I remember when my folk dance class attendance, which once was about 20, slowly diminished until we were down to four. I started losing money with the rental of our dance space.
I thought about ending the class, giving up the group. Then a strange thing happened: I got mad. Then a small rose voice within me saying “Never! I will never give up this class! Even if no one shows up and I’m teaching dancing all alone and dancing all alone, I won’t give it up. I’ll just spend the time choreographing new dances, and enjoy dancing the ones I know until someone shows up. If no one shows up, I’ll keep dancing alone. But I will never, never will I give up this beautiful class with the beautiful folk dancing that cures and elevates me and others.”
These thoughts gave me peace of mind. I continued the class. I also starting promoting our classes in Meetup.com, sent in press releases to local newspapers, put announcements on Facebook, and, most important, started telephoning our former dancers to both say hello, and see if they wanted to return to our class.
The results: Some evenings we continued having three or four dances showing up. One evening no one showed up. Another evening we had only two.
This “quiet period” lasted about two months. I kept up the promotions. But slowly, strangely, miraculously, one day a new person showed up. Another came a few weeks later. During the next few weeks and months a few former dancers returned. The group continued to grow. After a year we had 15-20 dancers!
Now the class is bouncing along with 20 or so, depending on the night.
So I learned that love, in this case, of folk dancing. often breeds courage, determination, and persistence. And with these four Beauties in place, almost anything will succeed.
Led by Jim Gold and Lee Otterholt
★ Visit historic Balkan cities, capitals, and folkloric villages.
★ Meet Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin folk dancers.
★ Plus international folk dancing with Lee Otterholt.
★ Our price includes round-trip airfare, city tours, transfers, hotels, two meals daily, and our own private bus.
1 | Mon, Aug 7 | Fly to Glasgow on airline of your choice. |
2 | Tue, Aug 8 | |
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★ Castles, palaces, historic sites, and museums !
★ Meet with local folk dance groups !
★ Breathtaking scenery from mountains to sea !
★ Price includes city tours, hotels, breakfasts, four dinners, and a private deluxe motorcoach !
★ See video from our last tour:
ITINERARY
Day 1: July 21, Friday: Fly to Kraków on airline of your choice.
About Richard Schmidt: About Richard Schmidt: In the year 2001, Richard Schmidt received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Polish government for his dedication in promoting Polish culture abroad. To this day he is still going strong as the Artistic Director and founder of the White Eagle Folk Dance Academy in his hometown of Montréal, Canada and Artistic Director for The Lechowia Polish Folk Dance Company of Toronto, the largest Polish ensemble in Canada. His instructional workshops and choreography have been complimented by decades of studies under several of Poland’s masters. He has work with folk ensembles in Europe, Asia and North America since the age of seventeen and is also well-known on the International Folk Scene as the Master of Polish Dance with standing invitations in the United States, Japan, Hong Kong and China. Ten years ago Richard led the first folk tour of Poland presented by Jim Gold and has successfully led several others since. His experience, easy going temperament, knowledge of English, Polish and French, as well as, his understanding of Poland’s culture and his excitement and joie-de-vivre always add to the comfort and complete satisfaction of all the guests on his tours!
Land Only: $3495
Day 1: August 5, Saturday: Depart from New York JFK airport to Bucharest.
Day 2: August 6: Sunday: Arrival in Bucharest. Transfer to our hotel. Traditional welcome dinner at traditional Carul cu Bere restaurant. Overnight in Minerva hotel.
Day 3: August, 7. Monday: Bucharest city tour. Romanian Athenaeum, the Old Royal Court and village museum showcasing traditional Romanian village life. Noble Court, Lipscani old street, and Hanul lui Manuc, Revolution Square, and Peasant’s Museum to see hand woven carpets, painted eggs, ceramics and wooden carvings. Evening meeting with Romanian folk dancers dressed in national costumes and learn dances from Wallachia region.
Day 4: August 8, Tuesday: Bucharest — Curtea de Arges —Sibiu
Drive to Transylvania. Stop in Curtea de Arges, former capital of Wallachia. See Noble Church, and 14th century Curtea de Arges monastery. Lunch on beautiful Vidraru Lake — Valea cu Pesti. See Cozla monastery. Arrive in Sibiu. Overnight Imparatul Romanilor hotel.
