Enjoy a great evening of folk dancing DJ’d by Mike Revesz. Mike will be assisted by John Ramage.

Deborah Robertson is leaving us for the mountains of North Carolina. We will be dancing the AIFD traditional farewell pillow dance in her honor. Come wish her well on her journey!!

Teaching: Misi Tsurikov will lead another enjoyable and satisfying newcomers’session starting at 7:30 p.m. Then, don’t miss the rare treat you’ve been asking for — the fabulous Rikki Nicolae continues her teaching of Chef! Finally, look for a review of Rozelaar, the Dutch waltz mixer taught last week by Misi.

For more information and other neat stuff, check out this week’s newsletter.

Saturday, July 19th
7:30-10:45 pm
$5 at the door 17 & older. 16 & under free.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Hancock Recreation Center (HRC)

Enjoy a great evening of folk dancing DJ’d by Holly Plotner. Holly will be assisted by Dee McCandless.

Teaching: Ease into another great dance evening by coming right at 7:30 p.m. for a newcomers’ session led by Misi Tsurikov. Then, look for one last teaching from SAFDF 2014 — Rozelaar, a lovely waltz-time mixer introduced by Sanna Longden and taught at AIFD by Misi. It will be our only dance from the Netherlands (so far)!

For more information and other neat stuff, check out this week’s newsletter.

Saturday, July 12th
7:30-10:45 pm
$5 at the door 17 & older. 16 & under free.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Hancock Recreation Center (HRC)

Come celebrate Independence Day with an evening of great dancing, including music provided by La Strada!!. The United States has, at times, been called a “melting pot” where people from all different cultures live side-by-side. Feel free to glorify our national diversity by wearing multi-ethnic costumes. AIFD is providing lemonade and watermelon. Please bring light refreshments to share. This fun evening of dancing will be DJd by Sharon Casteel. Sharon will be assisted by Brenda Benton

Teaching: Come at 7:30 p.m. as usual for enjoyable and satisfying dances taught during newcomers’ session by Misi Tsurikov.

Suggestions for multi-ethnic costumes to celebrate the good ole’ US of A:

1. Wear a costume from another country (besides the USA) that shares red, white, and blue national colors. 2. Wear elements that represent your ethnic heritage. Multiple elements encouraged. 3. Represent any 2 or more countries on your person. How many countries (continents) can you represent?

For more information and other neat stuff, check out this week’s newsletter.

Saturday, July 5th
7:30-10:45 pm
$5 at the door 17 & older. 16 & under free.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Hancock Recreation Center (HRC)

Congratulations to RosieLee Salinas for being elected to the new 2014-2015 AIFD Board of Trustees. RosieLee will replace Dee McCandless as secretary. Dee will remain on the Board as the carry-over member from the preceding Board – a position established in the Bylaws to ensure continuity in the management of AIFD. Mike Revesz, who served in this role last year, will be leaving the Board. The remainder of last year’s Board will continue in their current roles on the new Board: Iola Hallock (President), Brenda Benton (Vice President), Franklin Houston (Program Director), Misi Tsurikov (Teaching Director), and Michel Breger (Treasurer). Franklin Houston will also continue as registered agent and Bill Ogilvie will continue as webmaster and newsletter editor. THANKS to the outgoing and incoming Boards.

Old World Winter Wonderland Ball… what a beautiful, fun, happy, magical night! Congratulations to all of us for yet another AIFD event “for the ages”. It looks like all the planning and preparation paid off! If I believe my eyes and the sign-in book, we had a perfect turnout — enough people for high energy and good dancing, but not so much that we crowded the band or stumbled over each other. And oh, the magic of dancing to great live music, with lights reflecting in the floor as if it were an ice rink. I was impressed by the entire evening, but a few moments stand out especially… the magnificent music by Homegrown Contra Band, Iola’s jaw-dropping selection of winter-wonderland photos (which kept distracting me — “ooh, which one will come next?”) and bell videos, and the costumes on so many of our friends (including us).

