It is Daylight Savings Time!!! Time Travel in the Folk Dance World. We’ll celebrate the daylight savings time change with futuristic time travel from a 19th century point of view. Bill Ogilvie will DJ this lively event, assisted by Kristina Kinsel and John Ramage. For this theme think: “The Victorian Era does science fiction.” This is your chance to modify your folk dance costumes in shockingly historically inaccurate ways. For costume ideas, think of examples from these movies, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and the television series The Wild Wild West.

>>>More steampunk costume hints<<< Oh yeah, for this party, please remember – no weapons of any kind and keep it G rated.

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

Saturday, March 8th
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)

Join us for a fun evening of dancing DJd by Holly Plotner and her assistants, Dee McCandless and Sharon Casteel. Get excited about the upcoming SAFDF! The evening will be peppered with selections from past SAFD Festivals.

Teaching: SAFDF is just around the corner, and we have teaching to help you get in the SAFDF mood. Misi Tsurikov will lead a newcomers’ session with dances that you’ll likely see at the SAFDF parties. Later, Franklin Houston will teach Juta, a dance done by Vlachs from this year’s featured SAFDF country — Serbia.

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

Saturday, March 1st
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)

Join us for a fun evening of dancing DJd by Franklin Houston and his assistants, Lane and Norris Foster Harrell.

Teaching: Holly Plotnerwill kick off the evening with a fun newcomer’s class with the theme “Repertoire Review” – In honor of the upcoming San Antonio Folk Dance Festival, Holly will review dances taught at the last couple of SAFDFs. Later in the evening, Lane and Norris will teach Schottis från Klockarnäs, a mixer from central Sweden.

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

Saturday, February 22nd
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)

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

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!

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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July 13, 2013: AIFD has printed a bunch of business cards. Board members will gladly equip you with your very own stack. Simply ask a Board member at Saturday night dancing. Feel free to distribute them as you bump into people who show interest. If you are so inspired, you can also print your own cards. You can find the template at aifd.cc/business_cards.pdf.