"Ajdes of March" Ann Arbor's Annual Balkan Dance and Music Night next Sunday

[Rick King]

In case you missed it, here's a mail from Doug Allen about next Sunday's live Balkan music event. Thanks to Doug and his band Ajde Aman for setting this up!! It's going to be a night for folk dancers with a wide variety of dances (not just one or two all night long), played by top quality musicians!! Some things to know:

• The slavic word "ajde" means something like "let's go" and is pronounced "ayday".
• March 29, from 5:00 - 10:00. THREE bands!!! Link to the playlist on Youtube below.
• Zal Gaz Grotto:  2070 W Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, (734)663-1202.
• $25 advance, $35 at the door. You can pay with VENMO. If you can't do VENMO, get $25 to someone who can (like me, Rick King) and they can pay in advance for you.
• Drinks will be available but kitchen is closed. You can bring food in.

Details in Doug's mail below.

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Just a reminder that Ann Arbor 's Annual Balkan Dance and Music Night, Ajdes of March, is one week away! 

We have been practicing so much and are ready to play for you!

SO JOIN US for a night of live music, drinks and lots of dancing.
HELP DANCE THIS DAMN WINTER AWAY!

PROGRAM
The dance music program will feature popular dance tunes from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, N. Macedonia, Serbia, Armenia, Turkey, and Roma traditions.

Doors open at 5pm. Live music starts at 5:30 pm. After the last band's performance, all musicians who are still standing will return to play and sing a few numbers together for the final dances. Everyone is welcome to sing along. 

Many of the dances are done in a line and are easy to learn. Not a dancer? Not a problem; the Zal Gaz Grotto has plenty of room to sit, watch and listen. Grab a table with friends and enjoy the evening.

DANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY!
There will be plenty of dances you can easily follow without knowing them beforehand, but if you’d like to dig a little deeper, go to https://aactmad.org/ and HERE, and here is a youtube playlist with some of dances/songs we are doing. 

THE PERFORMERS
MEMBERS OF VESELBA starts us off 5:30pm, playing Bulgarian and Macedonian.
AJDE AMAN SET ONE, THEN JOINED BY ERIC SCHWEIZER ON CLARINET, DALIA KROPF ON VOCALS AND MARY ZYSK ON PERCUSSION for SET TWO (Pan balkan!)
MENSUR HATIC (monster accordionist from St. Louis), DONNY CINDRIC (KEYBOARDS), lots of Kolos and Bosnian love songs!
End of the night all musicians play/sing/dance some LESNO

SMALL CHILDREN
Please be responsible for any small children attending with you. Children are welcome to dance, partake of the and participate in the event. We need your help in assuring that they refrain from running in the building, crossing the dance floor during dances, and disrupting the activities of the other guests. It’s a good idea to bring something for them to do when they’re not dancing. Please make sure your youngsters are safe and under your guidance at all times.

FOOD
UPDATE: The restauarant is closed that night!!! Feel free to bring your own into the club. Lots of choices within walking distance or have food delivered. If you are interested in preparing food and bringing it in for sale, please contact doug allen.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
If you’d like to exchange a couple of hours of work for free admission, we have a number of volunteer work-exchange positions, such as shifts doing setup, tear-down, box office, and more. Please text douglas allen at 734.260.0857 if you are interested.

JOIN US!
Join us in celebrating Eastern European traditions of live music, dancing, and food. This is one of Ann Arbor's most exciting music and dance events and, for Balkan music and dance aficionados, THE event of the year — and it doesn’t happen every year! Your buying tickets in advance really helps us plan. Hope to see you there!

PLEASE GET ADVANCED TICKETS!
ALL PROCEEDS & TIPS GO TO THE MUSICIANS!

FOR TICKETS USE VENMO go to: https://account.venmo.com/u/douglaslaneallen

NOTE: ADVANCED PRICE TICKET SALES VIA VENMO WILL CLOSE THE DAY OF BUT SOME TICKETS WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.

Adult - $25 advance, $35 at the door
Students over 12 - $15 advance, $20 at the door
Children 6-12 - $10 advance, $15 at the door
Children under 6 - Free!

Write your name or names of the people in your group on the memo line to reserve your tickets. Please show confirmation from venmo at the door for entry. Advanced tickets not sold the day of! There are also oppurtunities for helping in exchange for a ticket. 4 Digit confirmation: 0857.

Text 734.260.0857 if you need anything, or can't do Venmo. Hope to see you there. Thanks for spreading the word!

PARKING
Parking in the back of the building. If lot is full use park across the street.

FOR MORE INFO FOLLOW @AJDEAMAN

Here is a link to the FB event page.  Please share it and this email to others you think might be interested.  

Hope to see you there.