Folk Dance, Music and Singing Seminar Balkanfolk 2008 is 11th Balkan Folklore Workshop.

In the program of Balkanfolk 2008 are included the next courses:
- Bulgarian folk dances;
- Greek folk dances;
- Serbian folk dances.

Traditional music instruments:
gaida, kaval, dvoyanka, duduk, gadoulka, tamboura, tapan, tarambouka.
Accordion (Bulgarian and Serbian music),

Bulgarian singing and Bulgarian Language.

For more information and registration please visit at: Workshop site

The eleventh International Folklore Festival Veliko Tarnovo will take place on July 19 - August 02, 2008. As organizers of the event, we have the ambition to enrich the participants' list with ensembles from many attractive cultures and ethnic origins.

The Festival is said to be one of the biggest international folklore forums on the Balkans. It is a huge national event with world fame and a unique atmosphere.

The Veliko Tarnovo International Folklore Festival has been granted the statut of a Festival of CIOFF /International Council of the Organizers of Folklore Festivals and Traditional Arts at UNESCO/.

Deadline for sending promotional materials and registration forms for participation - 31.01.2008.

for mor information: www.folklorefest.com

CHILDREN'S CAMP "ONCE UPON A TIME..."

In a small village of Kassandra, we have created "Once upon a time", with much artistic feeling and love for children and man, tradition, nature and life...

"Once upon a time...
Means holidays and relaxation! Entertainment and action! Daring and adventure! A live fairytale-like reality...

In a ravine where holly, myrtles, arbutuses rove their braches. At a place where nightingales compose their musical symphonies In a valley whose boundaries are set by pine clad mountainsides.
Near the unique natural spring of Kassandra "Patatlaka", where gurgling waters spring from the heart of the mountain...
...at a place with a climate that can be compared to no other. At New Skioni, located at the peninsula of Kassandra in the prefecture of Halkidiki, only 1 km from the northeastern part of the picturesque village. All tradition gathered in this valley which seems as if untouched by time; however you will discover that time here is never enough if you want to see everything.
With the initiative of Dimitra Papachristodoulou - Gogakou, educator by profession, who wanted to give sound principles to her children - pupils and dreamt of a live folklore workshop, we created "Once upon a time..." with much artistic feeling and love for children and man, tradition nature and life.
Children are approximately the same age, forming small groups with an older person us their team leader, stay in small modern houses.
Experienced educators and trainers have prepared special programs concerning entertainment, creative and athletic activities.
Special care to the health of children, offered 24 hours a day by a doctor or a nurse.


OUR AIMS

Because technology has made man arrogant and egocentric.
Because we think that environmental education does not work when man face environment authoritatively.
Because the "Nature-Animals-Man" triptych must retain a balance
Because man can never realize the fact that man and environment are interdependent by means of words but by experience and actions. This is the reason why we created "Once upon a time"
At its live folklore workshops you will see nature, man, animals in an interdependent harmonic and balanced relationship.
At "Once upon a time" you will see no dead exhibition areas.
You will experience live tradition, a fairytale-like reality, a game of tradition and life, of nature, man, animals, in as ideal relationship.

Contact :Mr.Arif Sönmez - turkei_iov@yahoo.com
Web sıte:www.gogakou.gr

once upon a time

Traditional village

Traditional programmes

The website for the 2008 Bulgarian Folk Music & Dance Seminar in Plovdiv, Bulgaria is now almost complete and contains detailed information about the teachers and daily schedule.

This Seminar is especially designed for non-Bulgarians (or Bulgarians interested in connecting with their "roots" music and dance) who want a more in-depth opportunity to learn traditional instruments, singing styles, and dance than is normally possible for groups or individuals traveling to Bulgaria. This richly unique program couples the knowledge of teachers at the Plovdiv Music Academy with tradition bearers throughout the country. Many classes will be taught by village "masters" from various regions in Bulgaria; the dance program, in particular, features different groups of musicians and dancers throughout the week, teaching dances from their own villages. A Bulgarian language class will also be offered, as well as optional evening social activities.

Bulgarian Folk Music & Dance Seminar
July 27, 2008 - August 2, 2008
Plovdiv, Bulgaria

http://www.folkseminarplovdiv.com/

A few things to note since last year’s Seminar:

1) We've added classes in accordion and clarinet that will focus on Bulgarian technique, styling and ornamentation.

2) We've extended the daytime schedule to better accommodate the hugely successful after-lunch folk presentations by revered Bulgarian masters and instrument makers.

Registration can be completed on-line. We are continuing our special 15% discount for EEFC members (this is another great reason to join the EEFC! www.eefc.org ). Students from past years have raved about their experiences at the Seminar. (You can read some of their comments on the website.) Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Larry Weiner
International Program Coordinator
2008 Bulgarian Folk Music & Dance Seminar, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
10206 Day Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301.565.0539
Larry@Larryweiner.com