Nov 2013 - VaNa MaZi was born through a mutual interest in culture and a love for the music of the People (Folk). With a song bank collected through Ian J. Everett and Corinne Zappler's years of travel, they fuse together the music of Greece, Italy, Central Asia, and the Balkans with Gypsy Jazz, Turkish beats, and a pinch of their own American heritage. They strive to perform, arrange, and compose music that challenges the listener to open their ears and experience something new, something ancient, something contradictory even, yet something that is most definitely moving forward through space at a speed that cannot be measured merely in 4/4 time. Filmed at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in 2013.
May 2013 - Debra Gibson's Birthday Party Greek Dancing Part 2
Celebrating Debra's birthday party at the Greek at the Harbor in Ventura, CA on May 11, 2013.
Possibly Luis Goena leading, Gajda, Tupan, Keyboard & Vocal. Video by Steve Davis.
May 2013 - Debra Gibson's Birthday Party Greek Dancing Part 1
Celebrating Debra's birthday party at the Greek at the Harbor in Ventura, CA on May 11, 2013.
John Gibson leading, Zurlas & Tupans. Video by Steve Davis.
February 2015 - Accordion and Saxophone - Moldavian Romanian MusicWe are accordionists… we are folk musicians - Accordion Gala ConcertAccordion by Solomon Soma and Gábor Gera -Bede Péter - saxophoneEndre Papp - violaAndrás Bognár - bassFonó Buda Music Hall, February 20, 2015
August 2014 - Ivan Filcich 90th birthday - Kolo dancing at Cafe Aman (at LADanceFit Studio in Los Angeles, CA) - Kokonjeste Kolo, led by Ivan Filcich at his 90th Birthday Party at Sherry Cochran’s Group
2020 - Christmas Dance Show 2020 - The Tuscon Prunes latest show. This is done without rehearsals and outside with lots of windy weather. It's a long show, so we'll look at a single dance at each viewing.
2011 - "Toreador" Random Act of Culture - Jan 8, 2011 - The Opera Company of Philadelphia performed "The Toreador Song" from Bizet's CARMEN at the city's famed Reading Terminal Market on Saturday, January 8, 2011 for a crowd of surprised and delighted shoppers who responded with a chorus of cheers and a rousing ovation.
2008 - Filipino, Philippines "Dancing Inmates" from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison dancing "Do The Hustle"
2018 The Association of Pontian Rizos dances Titara in the Mill of the Elves
The Magic of Christmas Returns ... In a truly magical place ... in the city of Trikala and in the old "Matsopoulos Mill", the Magic of Christmas comes to life in an impressive way this year as well. From the end of November until the beginning of January, the old chimneys come forward and spread incredible smells. The gears are lubricated, the machines are repaired and they are ready to make as many toys and sweets as they can. The "Elven Mill" is the most impressive example of the development and operation of cultural action by a Local Government Organization in Greece. By common confession today the "Elven Mill" is in many ways (operating days, number of events and activities, promotion, attendance, etc.) the leading event (not just Christmas) in Greece.
Virtual Dance Room Session 164 - Friday, May 12, 2022 [Top_2022] (Warmups 7:00pm / Repertoire Dance Workshop 7:30pm / Dance Party 8:00pm / Discussion 11:00pm-ish) - Central Time
Virtual Dance Room Session 157 - Friday, March 24, 2022 [Top_2022] (VDR Joins the San Antonio Folklife and Dance Festival Friday & Saturday Night Dance Parties - No Regular VDR Dance) - 7:00pm Central Time
Virtual Dance Room Session 149 - Friday, January 27, 2022 [Top_2022] (VDR Broadcasts the Madison Folk Ball Festival Friday & Saturday Night Dance Parties - No Regular VDR Dance) - 7:00pm to 12:00am Central Time
Nov 2013 - VaNa MaZi was born through a mutual interest in culture and a love for the music of the People (Folk). With a song bank collected through Ian J. Everett and Corinne Zappler's years of travel, they fuse together the music of Greece, Italy, Central Asia, and the Balkans with Gypsy Jazz, Turkish beats, and a pinch of their own American heritage. They strive to perform, arrange, and compose music that challenges the listener to open their ears and experience something new, something ancient, something contradictory even, yet something that is most definitely moving forward through space at a speed that cannot be measured merely in 4/4 time. Filmed at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in 2013.
May 2013 - Debra Gibson's Birthday Party Greek Dancing Part 2
Celebrating Debra's birthday party at the Greek at the Harbor in Ventura, CA on May 11, 2013.
Possibly Luis Goena leading, Gajda, Tupan, Keyboard & Vocal. Video by Steve Davis.
