ISSN 1037-2660
Issue No 56 - April 2000

Bi-monthly Magazine of Folk Dance Australia Inc

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THANK-YOU from ANN Ann Tregenza graduated in 1997 with a Masters Degree in Health Science. Folk dance for older people was the subject of her thesis. As part of her research, she wrote to some people whose names she had seen in Footnotes and would like to thank: Kaye Laurendet Margaret Connor Sandra Bassetti Christine Battisson and Naomi Aitchison for their encouragement, resource information and addresses and names of others who might be interested. Ann's thesis was based on the established need to provide accessible and acceptable exercise regimes for optimal cardiovascular health and fitness and balance for the prevention of falls in the older population. Dance as a means of exercise had been found to be beneficial to the health of older people. Her study explored the benefits of participating in a multicultural folkdance group from the perspective of older women. Currently, there is a paucity of opportunities in the community for older women to engage in activities that provide a safe environment in which to exercise and have fun. The findings of Ann's study indicated that multicultural folkdance groups designed for older people provide an excellent medium for exercise and social contact. Such groups do not focus on the negative aspects of aging, but provide an opportunity to celebrate diversity and improve participants' health and wellbeing. Ann, at 65 and involved in folkdancing herself, is testimony to this. One member of Ann's folkdancing group wrote the following: Folk Dancing, by Marguerite Lyntner We're sixty, seventy, eighty Most of us over weighty So when we folk dance We don't really prance But go clompity, clompity, clomp Oh, what a romp! We don't know our left from our right We really are quite a sight Then the next to me who's such a great height Leaps up in "Zorba" and gives me a fright. Our teacher is patient and well needs to be We can't keep time to her 1 - 2 - 3! Our legs are all twisted, our arms are awry A less stout-hearted teacher would give up with a sigh. But she knows that come Friday When the lessons begin That we love our folk dancing With a twirl and a spin Eyes all a-sparkle, and with a large grin We'll go clompity, clompity, clomp Oh, what a romp! Children! Mother to five-year-old son. "Sit down. SIT DOWN." Son (after finally sitting): I might be sitting on the outside, but I'm still standing on the inside".

WE'VE GOT THE NUMBERS Since October, 1990, FDA has conducted 62 workshops. There have been 20 different individual styles represented in workshops on dances for all ages and abilities, including international (or mixed style) workshops (15), pre-school (2) and primary age children's dances (7). We have also organised dance camps (2) and held workshops featuring the Alexander and Feldenkreis Techniques (1) and Elements of Choreography (1). The style workshops are listed below: Style/Culture of Workshop No of Workshops Armenian 1 Balkan 2 Bulgarian 4 Contradance 1 Croatian 1 English 1 Greek 1 Hungarian 1 Indonesian 1 Indian 1 Israeli 6 Macedonian 1 Maypole 1 Philipino 1 Polish 1 Polynesian 1 Portuguese 1 Romanian 2 Serbian 3 Turkish 3 The list possibly reflects the popularity of dance styles. As a member of FDA, you can suggest a workshop topic by contacting the Workshop Co-ordinator: Sandra Bassetti, (02) 6552 5142 or 23 Fotheringham St, TAREE NSW 2430. More Statistics I've told you twice already, and I don't repeat myself. (teacher in Geelong) There are three kinds of people in this world: those who can count and those who can't. The word with the most meanings in the English language is "set" (464 meanings), second is "run" (396), third is "go", fourth is "take" and fifth is "stand" (334). We can still do it. All we have to do is to win nine of our last four games. (Football coach). Reaching for the Stars Overheard at the end of a folk dance evening: " I'm pleased there weren't any 'Gemini' dances tonight; that 'Gemini' step is too hard". It is easier to fight for your beliefs than to live up to them. (Alfred Adler).