And then there was the afterparty! We haven’t had one in years, and this one resumed the tradition in a grand way. The entrance through that lighted arch that evoked J.R.R. Tolkien in my mind somehow… a gorgeous wintry backyard with lots of lights, a fireplace, the fabulous dance deck… ribs and mulled wine… more dancing and socializing until 1 a.m… and perfect weather! Thrilling all around. I am deeply grateful to Carol, Genevieve, Jay, and all their family for welcoming us.

What a great way to close out 2013 and usher in 2014. I’m very proud of all of us. Well done, dear friends.

Now, I find myself feeling like the abbreviation of our event — OWWW :) I am “Texas Camp Day 3″ tired, and looking forward to resting and recovering from our wild ride. Thanks again to you… and, as they’d say in Germany, a good slide into the New Year for you (”Guten Rutsch”)

- Misi Tsurikov

More pictures here (Thanks Michel and Misi).

Congratulations to Texas Camp Co-chairs Genevieve Kent, Jay Elbaor, and the entire Texas Camp staff and volunteers for the extremely successful 66th Annual Texas Camp… and … Misi Tsurikov and Anne Alexander for receiving Texas Hall of Fame awards… and …

to the folk dancers recognized as part of TIFD’s 2013 “All Star Team”:
Madeline Brock, Austin
Franklin Houston, Austin
Dena Houston, Austin
Chuck Roth, Austin
Misi Tsurikov, Austin
Jack Alley. OKC
Lissa Bengtson, San Antonio
Chris Broad, Houston
Alice Byrd, OKC
John Clement, Houston
Emily Clement, Houston
Gary Diggs, Albuquerque
Jane Diggs, Albuquerque
Nelda Drury, San Antonio
Scott Gordon, Santa Fe
David Kauer, OKC
Jo Loyd, Tulsa
Carolyn Mills, Los Alamos
Elaine Moczygemba, San Antonio
Rene’e Park, San Antonio
Beverley Rapp, OKC
Jackie Rickel, Tulsa
George Rollow, San Antonio
Julie Schmitt, El Paso & Las Cruces
Susie Thennes, Dallas
Ada Young, Houston

The Austin International Folk Dancers meet almost every Saturday Night (7-11PM) at the Hancock Recreation Center, 811 E 41st St, in Austin Texas.

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Everyone is welcome at AIFD, we are kid-friendly and our dancers come from all walks of life. We ask for a $5 donation to cover room rental from those 17 and up (where else can you have three hours of fun for that low a price these days?).

No partner is needed, and dancers of every skill level are welcome.

Our repertoire includes line dances, couples dances, and mixers. Folk dancing is a great social event and wonderful exercise.

We are often having intermediate teaching sessions and other special events! Please check our Teaching/Programming page or the Calendar for more information on upcoming events. Or feel free to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for up to date information on what is happening at AIFD as well as information on fun dance events all over Austin and beyond!

Typical Saturday night schedule:

7:00-7:30 pm	Equipment Setup – please come help out.
7:30-8:00 pm	Teaching and walk throughs.
8:00-9:30 pm	Request dancing.
9:30-9:45 pm	Contra / announcements.
9:45-10:30 pm	Request dancing.
10:30-10:45 pm	Clean up.

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Are you CPR/AED certified?Safety First! All dancers should know where the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is located at Hancock. Even if you are not certified to operate the device, you are encouraged to become familiar with its location next to the attendants desk. In the event of an emergency you could save a life simply by retrieving it for the emergency responder. If you are certified to operate the AED please let the Board know. The Board will not keep an official list, but would like to know who to turn to in the event of an emergency. Thanks!

Texas School for the Deaf: In response to a request to AIFD from the Texas School for the Deaf, on Friday, May 23rd, Bill Ogilvie taught Turkish dances to several K-5th graders as part of their International Day.

With the music turned up high and several teachers joining in, the students really engaged in the lively and simple dancing.

Two 30 minute dance sessions were taught: first one to 3rd – 5th graders, second to K-2nd.

Most of the kids and several teachers jumped in and moved with the music, if not with the dance. To help get the feel of the beat, some kids would put a hand on the chest of another child or jumped on stage and put a hand on the speaker.

The event coordinator said that this was a new and fun experience for many of the children, and even some of the staff.