May 2013 - Debra Gibson's Birthday Party Greek Dancing Part 1
Celebrating Debra's birthday party at the Greek at the Harbor in Ventura, CA on May 11, 2013.
John Gibson leading, Zurlas & Tupans. Video by Steve Davis.
February 2015 - Accordion and Saxophone - Moldavian Romanian MusicWe are accordionists… we are folk musicians - Accordion Gala ConcertAccordion by Solomon Soma and Gábor Gera -Bede Péter - saxophoneEndre Papp - violaAndrás Bognár - bassFonó Buda Music Hall, February 20, 2015
August 2014 - Ivan Filcich 90th birthday - Kolo dancing at Cafe Aman (at LADanceFit Studio in Los Angeles, CA) - Kokonjeste Kolo, led by Ivan Filcich at his 90th Birthday Party at Sherry Cochran’s Group
2020 - Christmas Dance Show 2020 - The Tuscon Prunes latest show. This is done without rehearsals and outside with lots of windy weather. It's a long show, so we'll look at a single dance at each viewing.
2011 - "Toreador" Random Act of Culture - Jan 8, 2011 - The Opera Company of Philadelphia performed "The Toreador Song" from Bizet's CARMEN at the city's famed Reading Terminal Market on Saturday, January 8, 2011 for a crowd of surprised and delighted shoppers who responded with a chorus of cheers and a rousing ovation.
2008 - Filipino, Philippines "Dancing Inmates" from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison dancing "Do The Hustle"
2018 The Association of Pontian Rizos dances Titara in the Mill of the Elves
The Magic of Christmas Returns ... In a truly magical place ... in the city of Trikala and in the old "Matsopoulos Mill", the Magic of Christmas comes to life in an impressive way this year as well. From the end of November until the beginning of January, the old chimneys come forward and spread incredible smells. The gears are lubricated, the machines are repaired and they are ready to make as many toys and sweets as they can. The "Elven Mill" is the most impressive example of the development and operation of cultural action by a Local Government Organization in Greece. By common confession today the "Elven Mill" is in many ways (operating days, number of events and activities, promotion, attendance, etc.) the leading event (not just Christmas) in Greece.
May 2013 - Debra Gibson's Birthday Party Greek Dancing Part 2
Celebrating Debra's birthday party at the Greek at the Harbor in Ventura, CA on May 11, 2013.
Possibly Luis Goena leading, Gajda, Tupan, Keyboard & Vocal. Video by Steve Davis.
May 2013 - Debra Gibson's Birthday Party Greek Dancing Part 1
Celebrating Debra's birthday party at the Greek at the Harbor in Ventura, CA on May 11, 2013.
John Gibson leading, Zurlas & Tupans. Video by Steve Davis.
Two people trying out a new Macedonian restaurant inadvertently find themselves caught in the middle of a fierce cultural rivalry.
About Key & Peele: Key & Peele showcases the fearless wit of stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as the duo takes on everything from "Gremlins 2" to systemic racism. With an array of sketches as wide-reaching as they are cringingly accurate, the pair has created a bevy of classic characters, including Wendell, the players of the East/West Bowl and President Obama's Anger Translator.
No Virtual Dance Room Session 115 - Friday, June 3, 2022 [Top_2022] (VDR is Merging with Folk Arts Center of New England - Live Music Hybrid Dance Party with the All Girl Band - 7:00pm-9:30pm CDT - 8:00pm-10:30pm EDT)
February 2015 - Accordion and Saxophone - Moldavian Romanian MusicWe are accordionists… we are folk musicians - Accordion Gala ConcertAccordion by Solomon Soma and Gábor Gera -Bede Péter - saxophoneEndre Papp - violaAndrás Bognár - bassFonó Buda Music Hall, February 20, 2015 (oldboy)
February 2015 -We are accordionists… we are folk musicians - Accordion Gala ConcertSolomon SomaZoltán Bobár „Boby“Fonó Buda Music Hall, February 20, 2015 (oldboy)
February 2015 -We are accordionists… we are folk musicians - Accordion Gala ConcertZoltán Bobár „Boby“ - introductionZsolt Barcza - accordionIstván Pál "Bacon" - violinEndre Papp - violaAndrás Bognár - bassFonó Buda Music Hall, February 20, 2015 (oldboy)
February 2015 -We are accordionists… we are folk musicians - Accordion Gala ConcertLajos Pál - accordionPál István Bacon - violinEndre Papp - violaAndrás Bognár - bassFonó Buda Music Hall, February 20, 2015 (oldboy)
2020 - Christmas Dance Show 2020 - The Tuscon Prunes latest show. This is done without rehearsals and outside with lots of windy weather. It's a long show, so we'll look at a single dance at each viewing.