Of Festivals, Carnivals and Calendars by Maureen Petherick I have just returned, revitalised, from the Canberra National Multicultural Festival. For a week, friends and I participated in a day of Romanian dance and an evening of bellydance; we also absorbed the colour and movement of the Hungarian group, "Duna Ensemble", the pulsating rhythms of the Turkish group, "Hoy Tur", the energy of the Noumean group, "We Ce Ca", the raw vitality of sea songs presented by the Iranian men, "Bandari", the haunting sounds of the Iranian "Traditional Music" women's group, and the call of a Scottish bagpipe played to celebrate St Patrick's Day!. What a delight to see the Iranian bagpipe player trying his skills on the Scottish pipe during the crossover of performances. The National Multicultural Festival may be of fairly recent innovation, however, festivals and carnivals have been part of human culture for millennia. The word, "festival", comes from the Latin, festivalis, and means "feast". "Carnival" (or Carnevale for the Italians) referred to a special festival held before the forty-day fast of Lent in certain countries and means, again from the Latin, carnis, "flesh", and levare, "put away" - so carnelevarium "to take away meat". The main events of the carnival traditionally took place on Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day, also called Mardi Gras, meaning "Fat Tuesday", however, carnivals (and Mardi Gras!) are now often held without any relationship to Lent. Festivals and carnivals are joyous occasions of feasting, rituals, dance, drama and arts - a break from day-to-day life, when normal routine is happily disrupted and many rules are relaxed. Festivals also play an important role in "Cultural Currency" - helping to make a society more cohesive. They can be held on fixed dates (eg, Christmas Day, St Lazarus' Day in Bulgaria or the St Patrick's Day of the Irish) or moveable dates - calculated according to the moon or sun (eg, the National Folk Festival at Easter!). In 325 CE (Common Era or AD), the eastern and western Christian churches agreed that Easter should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon that falls on or next after the vernal equinox (deemed to be 21st March). This will explain why Easter is "so late" this year - the full moon was March 20th - missed by one day - so we wait for the Sunday after April 19th, the next full moon). The Easter rabbit? Australia uses the solar Gregorian Calendar, which is generally used by countries where the Roman Catholic church has had influence and in other countries for civil purposes. This calendar is a variation of the older Julian calendar and based on one revolution of the earth around the sun.

In some cultures, fixed date festivals may not relate to the Gregorian Calendar - many are calculated using more traditional calendars, which reflect the cycles of the moon, and where a year may vary from 12 to 13 months. The older western calendar - the Julian Calendar - is used, among others, by the Coptic, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches. This calendar has 29 days in February and 30 days in a leap year. Festivals based on this calendar are celebrated currently 11 days after other Christian religions. Which calendar to use can become a political issue for some. In 1924, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced into the Romanian Orthodox Church. Only the abbot of the Pokrov Skete in Moldavia refused to recognize the innovation and led a protest movement called the Old Calendar Church. For the next 65 years, this church was outlawed and its members persecuted in one way or another; however, since 1989, it seems that the issue has been resolved. The Greek Orthodox church uses both calendars - the Julian calendar to calculate Easter and other moveable feasts and the Gregorian calendar for all the "fixed" religious festivals, such as Christmas. In some cultures, the connection between certain dances and festivals has been maintained. The Maypole dance, traditionally held on May 1st (and probably based on the Romans' festival for the goddess, Maia), celebrates the return of Spring. In England, Morris dancers clash sticks and wave handkerchiefs as they dance around the maypole; the Romanian Calusari carry their "tree" with them - their short maypoles are topped by a bunch of garlic (powerful protection against evil) with ribbons to represent the branches; the Bavarian Maibaum is up to 40m tall and decorated with pictures of the main buildings and crafts of the village. In Sumadija (Serbia), the dance Setnja (meaning "to stroll") is danced at festivals celebrating saints' days. In Bulgaria, St Lazarus' Day (Lazaruvane) takes place a week before Orthodox Easter. On that day, the young girls go to each house in the village singing and dancing. The Lazarki have special songs for each house they visit. One dance often performed at the Lazaruvane is the Buenec. The slow St Basil's Day chain dance (Samokov county), performed with bows at "the singing of the rings" is never danced on any other occasion. The lively carnival (or kukeri) dances and other fancy-dress dances - baburaci-kukeri and starci - are also connected with certain definite dates. Other carnival (pre-Lent) dances include Stanicari, Sarovakari, Vasillicari and Dzamali. Often, the dancers wear fantastic masks and tie copper cowbells around their waists; among the most famous of these are the starci from around Karlovo (Thrace) and the vasillicari from Breznik and Radomir (Sop area). Nestinarsko, a ritual that was held on St Helena's and Constantine's Day (June 3rd) in a village of the Strandza mountains, involved a woman, the nestinarka, walking on hot coals. Nowadays the procession is maintained, but the firewalking is uncommon. (The dance, Nestinarsko, is described by Beverley Barnes in her book, "Folk Dances of Europe").

