International folk dancing is a genre of dance that includes dances from different countries. Some dances are traditional, and some are choreographed using traditional steps from a particular geographic area. Folk dancing is a recreational activity suitable for all ages and abilities. Many other clubs specialize in the dances of particular countries whereas international folk dance clubs sample dances from all over.
Yes. We tend to stay with dances that are relatively quick to learn. For example: we do not do square dancing, but do include some mixers; we do some Scottish set dances, leaving out the difficult ones; we do a few Scandinavian dances avoiding the ones with lots of turning. Also, we do not do ballroom dancing.
We do dances from many countries. We tend to concentrate on dances from eastern Europe just because they are so enjoyable and accessible. These dances are generally done in lines or circles. Dances from many countries tend to be couple dances which are done in sets or circles of couples. But most countries also have some circle or line dances. We also do some western line dances just for fun. You can see the variety of countries that dances come from on our dances page.
You do not need any previous dance experience. It’s definitely time for you to learn to dance! Thousands of people today are learning folk dances as adults. Everything you need to know will be taught. Dances are at a variety of levels.
With patient instruction, an absence of competition or criticism, and lots of repetition, you probably can learn! Folk dancing is dance of the “folk”. People have engaged in folk dance for as long as people have lived in societies, and no one was excluded. It is meant to be a fun activity, not for performance, and therefore perfection is not expected.
Singles are welcome. Many of the dances do not require a partner, and for a dance that does require a partner, we partner up with who is there. Being a woman dancing the man’s part just adds to the mental challenge!
You will also enjoy listening to the diverse styles and rhythms of the ethnic music and getting to know the other dancers. If you find you need to sit out a dance, you likely won’t be the only one!
Wear comfortable shoes. Avoid shoes with soles that stick to the floor as they can make turning difficult. High heels and spikes are not appropriate for folk dance.
Please drop-in and try out folk dancing – your first time is FREE!!
Fees
Membership and drop-in fees pay for hall rental, insurance, and incidental expenses.
Annual membership:
$80 per adult and $20 for each participating child
OR
Sept to December: $35 per adult January to June: $50 per adult
OR
Drop-in: $4 per adult $2 per participating child
No. Attend weekly dancing in comfortable clothing with comfortable shoes. The club owns several ethnic costumes that can be borrowed should you decide that you want to participate in our dance demonstrations.
You will become thirsty, so it’s a good idea to bring a water bottle.
Performing is not required. In order to promote the club and to fulfill our mission statment, we do dance demonstrations in the community. All dancers, including beginners, are invited to participate but are not required to. We encourage you to try it, as it is enjoyable and very rewarding.
A few dances will be taught most weeks. Make sure you ask questions if you are unsure about anything. When an unfamiliar dance is requested, try the dance by following behind someone who knows the dance well. If the dance is not too fast, join the line a few people away from the feet you want to follow. If you are having difficulty picking up the dance this way, and would really like to learn it, make sure you ask the dance leader to teach it in a future session.
Feel free to ask for help from anyone. It takes time to learn a dance, so be patient with yourself. Remember that perfection is not required, enjoyment is!
Join the end of the line farthest from the leader, in the middle of a two-leader line, or anywhere in a circle.
Membership fees, drop-in fees, and any honorariums received for dance demonstrations are used to pay for rental of the school gym, insurance, and incidental expenses.
We have two parties per year, one before the winter break and one final party in the spring. At the parties, we dance members’ requests with a brief review when needed, and we enjoy pot-luck snacks. New dances are not taught at parties.
SIFD is a registered society, which holds an Annual General Meeting and elects officers. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the AGM and offer suggestions, although, due to society regulations, only fully-paid members may vote. Currently, the AGM is held in October or November.