The BASH is happening soon!
Jean Hertzberg
Balkan Bash 2025
The Balkan folk dance event of the year is coming right up! Saturday November 22, 5:00 to 11:00
https://www.handstamp.com/e/2025-boulder-balkan-bash-bvs7dc8s for more info and tickets ($30 in advance, $40 at the door)
Potluck food, and amazing, energizing, emotion-evoking music from excellent, world-class musicians.
I'll be teaching dances specific to the Bash for the next two weeks at BIFD, in Sodal Hall at the Avalon, Friday Nov. 14 and 21. Easy beginner dances from 6:30 to 7:30, and then slightly more advanced dances 7:30-8:30, mostly village style, without a lot of choreography to remember. All lessons free (except BIFD members should pay as usual).
THE PERFORMERS
The Bitovniks 5:00-5:45
James Hoskins (gadulka) Mary Ann Sausette and Steve Mullins (tamburas), Varol Saatcioglu (gajda), Amy Self (kaval), Jesse Manno (tapan)
Sweet Bulgarian village dance music: pravo, daichovo, ruchenitsa, Chichovata, pajdushko, Buchimish, Sandansko, chetvorno, Yambolskata, kopanitsa
Yes, you can eat while they are playing, but you will want to dance too! Work up an appetite!
Planina 5:50-6:35
If you've never seen them don't miss this chance! They are a group of singers and instrumentalists from the Denver-Boulder area specializing in traditional and contemporary folk music from Eastern Europe. They sing songs from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Georgia, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Lithuania, Turkey and Ukraine, and Jewish and Rom (Gypsy) traditions from some of those areas. Their Bash set will be curated from their danceable repertoire.
Gaitani (dance performance) 6:40-6:55 and 8:45-9:00
This is an energetic, precise and expressive traditional Bulgarian dance troupe from Denver. Amazing to watch! And a good time to catch your breath and a bite to eat.
Barbelfish 7:00-7:45
Julie Lancaster (accordian, tambura and vocals), Loren Uecker (vocals, riq), James Hoskins (gadulka, cello, bouzouki, vocals) , Steve Mullins (tambura, guitar, mandolin), Amy Self (kaval, vocals), Jesse Manno (tapan and doumbek, vocals), and special guest Paul Brown (bass).
Mishmish 7:55-8:40
MishMish brings an electrifying Balkan-Arab fusion to Colorado. Their members bring together musical backgrounds in Klezmer, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Samba. So fun!
Annie Aqua (fiddle), Florin Alexandrescu (accordion), Corey Garretson (bass), Rose Fuller (vox), Adam Loudermilk (tapan/percussion), Eric Alterman-percussion (darbuka, riq, snare)
Sherefe 9:05-9:50
Traditional Greek and Turkish music for dancing. My heart is here.
Julie Lancaster (accordian, vocals), James Hoskins (gadulka, cello, bouzouki, zurna, vocals) , Dexter Payne (clarinet, sax, ney), Jesse Manno (bouzouki, laouto, saz, vocals), and guests Paul Brown (bass) and Jonathan Kipp (doumbek and tapan).
Some choreographed (but easy) dances: Mavilim, Kalenin Dibinde and Sofka (ok, a little advanced), plus village dances: halay, karsilamas, zonaradhikos (pravo), tsifitelli and zebekiko (both freeform), tsamiko, rumba (Misirlou/kritiko sytro), kalamatiano (syrto).
Gora Gora Orkestar 9:55-10:45
Gora Gora Orkestar brings the sounds of the Old World to the Rocky Mountains performing high-energy Balkan and Klezmer music. Formed in 2009, this 11-piece brass band is dedicated to making the audience dance with driving rhythms and innovative approaches to the traditional music of Eastern Europe. Since its formation, Gora Gora has focused on learning this music with attention and authenticity, and its members have had the chance to learn from experts in the field at events such as Balkan Camp and KlezKanada.
After Gora Gora 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, with lyrics provided.
I'll be the MC for the event. See you there!!!
Biz