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"Where the World Comes to Dance"
Friday Dance Party 7:30pm-11:00pm-ish Central + Post Dance Discussion
(Sound Checks/Music: 7:00pm – Repertoire Workshop: 7:30pm – Dance Party: 8:00pm – Discussion: 11:00pm-ish until …)
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Fred Bear

Fred Bear Invites You to View & Download Info About these Virtual Dance Room Events!

Upcoming VDR Events

 

  • VDR Monthly After-Party (3rd Saturdays)
    • Sat/Sun Dec 21/22 8:15pm - 3:00am- ish Central
    • Virtual and In Person This Month
    • After-Party Playlist updated
    • Join the After-Party
    • Theme - Celebrating Music/A Capella groups with origins in the IFD Community
      • A Different Village – Aman Ensemble – Baksheesh Boys – Balkan Cabaret
      • Balkan Rhythm Band – Black Bear Combo – Blato Zlato – Brass Menazherie
      • Do Zore – Dromeno – Eclectricity – Edessa – Ethnic Connection
      • Koleda Ensemble – Lyuti Chushki – Maritza – NAMA Orchestra – Novo Selo
      • Orkestar Bez Ime – Paidaši Tamburica Band – Pečurka – PISS Band
      • Reptile Palace Orchestra – Spatter Dash – The Rosen Sisters
      • Westwind International Folk Ensemble – Ziya – Zlatne Uste
      • Pennywhistlers – Brenda MacCrimmon – Svitania

 

  • VDR Joins Kolo Festival Dance Parties
    • Nov 29-30-Dec 1 (Fri-Sat-Sun)
    • 73rd Annual Kolo Festival
    • Location: Croatian-American Center San Francisco, CA
    • VDR joins the 2024 Kolo Festival Parties
    • No separate VDR Dance on Friday
    • Fri Evening 6pm-12am PST (8pm CST)
    • Sat Evening 6pm-12am PST (8pm CST)
    • Sun Afternoon 3pm-6pm PST (5pm CST)
    • Click to Register for Kolo Festival Dance Parties
    • Instructors: Sonia/Chrisian, Angelina Angelova, Michael Ginsburg, John Morovich, Yannis Konstantinou
    • Tons of Live Music from around the world
    • Web: https://kolofestival.org/

  • Join Dit Olshan's Hybrid New Year's Day Dance Party

 

Links to Other Information



Links to MANY Other Virtual Sessions and Major Events

 

If the VDR provides you with any amount of enjoyment and entertainment, please take a minute to click this link to review our request for your financial support.

To view various online and offline donation options for the VIRTUAL DANCE ROOM, click this BLUE button

VDR Donation

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VDR General Information

  • VDR sessions are free, however we do have expenses...
  • We greatly need & appreciate your donations that offset operating costs, including Zoom & internet fees, increased facility rent, equipment replacement/repair costs and funding for musicians and dance workshop instructors
  • We suggest a donation of $10 per person per session (or best effort) or between $20 and $25 per month when you attend.
  • Check out the two GREEN BUTTONS on the right to review donation options
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Fred Bear

May We Have This Dance Please?

Fred Bear Invites you to Post Your Requests for Dancing/Teaching

  • We'd love to see more interaction between hosts and participants - such as requests
    • So what can we do to entice participants to submit requests?
  • To that end, we invite participants to play a more active role by:
    • Requesting dances to be led, played or taught by our talented hosts
  • How can you do this?
    • Login to the updated and easier to use VDR Online Request List
    • https://virtualdanceroom.net/requests/
      • Move to the next available open request row (automated soon)
      • Enter your request and comments (request to teach, play, etc.)
      • Enter your name & email (optional)
    • We'll monitor this Online Request List and schedule dances accordingly
  • We'll continue the practice of leaving part of Set 500 open for your requests.
    • Please send your in-session requests via Zoom Chat to the "Music Hall"


View All About "Stuff"

 

 

The GREEN button (below) is for the VDR / DCFF GoFundMe Fundraiser

The BLUE button (below, scroll down) is for regular VDR regular VDR Donations

We've initiated a GoFundMe Fundraising Drive to support VDR and DCFF activities that runs from 1 March through 30 June 2024.

Click this GREEN button below to participate in the VDR / DCFF GoFundMe Fundraising Drive

VDR Donation
 
 
 

Click this GREEN button below for the usual multiple ways to donate to the VIdrual Dance Room

If the VDR provides you with any amount of enjoyment and entertainment, please take a minute to click this link to review our request for your financial support.