Day 5: August 9. Wednesday: Sibiu — Sibiel — Sibiu
Sightseeing of medieval Sibiu. Main Square Town Hall’s Tower, Maria Kirche Teutsch Tower. Drive to village of Sibiel for a traditional lunch cooked by local families and served to their homes. Sibiel Glass Icons Museum. Meet Transylvanian folk group in traditional costumes. Folk dance performance in Transylvania/ German dances. Overnight Imparatul Romanilor.
Day 6: August 10, Thursday: Sibiu—Alba lulla Iulia—Cluj
Drive to Cluj. Stop in Alba lulla Iulia to visit the Roman-Catholic Cathedral “St. Michell”. On to Cluj. Tour university of Cluj. In rural area enjoy the local traditions: horse cart ride, traditional Transylvanian dinner cooked on an open wood fire with plum brandy and folk music. Visit Turda Salt Mine, important renovated salt mines in Transylvania. Overnight Capitolina hotel.
Day 7: August 11, Friday: C1uj- leud- Rozavlea- Botiza Sapanta – Sighetu Marmatlei
Drive to Maramures, land of wooden churches, unique folk costumes and timeless traditions, Merry Cemetery in Sapanta Village. Dinner with local violin players and local dancers. Learn Maramures folk dances. Overnight in Sighetu Marmatiei Gradina Morii Hotel.
Day 8: August 12, Saturday: Sighetu Marmatiel—Moldovita—Sucevita—Arbore monastery —Gura Humorului
Drive through Bargau Pass to Moldavia. Visit painted monasteries of Moldovita, Sucevita and Arbore. Lunch in local restaurant. Overnight Best Western Bucovina hotel, Gura Humorului.
Day 9: August 13, Sunday: Gura Humorului—Voronet—Humor Monastery—Dragomirna monastery—Gura Humorului
Explore Bucovina monasteries of Voronet, Humor and Dragomlrna. Visit markets, meet farmers of Humor Village. Tour Wooden Spoons Museum. Dinner with entertainment by local folk dancers dressed in national costumes. Overnight hotel Gura Humorulul.
Day 10: August 14, Monday: Gura Humorului—Agapia—Varatec— atra Neamt
Drive to Piatra Neamt. Visit monasteries of Agapia and Varatec. Lunch inside the monastery prepared by the nuns. Evening arrival in city of Piatra Neamt. Overnight in Ceahlaul hotel.
Day 11: August 15, Tuesday: Matra Piatra Neamt—Bran—Brasov
Visit mediaeval Transylvanian town of Brasov. Walking tour. See Bran castle with Dracula legend. Dinner in an traditional mountain hut. Overnight Sport hotel Polana Brasov.
Day 12: August 16, Wednesday: Brasov—Bucharest
Drive to Bucharest. Stop at Peles castle. Lunch at a local restaurant in Sinaia. Arrive in Bucharest. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Minerva Hotel in Bucharest.
Day 13, August 17, Thursday:
Breakfast at hotel, then departure to the airport for the flight back home.
A Palm Tree Rises in Beauty
Can there be beauty in ugly, messy and painful?
Maybe.
After all, that is how the process works.
And, while you mull over this idea, to help understand this process, enjoy the exciting, fun dance: Toicevo Kolo: Just click on this link: http://bit.ly/2lHfLML
Torry O’Dor
Dear Posty,
Torry O’Dor from Galway, Ireland just choreographed this Toreador Dance using music from the French Au Pere A Karmen by Djeordge Bizhay. Surely, a toreador blast from (perhaps) Pamplona. See the bulls running through the streets right now!
See the bull dance in person!
Check out Torry’s Toreador dance, re-choreographed and re-danced Jim’s Spanish namesake, Jimenez del Oro.
Click on this Toreador link for higher satisfaction: http://bit.ly/2lJEXCt
7. Other
Can slow-and-beautiful playing
And fast-and-sloppy playing
Ever meet?
If yes, what new level would that be?