It is said that you don't have to be a computer scientist to figure out how the Jewish Calendar works, but it helps. A ditty for the Jewish calendar would probably go like this: "Thirty days hath Nisan, Sivan, Av, Tishrei, Shevat and Adar, and all the rest have 29 days, except when Heshvan and Kislev also have 30 days, and there is an Adar II, which has 29 days in a leap year". The Jewish calendar year has 353 - 355, or 383 - 385 days, is lunisolar and based on the calendar of the ancient Babylonians, established in 6th century BCE (Before Common Era or BC). To keep in line with the seasons, an extra month is added to the calendar in the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th years of every 19 year cycle. The years in the Jewish calendar are calculated from the Era of Creation (3760 BCE) - so quick maths would make the 2000 year possibly into "5760" for Jewish timekeepers. Many Jewish songs are associated with specific festivals, but not so for dances, although dances have been written to songs about festivals, eg, Chagigat Aviv (Festival of Spring). The Chinese Calendar is also lunisolar, and has a 12 month year based on the moon. Every 30 months and extra month is inserted to readjust the calendar to the solar year. The first month of the Chinese calendar begins somewhere between the 21st January and 20th February depending on the 2nd new moon after the northern hemisphere's winter solstice (usually the 22nd December). Like many festivals celebrated in Australia which originated in the Northern hemisphere, the Chinese New Year is a spring festival, which here falls in late summer or early autumn. This festival has been celebrated for 5000 years and is the most important festival in China. It is also celebrated by the Chinese and Vietnamese communities in Australia. Both the Dragon Dance and the Lion Dance are associated with this festival. André van de Plas' "Children's Dances", 1989, describes a Chinese New Year Dance and the custom of wearing new clothes and of bestowing "kunghsi kunghsi" (congratulations).

The Indian Calendar is used to calculate Hindu and Buddhist festivals. It is lunisolar with 12 lunar months; a 13th month is inserted when the difference between the lunar year and the solar year reaches 29˝ days . Most of the Indian festivals have moveable dates and are determined by the phases of the moon. To complicate matters, there are 25 Hindu calendars, with the Bengali calendar being the most widely used, despite the attempt in 1957 to establish a unified calendar for all of India. The Festival of Fire, Holi, is celebrated during February for ten days before the full moon with loud music, dancing and bonfires. Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights celebrated in late Autumn (Nov-Dec) and signifies the start of the new farming (and for some, financial) year. Dances associated with this festival are Garba and Dandia raas; the latter begins slowly, gets progressively faster and is done using dandia (sticks) which are tapped against partner's sticks. The Islamic Calendar has 354 days and is purely lunar, with each month beginning with a new moon. No adjustment is made for the seasons, so the Islamic New Year and other festivals move backwards 11 days through the seasons each year and the cycle of twelve lunar months regresses over a period of about 33 years. The years are counted from 622 CE, and followed by the initials "AH" - Ab Hejira - or Anno Higerae which means "from the flight", referring to Mohammed's flight from Mecca to Medina. Muslims have special religious festivals throughout their year, which celebrate events of Mohammed's life. No specific dances are associated with these festivals; but rather, the dances of Muslims are influenced by the Arabian culture and the culture in which they live. For example, the dances of the almost one million Muslim Filipinos are characterized by vivid colors and rhythmic movements which reflect the influence of Arabian and Indo-Malaysian cultures and are danced mainly at weddings. References Dana Vujansinovic, Festivals around the World, Ashton Scholastic, Sydney, 1988; Jon Mayled, Carnival, in Queensland Folk Federation (QFF) magazine; Raina Katzarova-Kukudova and Kiril Djenev, Bulgarian Folk Dances, Slavica Publishers Inc, in co-operation with Duquesne University Tamburitzans Institute of Folk Arts, USA, 1976; Beverley Barnes, Folk Dances of Europe, published by Beverley Barnes, SA, 1983; Jacqueline Dineen, Feasts and Festivals, Dragon's World Ltd, 1995; Lydia Anderson, Folk Dancing, Franklin Watts, Sydney, 1981; Yves Moreau, excerpts from Symposium on Bulgarian History and Culture, Carleton University, Ottawa, March 20, 1981 in "Ajde na Horo" Dance Syllabus; Never On Sunday …and other secrets of the Jewish Calendar, in The Australian Jewish News, Sydney Edition, 3/10/1997.