To view various online and offline donation options for the VIRTUAL DANCE ROOM, click this Green Button

 

VDR Donation
 
Upcoming VDR & Other Dance Events - Save These Dates

Advanced Notice - Upcoming Events Summary - Save These Dates

  • Nov 28-Dec 1 (Thu-Sun) - Annual Texas Intl. Folk Dance Camp in Bruceville, TX
  • Nov 29/30-Dec 1 (Fri/Sat/Sun) - VDR's Joins the Kolo Festival's Evening Parties via Zoom
  • Nov 29/30-Dec 1 (Fri/Sun/Sun) - 75th Annual Kolo Festival in San Francisco, CA
  • Dec 21 (Sat) - Global Dance Party - Theme TBA
  • Dec 21/22 (Sat/Sun) - Dance More at VDR's After-Party
    • REPEAT THEME - After-Party Theme: Honoring Music/A Capella groups originating out of the IFD movement
  • Jan 1 (Wed) - New Year's Day Party - At Dit Olshan's Skokie Village Dancers - In Person and Online - Details TBA
  • Jan 18 (Sat) - Global Dance Party - Theme TBA
  • Jan 18/19 (Sat/Sun) - Dance More at VDR's After-Party
    • Theme TBA

Fred Bear Fred Bear invites you to Czech out these links to many International Folk Dance Events! - (Save these dates!)

  • Nov 29 (Fri)
    • VDR joins up with the Kolo Festival Friday and Saturday Night and Sunday Afternoon Dance Parties
  • Nov 29-30-Dec 1 (Fri-Sat-Sun)
    • 73rd Annual Kolo Festival Location: Croatian-American Center San Francisco, CA
    • VDR joins up with the Kolo Festival Friday and Saturday Night and Sunday Afternoon Dance Parties
  • Nov 28-Dec 1 (Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun)
    • Annual Texas Camp
    • Location - Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, TX
    • Instructors: Nick & Melissa Enge (Social Dance), Joan Bennett (International)
    • Web: https://tifd.org/
  • Dec 6 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central
  • Dec 13 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central
  • Dec 20 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central
  • Dec 21/22 (Sat/Sun) - 8:15pm-3:00am Central
    • Dance More at VDR's After-Party + Post Dance Discussion
    • Hybrid Dance - Online and In Person
    • REPEAT THEME - After-Party Theme: Honoring Music/A Capella groups originating out of the IFD movement
      • Veselba – Balkan Cabaret – Ziya – Edessa – PISS Band
      • Zlatne Ušte – Pečurka – Baksheesh Boys – Music Without Borders
      • Malo Selo – Aman Ensemble – NAMA Orchestra – Koleda – Maritza
      • Westwind Ensemble – Orkestar Bez Ime – Pinewoods Band
      • Radost – Slavadillo – Pajdaši – Lyuti Chushki – Spatter Dash
      • All Girl Band – Balkanski Bus – Ethnic Connection
      • Pennywhistlers – Brenda MacCrimmon – Svitania
    • VDR After-Party Announcement
    • Click for After-Party Playlist
    • NOTE: THE AFTER-PARTY IS A 1-DAY EVENT THAT STARTS SATURDAY EVENING AND ENDS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
    • WE SHOW SAT/SUN DAYS FOR OUR OVERSEAS PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE FOR THEM, THE EVENT STARTS ON SUNDAY
  • Dec 27 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central

HAPPY 2025!

  • Jan 3 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central
  • Jan 10 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central
  • Jan 17 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central
  • Jan 18/19 (Sat/Sun) - 8:15pm-3:00am Central
    • Dance More at VDR's Monthly After-Party + Post Dance Discussion
    • Hybrid Dance - Online and In Person
    • THEME TBA
    • VDR After-Party Announcement
    • Click for After-Party Playlist
    • NOTE: THE AFTER-PARTY IS A 1-DAY EVENT THAT STARTS SATURDAY EVENING AND ENDS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
    • WE SHOW SAT/SUN DAYS FOR OUR OVERSEAS PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE FOR THEM, THE EVENT STARTS ON SUNDAY
  • Jan 24 (Fri) - 7:30pm - to 11:30pm-ish - Central
  • Jan 31 (Fri)
    • VDR joins the 2025 Stockton Winter Weekend
    • No separate VDR Dance on Friday
    • Details TBA
  • Jan 31 & Feb 1-2 (Weekend)
    • Stockton Winter Weekend
    • VDR joins up with the Stockton Winter Weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday
    • VDR joins the 2025 Stockton Winter Weekend
    • No separate VDR Dance on Friday
    • Details TBA
    • Stockton Winter Weekend (Website)

 

 

If the VDR provides you with any amount of enjoyment and entertainment, please take a minute to click this link to review our request for your financial support.