2008 - Filipino, Philippines "Dancing Inmates" from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison dancing "Do The Hustle"
For Set 400 of the VDR dance program for April 8th Barbara Merson's Theme paid a Tribute to and Celebration for Moshe Eskayo who choreographed many dances that became popular in International Folk Dance Circles.
Moshe moved back to Israel in 2020 and passed away on April 5th at the age of 90.
Theme #1 - Most dances in Set 100 had a common characteristic that might be recognizable by many dancers.
Guess the March Set 100 Theme #1 and win a fabulous prize!
Hint #1: Consider the time of year
Hint #2: Two dances in Set 100 do not exactly follow the common characteristic, but they have a commonality to the theme in a different way
Hint #3: Three dances (on 3/11) and two dances (on 3/18) in our illustrious Guest Host's Sets share this common characteristic
Final Hint #4: Look Everywhere on Zoom - Verbal clues (announcements) were done for most dances and visual clues (CHAT & CLOSED CAPTION messages) were provided for all dances in Set 100
The name(s) of the women responsible for these dances were announced before almost every dance.
The CHAT and CLOSED CAPTION windows had the dance names along with name(s) of the women responsible for these dances for almost every dance.
In honor of International Women's Month (March), most March theme dances were introduced to the IFD community by women. The remaining songs/dances were performed by women musicians.
It appears that we had a winner on March 18th - Dierdre Rees (Belmont, MA) says that she said a "WILD GUESS" of WOMEN on 3/18, but did not put her guess in CHAT, so it seems as though Dierdra has won the marvelous prize this time around.
Special Theme #2 - Dances in Set 500 followed the theme of Celebrating and Honoring the Dance Legacy of Atanas Kolarovski
Atanas passed away at the age of 94 on March 3rd at home with his family in Macedonia
We did 29 Atanas dances in our "Set 500 Atanas Dance Marathon" on March 11th
We did 5 more Atanas dances at the beginning of Set 500 on March 18th
May 2013 -Debra Gibson's Birthday Party Greek Dancing Part 2
Celebrating Debra's birthday party at the Greek at the Harbor in Ventura, CA on May 11, 2013.
Possibly Luis Goena leading, Gajda, Tupan, Keyboard & Vocal. Video by Steve Davis.
Virtual Dance Room Session 102 - Friday, March 4, 2022 - DCFF Mardi Gras Edition - All Live Music Party [Top_2022] (Sound Checks/Warmups/Music 6:00pm / Dance Party 7:00pm / Discussion 1:00am-ish)
Half of Catherine's dances (Set 200) followed the theme (by chance)
Half of Nairy's/Terry's dances (Set 300) followed the theme (by chance)
All theme dances shared a common musical quality
Listen to the music!
Final Hint: All dances/songs employed a common musical instrument
No one guessed the theme this time around - This means that the prize for guessing the next theme will be doubled!
Theme was that all dances in Set 100 and 500 for the past two weeks used the common musical instrument known as the Human Voice - All songs played for theme dances were vocals!
Virtual Dance Room Session 93 - Friday, December 31, 2021 No VDR Dance [Top_2021] No VDR Dance - Happy New Year!
No Videos Viewed
Virtual Dance Room Session 92 - Friday, December 24, 2021 Marathon Holiday Dance Party - 7:00pm to 1:00am CST [Top_2021] (Holiday Party Runs 7:00pm-1:00am / Possible Discussion after 1:00am-ish)
August 2014 - Ivan Filcich 90th birthday - Kolo dancing at Cafe Aman (at LADanceFit Studio in Los Angeles, CA) - Kokonjeste Kolo, led by Ivan Filcich at his 90th Birthday Party at Sherry Cochran’s Group
Virtual Dance Room Session 76 - Friday, September 3, 2021 - 7:30pm to 11:00pm CST [Top_2021] (Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Dance Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
August 2014 - Ivan Filcich 90th birthday - Kolo dancing at Cafe Aman (at LADanceFit Studio in Los Angeles, CA) - Kokonjeste Kolo, led by Ivan Filcich at his 90th Birthday Party at Sherry Cochran’s Group
Virtual Dance Room Session 75 - Friday, August 27, 2021 - 7:30pm to 11:00pm CST [Top_2021] (Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Dance Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
1942 - TO BE OR NOT TO BE, Ernst Lubitsch, 1942 - Heil Hitler! - During the Nazi occupation of Poland, an acting troupe becomes embroiled in a Polish soldier's efforts to track down a German spy.
