Dancing at the Festival
You can dance all day and into the night at this year's festival. Start the day by enjoying Chinese Martial Arts dancing and Tahitian dancing at 10:00 a.m. The dance workshops start at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 6 p.m.
Of course, you can always dance to the live music at various venues around the festival. New this year: We'll have a dance floor at the Main Stage! You'll want to get to the festival early for swing dancing to Le Chat Lunatique at 11:00 a.m., and be sure to head back to the main stage at 4:00 p.m. for The Wilders and some honky-tonkin' old-time music.
If you feel like dance jammin', you can join in the Band/Dance Scramble, with planning, rehearsal, and name creation from 5-6 p.m. and performance from 6-7 p.m.
Take a very quick dinner break and head back for more dancing from 7:30 until 11 p.m. With three evening dances, you're sure to find something you'll enjoy!
Dance Workshops
Here's our 2008 dance workshop schedule, with two dance venues plus a little extra. Here's your chance to try all kinds of different dancing styles. Thanks to Bob Baker for organizing the dance workshops.
| Time | Dance Tent | Dance Building |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 | Argentine Tango You too can be smooth and saucy – tango style! Lead by Jenny De Bouzek and The Tango Club of Albuquerque |
Scandinavian Learn wonderful and stylish dances from Sweden and Norway. Lead by Craig Olson |
| 12:00 | International Folk Taste the variety of music and dance from around the world. With Charlene Baker and Carol McGinn |
Clogging Foot stomping at its best. Found around the world but the state dance of Kentucky and North Carolina. Lead by Ed Hooten |
| 12:00 | Demo Stage (Indian Arts Building): Irish Step Demonstration and Workshop Grab your lunch and come see these lovely young ladies demonstrate their skill. They will teach you how! Lead by Bev Coleman |
|
| 1:00 | Enchantment Scottish Country Learn and enjoy the dances of Scotland. Kilts not required! Lead by Kenneth Armstrong |
Balkan Suddenly you are in the Balkans with many dance styles. Music by Teshka Vremena Band. Lead by Patsy Gregory |
| 1:00 | Demo Stage (Indian Arts Building): Farfesha Belly Dance You can do it too! Lead by Michelle Morrison |
|
| 2:00 | Irish Ceili “kay-lee”: An Irish “hoedown” with bridges, swings, and turns just for you. Lead by Norita Callahan |
Appalachian Featuring the Kentucky Running Set and others. Lead by Wendy Graham with music by Gary Papenhagen and friends. |
| 3:00 | Hawaiian Hula Hula, the living art and soul of Hawaii. Experience the grace and beauty of the Hula. Lead by Cindi Heffner |
Square Dance Learn a truly American folk dance style. Do-si-do and away you go! Lead by Kris Jensen with music by the Virginia Creepers. |
| 4:00 | Klezmer Traditional Eastern European Jewish Dancing with Rikud. With Nahalot Shalom Community Band |
Contra Dance First timers welcome: Wendy will talk you through the dances so you can’t miss. Lead by Wendy Graham and Hey! |
| 5:00 | Country Western Swing Learn easy basic steps that you can use at the Barn dance tonight with SXSW. No dance experience necessary. Lead by Susan and Gary Kellogg |
African Dance A rhythm based, energetic dance style. This will be followed by an African drum workshop at 6 pm. Lead by Laryea Addy |
Evening dancing for everybody
Variety Barn Dance "under the stars" in the Dance Tent, 7:30-11PM, sponsored in part by Albuquerque Swing & Country Dance Club. Music by local favorites Michael Hearne and South by Southwest.
and
NM FolkMADS Contra Dance in the Dance Building. Music by the Albuquerque Megaband! Beginners instruction at 7:30 PM, Dance from 8-11 PM.and
African Dance with African Sounds.