International Folk Dance Association   of University City presents . . .
	Past Event Page  •  IFDA Home Page

Steve Kotansky
in a workshop on 
Gypsy and Village Dances from the Balkans
with live music provided by 
Édessa

March 9 - 11, 2001
University City (St. Louis), Missouri

Move to the wonderful Balkan rhythms that have inspired new bands in Europe as well as the United States.  The patch of land connecting Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Albania has produced a rich tradition of village and urban music and dance with cross-fertilization from Turkish and Rom (Gypsy) music.  This is an opportunity to learn dances from one of the greatest teachers working today, with one of the best bands available playing all of your dance favorites.  Many of these line dances can be done by those with no prior experience.  No partners are needed.

Schedule and Prices

A weekend package is available for $50 including the two Saturday meals, or $35 without the meals.  Both packages include all workshop sessions and the Saturday night party as well as a syllabus.  For those who prefer not to buy the package, individual sessions and the party may be paid for at the door (see schedule for prices).  Meals may also be ordered individually.  Meal reservations (individual or in a package) must be received no later than Saturday, March 3.  You may use the registration form to make reservations.

A 20% discount on weekend packages, and on individual payments at the door, is available for attendees of age 10-18.  Children under 10 are free but must be accompanied by a parent.  A limited number of scholarships are available for IFDA members; call Barbara Uhlemann at 314-726-5838 to apply.

About the Teacher and Musicians

Steve Kotansky was raised in California, where he danced with the prestigious Aman Folk Ensemble after finishing high school.  Sojourning in Germany for over 7 years, he worked with ethnic communities in Munich while teaching dance and performing, and took advantage of his proximity to Balkan and eastern European countries to pursue his interest in the the dances of those regions.  He also lived in Bucovina, Romania for a while, learning the local folklore.  In the winter of 1979-80, Steve returned to give his first workshops in the United States, and has since taught at every major North American festival and camp.  Steve is both a fantastic dancer and a highly respected teacher, due as much to his infectious energy and enthusiasm as to his knowledge of a vast repertoire of dances and styles.  This will be his fourth time teaching in St. Louis.

Édessa is a Balkan dance band based in California which includes the following musicians:

Dan Auvil (doumbeléki, daoúli, defi):  Dan was first exposed to Greek music as a college student in the San Francisco Bay Area and became interested in the new melodies and foreign instruments.  He was especially drawn to the large two-headed drum known as the daoúli.  He met George Chittenden at these events, and soon they were playing live music for a small dance group.  Over the years his skill and reputation have grown and he is known as a "dancers" drummer.  Dan teaches at the annual Balkan Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino, California.

George Chittenden (clarinet, saxophone, gaida, zourna):  George has been playing Balkan and Near Eastern music since the mid-1970s, having previously become familiar with the music through his experience as a dancer and performer.  He has studied music extensively abroad, focusing primarily on regional dance music of northern Greece and Anatolian Turkey.  This has included traveling to remote corners of both countries to experience the social celebrations in which music plays a central role, as well as learning regional styles from both rural and professional musicians.  George performs regularly for ethnic communities and for folk music and dance events throughout the United States, and has also toured abroad.  He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Lise Liepman and plays in two bands: Ziyiá, a traditional Greek dance ensemble featuring regional instruments, and Édessa, known for playing high-energy dance music of the southern Balkans.

Ari Langer (violin):  As a classically-trained electric violinist, Ari has been involved in an eclectic range of musical worlds and composition during his life.  After graduating from Evergreen State College with a degree in musical composition and production, Ari toured Europe as a violinist with the Irish musical group Draiocht (on the Shananchie label).  After moving to San Francisco in 1994, Ari produced music with the quirky underground dance favorite Voice Farm, played sessions on ambient/world music albums released on Six Degrees / Island Records, and has immersed himself in Balkan music with Édessa.  Ari composes music for Film and Corporate Videos.  His work has been heard on films shown on the Independent Film Channel, Bravo!, and Atom.com.

Lise Liepman (santoúri, baglamá, accordion):  Lise began her involvement with Balkan music in 1976 in the vibrant dance scene of the San Francisco Bay Area.  She was a member and director of the Westwind International Folk Ensemble for many years.  At a Balkan music and dance camp, Lise first heard the sound of the santoúri (Greek hammered dulcimer) and was hooked.  She began studying santoúri with the Philadelphia-based musician Yiannis Roussos.  She and her husband George Chittenden moved to Athens, Greece, where she continued her studies with the master musician Tasos Dhiakogiorgis.  Lise plays santoúri, accordion, and baglama with George and Dan in the bands Ziyiá and Édessa, and has toured internationally with the band Rebetiki Parea.  She has taught santoúri at Balkan music workshops on both the west and east coasts as well as in Hawaii.

To hear examples of the type of dance music that will be featured at this workshop, tune in to the program Music from the Hills on Saturdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on radio station KDHX, 88.1 FM in St. Louis; you can also listen online.

Locations

Church of the Holy Communion (Friday and Saturday): 7401 Delmar Blvd., University City, Missouri. The church is on the northwest corner of Delmar and Jackson (see Map and Guide to IFDA Events). Park on either street and enter through the red double door in the middle of the L-shaped building.

St. Louis Tap Room Restaurant (Sunday): 2100 Locust Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri. (see Guide to St. Louis Tap Room). A parking lot is available. Directions will also be available at the Saturday sessions.

Other Information

Made possible by grants from

Sunday Meals: You may buy Sunday lunch/dinner on your own at the Tap Room Restaurant (price is not included in either weekend package).

Joan Amsterdam of International Folk Rhythms, Ltd. will be selling ethnic recordings, books, clothing and accessories, and crafts on Friday and Saturday.

Crash Space is available.  Please call Nancy or Ken Dickinson at 314-863-2139.

For Other Information: Contact John and Barbara Uhlemann (phone 314-726-5838, E-mail BUhlemann@aol.com), or Rex and Nancy Couture (Home 314-275-8228, work 314-935-4194, E-mail couture@ninenet.com).

Views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the International Folk Dance Association of University City, which is not sponsored by or otherwise connected with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.