Contra Dancing / Top / Humboldt Folk Dancers /
General Folk Dance Schedule / Back to Dance Schedule / Club Band / Chubritza's schedule /
Index - Page Two

















Bottom - and Links
Back to top / Humboldt Folk Dancers / General schedule / Schedule--2008 / Club Band / Chubritza /
Contra Dancing / Events / Index - Page Two / Back one page - links / Back to Home Page / Comics page / Island of the Mighty Tick Page! / My Vampire Page, for poetry, literature, maybe even some fun, includes Elena's Vampire Poetry page and White Knight Trapped in Darkness, a Forever Knight Site! /
Petition to Repeal the Law of Gravity--tell the world to lighten up!


Dance! Dance will keep you young!

Composed and updated by Evaonne F. Hendricks
1/22/2008