ROMANIAN WORKSHOP: Review Ray Richardson led us gently into his Romanian workshop with "Paharelul", a women's dance from Moldavia, with a haunting chorus. This gave the late starters among the twenty of us who attended time to change shoes and wake up properly. Then it was straight into "Alunelul" (hazelnuts), one of the older favourites. This was the first Romanian dance I ever learnt over 20 years ago, and demonstrated with a friend at a London party. Needless to say, the other punk party-goers found our "quaint" antics amusing! So we crushed our hazelnuts with agile footwork that accelerated towards the end of the unusual vocal recording, and were well and truly warmed up. Romanian dance expresses the innermost spirit of the people. It has roots not only in daily life, work, emotions and entertainment, but also in the old customs and traditions, as well as in the spiritual and physical environment of the land. These expressions were demonstrated in the bouncy "Promoroaca" (dew) and "Hora pe Gheata" (dance on ice). For this we "donned our skates" - Torville and Dean style, and proceeded with graceful slides and lifted turns (the blades would get stuck in the ice without step-lifts!). The fast and challenging "Craitele de la Pleniita", a sirba (light, hopping dance) from Oltenia, is a traditional weaving dance; "Floricica Olteneasca" (little flower of Oltenia) celebrates the flowers that grow on the banks of the Olt River on the border between Oltenia and Muntenia. We were worried that the flowers might be a little flat after all the intricate stamps and slaps during the dance - played on the "Jew's harp". Romanian dance is made up of a large number of dances and variations exemplifying differences in forms, types and rhythms, vivid patterns and colourful gymnastic effects. The rhythmic "Rustemul" had us all arm swinging, and demonstrates most of the above. There is a rich repertoire performed by elderly people as well as the young, with differences in style and approach, as well as restrictions in steps to one age group or the other. continued top of next column =>