Virtual Dance Room Session 68 - Friday, July 9-10, 2021 - Door County Folk Festival [Top_2021] (Fri/Sat Party 6:30pm to 3:50am - Sat Workshops 11:00am to 7:00pm am CDT -Sat/Sun Party 7:00pm to 5:50am )
August 2014 - Ivan Filcich 90th birthday - Kolo dancing at Cafe Aman (at LADanceFit Studio in Los Angeles, CA) - Kokonjeste Kolo, led by Ivan Filcich at his 90th Birthday Party at Sherry Cochran’s Group
Virtual Dance Room Session 66 - Friday, June 25, 2021 - 7:30pm to 11:00pm CST [Top_2021] (Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Dance Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
August 2014 - Ivan Filcich 90th birthday - Kolo dancing at Cafe Aman (at LADanceFit Studio in Los Angeles, CA) - Kokonjeste Kolo, led by Ivan Filcich at his 90th Birthday Party at Sherry Cochran’s Group
Virtual Dance Room Session 63 - Friday, June 4, 2021 - 7:00pm to 1:00am-ish CST [Top_2021] (June Camp Dance Party Starts 7:00 / Greek Dance Workshop Review with Yannis Economou 9:00pm-ish / Party Continues / Possible Discussion 1:00am-ish)
Tombo Koyama - Kobe YMCA Folk Dance Club - YouYube of our party, 15 minutes excerpts. Kobe, Japan YMCA before relocation many years ago. First it's very crowded in a studio, so we moved to a gym later.
Virtual Dance Room Session 62 - Friday, May 28, 2021 - 7:30pm to 11:00pm CST [Top_2021] (Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Dance Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Greek Dance Workshop with Yannis Economou 9:00pm / Discussion 11:00-ish)
July 2011 - Bulgarian folk dancing at birthday party for Orelin in St. Dimitar church in Brampton, Ontario, Canada - Bulgrian Birthday Medley - Bulgarian Birthday Celebration • Български Рожден ден празнуване
We played Video for Monthly VDR Birthday Celebration and danced along fwith the video
Four (4) Dances: Pravo Trakiysko Horo, Graovsko, Bachkovsko, Pravo Shopsko Horo
Sufi Muslims from Takijistan (next to Afghanistan) The ritual is Zikar Atagi (aka Dikar, Dhikr, Dhakir and similar transliterations) and is common among Sufi Muslims - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhikr
Virtual Dance Room Session 53 - Friday, March 26, 2021 - 7:30pm to 11:00pm CST [Top_2021]
(Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Dance Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
2004 - A group for spring folklore in the village of Avren, led by Yanka Radeva. Holiday of the municipality of Avren 2004 - Folk Dances the Vaikovtsi people, a sub-group of Bulgarians from the Varna Region in Northern Bulgaria with its own unique culture, traditions, costumes and dances
Virtual Dance Room Session 52 - Friday, March 19, 2021 [Top_2021]
(VDR Joins with World Spring Camp Friday Party)
Tombo Koyama - Kobe YMCA Folk Dance Club - YouYube of our party, 15 minutes excerpts. Kobe, Japan YMCA before relocation many years ago. First it's very crowded in a studio, so we moved to a gym later.
2016 -12/31/2016 - Leigh Bristol Holden and Paul Collins at the Ethnic Dance Chicago-Evanston Monday Night Folk Dancers Roaring Twenties New Year's Eve Pot Luck Dinner and Dance Party - a dance to the 1922 popular tune "All Muddled Up"
Virtual Dance Room Session 48 - Friday, February 19, 2021 - 7:15pm to 11:00pm CST [Top_2021]
(Warmups 7:00 / Peruvian Dance Workshop with Ruben Pachas 7:15 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
Tombo Koyama - Kobe YMCA Folk Dance Club - YouYube of our party, 15 minutes excerpts. Kobe, Japan YMCA before relocation many years ago. First it's very crowded in a studio, so we moved to a gym later.
Virtual Dance Room Session 47 - Friday, February 12, 2021 - 7:30pm to 1:00am CST [Top_2021]
(Warmups 7:00 / DCFF Mardi Gras Edition - All Live Music Party - 7:30 to 1:00am / Discussion 1:00am-ish)
Tombo Koyama - Kobe YMCA Folk Dance Club - YouYube of our party, 15 minutes excerpts. Kobe, Japan YMCA before relocation many years ago. First it's very crowded in a studio, so we moved to a gym later.
