The maintainer of this page is not responsible for the attractive force that appears to be causing the most interesting events to cluster on the same weekends!
March 17-19, 2006: International House, 1414 E 59th St, Chicago, 41st Anniversary Spring Festival of Balkan, Eastern European, and Eastern Mediterrean music, dance, and food. Dance and music workshops with: Atanas Kolarovski, Ahmet Luleci, Sani Rifati, Yuliyan Yordanov, et al.; concert, dance parties with best live music, food, and more. People attending from coast to coast. Info: 773-324-1247, Balkanske Igre, PO Box 1157, Chicago, IL 60690. Text flier with registration form (paste, print, mail) here.
March 19, 2006: "Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares" choir, directed by Dora Hristova, mix of traditional songs, folk-song inspired choral music by Bulgarian composers, and some Orthodox choral pieces. The Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, Cleveland, OH, 4:00; info and tickets through Cleveland Museum of Art, (216) 721-4176
April 22-23, 2006: Concerts by Crossing Paths. This band features centuries-old music from the villages of the Carpathian Mountains to the Southern Balkans, played with improvisational brilliance by four virtuosos internationally known in the folk and jazz genres.
May 5-7, 2006: High/Scope Dance Camp, Clinton, MI, with Petur Iliev teaching Bulgarian dances. Instruction all day Saturday and Sunday morning; dance parties Friday and Saturday nights. Camp is SW of Ann Arbor MI less than 1 hour from Detroit; wood dance floor; comfortable, dormitory-style accomodations, all-inclusive cost approximately $165 US. Info: Rick or 248-376-6992
June 2-4, 2006: June Camp - International dance weekend in Beloit, WI, with teachers Michael Ginsburg & Belle Birchfield, presenting dances from the Balkans, and Daniel and Gaylen Beal, presenting dances from Scandinavia including Karelia. Saturday evening dance party to the music of Milwaukee's hot ethnic band, Sloboda. Info: Mady Newfield (630) 584-0825, or Doug Jensen (630) 840-8194, or Michael Kuharski (608) 241-3655.
June 16-18, 2006: 11th Dearborn Arab International Festival. A community Dabke dance will be held from 2 to 3 PM on the 17th. More info when available.