To view various online and offline donation options for the VIRTUAL DANCE ROOM, click this BLUE button

VDR Donation

 

Virtual Dance Room (VDR) Followups

The Mystery Dance Theme Challenge of Friday, October 29, 2023

    • We planned a "Mystery Dance Theme" for all music used in sets 50 and 100.
      • Accidentally, all music for sets 200 and 400 followed this theme.
      • All dances except 1 in set 300 followed this theme.
      • Unfortunately, no one guessed the theme this time.
      • Instead of usinga lot of alternate music for doing dances on Halloween (other groups did that) we put the Halloween mood into the program by using only music in a minor scale or modal scale (Mixolydian, Lydian, Phrygian, Dorian, etc.)
      • I think we did this theme a couple of years ago and will try it again sometime.

The Mystery Dance Theme Challenge of Fridays, July 21 and August 4, 2023

    • The Mystery Dance Theme was continued on August 4th from the Friday July 21st dance
      • Barbara Bleisch (St Louis) guessed correctly (on the 21st) that all the dances had movements into the center and out / or forward to the center and back
        • We wanted 1 or 2 or more prize-winners, so the theme continued on August 4 and all hosts (Melissa, Theresa, Barbara-B) included theme dances in their sets
      • Erika Nadas (Chicago, IL), a fellow dancer and college mate of mine, got a 95% noting that all dances had movement into and out of the center - Erika also suggested that the dances seemed to then progress around the circle, but several did not.
      • Don Weeda (Austin, TX) took a look at the list and sent an email guessing that all dances had backing up, but not all went forward - which was only half correct. Besides, Besides, Don did not actually login, so he gets a 50% (and an honorable mention) but no fabulous prizes.

Special VDR Life Celebration Dance Party of July 28, 2023

    • This event was a great success
    • Thanks to all of the 40+ International Folk Dancers and Bulgarian Folk Dancers and Musicians who attended in person and to the 75+ participants who attended virtually

    • We used this occasion to celebrate the lives of several dancers who've had an impact on Chicago International Folk Dancing and who've recently passed away

      • Jeri Lynn Banina Sherby (regular dancer at EDC & the VDR for many years)
      • John Kuo (leader of Balkanske Igre and organizer of the Spring Festival)
      • Mary Garvin (Twin Cities dance leader who taught regularly at DCFF)

 

If the VDR provides you with any amount of enjoyment and entertainment, please take a minute to click this link to review our request for your financial support.

To view various online and offline donation options for the VIRTUAL DANCE ROOM, click this BLUE button

VDR Donation
Door County Folk Festival (DCFF) Information
Door County Folk Festival (DCFF) Followups

Aug 20, 2023 (Sun) - Richard "Dick" Miller Celebration of Life in Middleton, WI

  • Aug 20 (Sun) - 1:30pm-5:00pm CDT
    • Celebrate the Life of Richard (Dick) Miller
    • We invite you to celebrate the life of Richard "Dick" Miller (Middleton, Wisconsin) who passed away on January 7, 2023 while on vacation visiting relatives and friends in Nevada.
    • Dick and Miriam Miller played VERY IMPORTANT ROLES by leading extremely fun and creative Youth/Children's Activities for the Festival.
    • Please visit the "Celebrating the Life of Dick Miller" Page on the DCFF website, where you'll find
    • Click to View Dick Miller Page: https://www.dcff.net/dickmiller/
  • Celebration Day Details
    • Lakeview Park Shelter in Middleton, WI - https://visitmiddleton.com/location/lakeview-park/
    • We have the shelter reserved (indoor/outdoor space)
    • We'll begin gathering at 1:30 pm. with a program starting around 2 pm.
    • The afternoon will include time for tributes, music, games, and a late lunch/early dinner concluding around 5 pm
    • We'd love for you to think of a story or memory to share - Click Link Below!

Jul 7-9, 2023 (Fri-Sun) - In-Person and Online Event - afternoon & evening proceedings were Zoomed

 

We've initiated a GoFundMe Fundraising Drive to support VDR and DCFF activities that runs from 1 March through 30 June 2024.

Click this GREEN button below to participate in the VDR / DCFF GoFundMe Fundraising Drive

VDR Donation
Miscellaneous Stuff

Miscellaneous Stuff

 

EDC Home | DCFF Home

Additional Information - Tel: (847)-846-8139, (773)-634-9381 - -

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