Virtual Dance Room Session 46 - Friday, February 5, 2021 - 7:30pm to 11:00pm CST [Top_2021]
(Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
Sufi Muslims from Takijistan (next to Afghanistan) The ritual is Zikar Atagi (aka Dikar, Dhikr, Dhakir and similar transliterations) and is common among Sufi Muslims - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhikr
Tombo Koyama - Kobe YMCA Folk Dance Club - YouYube of our party, 15 minutes excerpts. Kobe YMCA before relocation many years ago. First it's very crowded in a studio, so we moved to a gym later.
1943 - Best Version (Full Dance Routines) Bill Robinson, Kathryn Dunham Dance Troupe, Nicholas Brothers, Cab Calloway Orchestra - "The Jumpin Jive" from the movie Stormy Weather
1941 - Better Version French Cut - Slam Stewart (Bass), Slim Gaillard (Piano, Guitar, Vocal), Rex Stewart (Trumpet), Elmer Fane (Clarinet), Jap Jones (Trombone), CP Jonstone (Drums), Herbert "Whitey" White (Whitey's) Lindy Hoppers - a.k.a. the Harlem Congaroo Dancers
Virtual Dance Room Session 45 - Friday, January 29, 2021 - 7:30pm to 1:00am CST [Top_2021]
(Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
2013 IAFNA (International Facilitators Conference of North America) Conference - Orlando, FL - Paul Collins & Mara Kins perform Peruvian Marinera "Ciudad del Lago"
2014 - 4th Annual Bulgarian “Verea” Festival - Ethnic Dance Chicago Group performance - Western Bulg: Porunceasca, Thracian: Pravo Traikijsko & Trite Puti
2019 - Tai Chi Fan Holiday Park at a Chinese New Year Celebration. She has performed regular Chinese dances as well in a Chinese dance performing group using the big silk, flowy kind of fans which of course is a totally different thing and is dancing. It's Kung Fu , so it is a martial art, but more on the artistic side than the "martial" side" and the fan that is used in Kung Fu Fan is just as large, but makes a loud snapping percussive sound as opposed to the relative silent slik fans that are used in Chinese dancing.
Virtual Dance Room Session 42 - Friday, January 8, 2021 - 7:30pm to 1:00am CST [Top_2021]
(Warmups 7:00 / Repertoire Workshop 7:30 / Dance Party 8:00 / Discussion 11:00-ish)
1942 - Nicholas Brothers, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tex Beneke, Paula Kelley and the Modernaires, Cesar Romero, Jackie Gleason in "I've Got a Gal From Kalamazoo", from the movie Orchestra Wives (HQ Video)
1943 - Best Version (Full Dance Routines) Bill Robinson, Kathryn Dunham Dance Troupe, Nicholas Brothers, Cab Calloway Orchestra - "The Jumpin Jive" from the movie Stormy Weather
2020 - December 19th - CORONAVIRUS SHOO! - Dragostin Folk National Bulgarian Voices
Virtual Dance Room Session 41 - Friday, January 1, 2021 - 7:30pm to 12:00am CST [Top_2021]
(Warmups 7:00 / All Live Music Dance Party 7:30 / Join L.I.F.E. Balkan Dancers All Oldies Party 10:00)
1941 - Better Version French Cut - Slam Stewart (Bass), Slim Gaillard (Piano, Guitar, Vocal), Rex Stewart (Trumpet), Elmer Fane (Clarinet), Jap Jones (Trombone), CP Jonstone (Drums), Herbert "Whitey" White (Whitey's) Lindy Hoppers - a.k.a. the Harlem Congaroo Dancers
1941 - Better Version French Cut - Slam Stewart (Bass), Slim Gaillard (Piano, Guitar, Vocal), Rex Stewart (Trumpet), Elmer Fane (Clarinet), Jap Jones (Trombone), CP Jonstone (Drums), Herbert "Whitey" White (Whitey's) Lindy Hoppers - a.k.a. the Harlem Congaroo Dancers
Virtual Dance Room Session 36 - Thursday-Sunday, November 26-29, 2020 - Texa-Kolo Fest [Top_2020]
(Events All 4 Days)
The Virtual Dance Room joins with the Texa-Kolo Fest Party on Friday November 27 2020 to support Thanksgiving Weekend's Texa-Kolo Fest - a Collaboration between the Texas International Folk Dance Camp and the California Kolo Festival
Virtual Dance Room Session 35 - Friday, November 20, 2020 - 7:30pm to 1:30am CDT [Top_2020]
(Holiday Dance Party with All Live Music until 1:30am - Open Discussion 1:30am until ...)
Virtual Dance Room Session 16 - Friday, July 10, 2020 -- Door County Folk Festival Online - 12:00pm to 3:00am CDT
(Workshops/Seinars 1:30pm to 6:00pm / Dance Party 7:00pm to 12:00am / After Party 12:00am to 3:00am) [Top_2020]