During the workshop, concern was expressed that a few dances would be unsuitable for the elderly - "Hora de la Virtuositata", for example, could be risky with its jumps apart for those prone to incontinence (the whisper said!). The beautiful bagpipe music in "Hora de la Videle" could be appreciated by all ages, however, even if the arm movements may cause the need for false teeth, if not controlled. The speed of "Briuletul", a belt dance, may appear daunting for those more comfortable with the gentler pace of "Hora ca la Caval" and its more contained movements - with the "chevrons" (or "pieces of cake") likened to pinking-sheared patterns by Ray (littler portions!) With such beautiful music played on the traditional cimbalom, pan pipes and strings, this would have to be an all-time favourite. And so, once again, with as much feeling as we could muster, we wound up the workshop with all the fast and furious dances. Who wouldn't feel invigorated after so much variety in music, styles, steps and paces? Thank you again Ray - we look forward to more of the same. ? Jenny Lester (NSW) FDA CONTACTS President: Chris Wild, (02) 9560 2910, 12 Burfitt St, LEICHHARDT 2040 Vice-President: Chris Green, (02) 9749 1968, 35 Maranoa St, AUBURN NSW 2144 Secretary: Jo Wall, (02) 9857 1382, 39 Searl St, PETERSHAM 2049 Treasurer: Deborah Hotchkis, (02) 4294 1363 4 Old Station Rd, HELENSBURGH 2508 Workshop Co-ordinator: Sandra Bassetti, (02) 6552 5142, 23 Fotheringham St, TAREE NSW 2430. Publicity Officer: Gerda van de Kamp, 24 Bentham St, YARRALUMLA ACT 2600 Website Administrator: Ashley Oates Resource Manager Kaye Laurendet, (02) 9528 4813, 127 Woronora Cres, COMO WEST 2226 Footnotes Editor: Maureen Petherick, (02) 4736 3529, 18 Bayley Rd, PENRITH 2750 ADVERTISING IN FOOTNOTES For non-members: Full page $40; cost for other sizes are available on a pro-rata basis. This service is available free for members in the interest of promoting folk dancing. Anyone wishing to advertise in Footnotes please contact the Editor on 02 4724 0837 or e-mail: liz@pnc.com.au ?** The views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of FDA. Events publicised in this magazine are not necessarily sponsored by FDA**

Affordable Internet Web Site design and creation Free site hosting arranged if necessary. phone: 0414 874 649 or E-mail: kitka@start.com.au See the FDA site at http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/4677/ created by Kitka Design! (Other URLs available on request) FOLK ON THE WEB FDA mail received: Name: Cathy Wright From: Australia Date: 25 January 2000 Subject: Exploring Worship Through Messianic/Israeli Dance Comments: This is to let you know about classes in Israeli and Messianic dance … as form of worship and outreach, and for those who are interested in building links with the Jewish community. This year there will be a more direct focus on applying Jewish folk dance styles to contemporary Christian worship songs for the purposes of congregational worship and evangelism. We will also be learning about the Jewish roots of our Christian faith and establishing a foundation for building bridges with Jewish people. The classes will be held as follows: Every Saturday during school term : Beginners from 4pm - 5pm Intermediate 5pm - 5.30pm (Beginners welcome to try) At All Saints Church Hall, Cnr Sydney Road and Boyle Streets, Sydney. Contribution toward costs: $5 Name: Helen Kambouridis From: Australia Date: 6 Feb 2000 Subject: Medieval dancing classes Comments: Just wondering if you could help me with some information. I live in the outer north western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria and am trying to find somewhere that I could learn medieval (or Renaissance if that's the closest I can get) dancing. Any information, even helpful websites, that you could pass on would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Helen. continued top of next column =>

