Folk dance is about challenging steps, exotic music, exercise and community

Dance has been a big part of Carol Friedman's life ever since childhood. Though her passion originally was for modern dance, she ultimately fell in love with the exotic rhythms and challenging movements of folk dance.

"I was one of those kids who performed &‘The Nutcracker' in my living room," said Friedman, a Petaluma folk dance instructor. "My background is in modern dance, which I did as a teen. I ultimately got my bachelor's degree in modern dance."

In her early 20s and 30s, Friedman taught modern dance at Santa Rosa Junior College, College of Marin and in private studios before becoming choreographer and coordinator of Mercury Moving Co., a dance troupe that was once a part of Cinnabar Theater.

After taking a break from dance to raise her two children, Friedman became curious about an international folk dance class taught by Carol Hirsh at Santa Rosa Junior College.

"I had done a little bit of folk dancing when I was young, just like everyone else in my generation did," said Friedman. "When I started the dance class with Carol Hirsh, I just fell in love with folk dance."

When Hirsh retired from teaching the class, Friedman took over without hesitation.

"Carol taught the class for 25 years," said Friedman. "When she retired, the college decided not to continue the class. I took over teaching it under the umbrella of the Petaluma Snap-Y Dancers."

The Snap-Y Dancers is a non-profit club with membership in the Folk Dance Federation of California. The organization assists in organizing dance clubs and councils, promotes dance activities generally in Northern California, sponsors festivals, institutes and teacher training, and supports research in dances, music and costumes.

Friedman's folk dance class, which averages about 20 to 25 people, meets every Monday night from 7 to 9:15 p.m. at Hermann Sons Hall. The dances taught include early Balkan, Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish, Macedonian and several other styles. Beginners, as well as more experienced dancers, are welcome.

"I'm excited to say that we are getting newcomers regularly," said Friedman. "It's a great group. They're very warm and welcoming and always happy to see newcomers. It's just a part of the ethos of folk dance that you help out anyone who wants to learn."

Friedman believes the reason for the popularity of folk dance is that it's a form of exercise and fun social activity. There's also some fun music involved with folk dance.

"There's incredible music and rhythms in Balkan music," she said. "There are complex rhythms that are unfamiliar to Western ears, so it's exciting and exhilarating. The other part of folk dance I feel very strongly about is that it's one way to keep both the brain and body healthy by doing an interesting and challenging activity. It combines challenging, intellectual dance patterns and exercise, plus there's the social part. Folk dance is about community. There's something incredibly magical and special when you get together and hold hands with other people and dance in unison."

Friedman added that you don't need a dance partner for folk dance, so there's no pressure of having to bring a partner or being paired with someone. There's also no age requirement or limit.

"You can do this dance at any ability level," said Friedman. "We have people in their 70s and even early 80s in the class. By that same token, we have young people in their 20s folk dancing. There's quite an age spread."

The Snap-Y Dancers host its annual folk dance party from 8 to 11 p.m. April 16 at Hermann Sons Hall. Though there will not be any teaching, the dance is open to anyone who would like to participate, watch or just listen to the music. The featured band is Verna Druzhina, a four-piece Balkan music group featuring Dena Bjornlie on gadulka and vocals, Karen Guggenheim on gaida, Mark Jenkins on percussion and vocals and Jim Oakden on tambura and accordion.

For more information on the dance party, or to learn more about taking a folk dance class, contact Friedman at (415) 663-9512 or visit her blog at www.carolfriedmanfolkdance.blogspot.com.

(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)

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