Name: Paula Kirman Date: 15 Feb 2000 Subject: Seeking Sound Clips Comments: I am seeking short (30 seconds or less) sound clips in RealAudio from musicians playing World Music instruments -- didgeridoo, bagpipes, doumbek, mbira -- anything -- for a new archive of instrument sound clips on World Music at About.com. The only requirement is that the musician performing the clip is yourself, and what you are playing is your own composition or something in the public domain. It doesn't have to be anything fancy -- playing a scale or short solo is enough, as long as it reflects the sound of the instrument. All whose clips get into the archive will have their name and location noted as well as a link to your e-mail and Web site (if you have one). Please e-mail your sound clips to worldmusic.guide@about.com. I'll be deciding which clips to put into the archive based on sound quality, copyright issues (see above statements about it being your own work), and first come first served. Name: Danielle Tonkin From: Australia Date: 21 Feb 2000 Subject: looking for Eskimo dances Comments: I am a Calisthenic coach in Canberra and I am looking for a folk dance / traditional Eskimo (Inuit) dance. I have been researching this but have not as yet found a lot, only a few things on the internet and a couple of videos of Eskimo people of which I have not as yet been able to get a hold of. I have also tried the Canadian and American embassy and the National Library and a couple of folk dance groups, all of which have been very helpful but have not found anything. If you could be of any assistance it would be greatly appreciated, either music, videos or notation or any contacts. My address is 51 Trager St Dunlop ACT 2615 and my contact numbers are 02 62 585 659 or 0411 485 342 Thanks heaps, Danielle Tonkin Name: Maddison Stratford From: Australia Date: 3/3/2000 Subject: Origin of Folk dancing Comments: Hi, Could you please tell me which country folk dancing originated from. This is for a school project I am working on. Thank you very much. Name: Celia Wilson From: Australia Date: 14 Mar 2000 Comments: I would like to wish all our FDA supporters a happy St Patrick's Day on the 17th. (Ed. Check out the wonderful Irish fiddle player associated with this entry in FDA's Guestbook) More Comments: ...and best wishes to all our other ethnic groups. (Ed. Check out the buzz-step dancing lady accompanying this comment!)

NB Interested in West Midlands (English) music and events? Check out Bob Taverner's site: http://www.btinternet.com/~radical/thefolkmag

RESOURCES for SALE by FDA By Jim Battisson: Book "Glossary of Dance Terms" $15 (P & P) or $12 at workshops, etc. By André van de Plas: International Folk Dances for Adults. Book & cassette. 1989 - 1997 tours $12 each. 1998 - 1999 tours $30 each. Videos. 1989 - 1999 tours. $35 each. International Folk Dances for Children. Book & cassette. 1986, 89, 91, 94, 97 & 99 tours. $35 each. Videos of Children's Dances: 30 Dances for Primary School age children (8 yrs +) $40 (postage extra) Easy Dances Cassette and booklet $20 Cassette or booklet available separately for $10 each. By Yves Moreau: Balkan & International Folk Dances. Book & cassette. 1993 tour. $30. 'Ajde Na Horo' 20 Bulgarian Folk Dance Favourites. Recorded in Bulgaria under the supervision of Jaap Leegwater and Yves. Book & cassette $30. The above prices include postage. Nevofoon Resources - Nevofoon Folk Dance resources (CDs, tapes and books) available through FDA's discount service. Contact your Folk Dance group or Kaye for the Nevofoon catalogue . Please Note: Prices quoted above are for FDA members. Non-members please add $5 to cost of each item. All resources available through Kaye Laurendet, 127 Woronora Cres, COMO WEST 2226 Other Resources (from the web) New recordings featuring music from the lands of Eastern Europe: Zivili: A Treasured Past Drita Albanian Folk Orchestra: Memories of the Past Sviraji: Ciganine The Toids: Bulgarian, Greek and Macedonian Songs Sarana: Tamburitza Music with a Colorful Blend. Details at http://www.tamburaweb.com/release1.htm For sale!: Antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.

Nevofoon Resources Do you realise that, as well as CDs and MCs (music cassettes), Nevofoon also have a selection of videos and written music? Included in the range of videos are: Yugoslav Ensembles (including "Joza Vlahovic" and "Lado"); Greek dance videos from the Dora Stratou Theatre; Hungarian dances from the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble; A selection of different Bulgarian and Hungarian Ensembles Several different programs of the Nederlands Folkloric Danstheatre. Prices range from f35 to f55 (Dutch guilders) For those interested in playing music for others to dance to, there is also a range of music notation including: "43 Jugoslav Folkdances" (f5), "Beerak" (music for 300 folkdances) (f15) and "Klezmer" (music for 40 Klezmer melodies) (f25). Take a look at the catalogue at FDA workshops, or ask to see one at your local Folk Dance Group. CD review: "Amar de Nuevo - Inti-Illimani" (Festival) The Init-Illimani story starts in Santiago, Chile, in 1967, when students at the Technical University began playing traditional music together. In 1971 they became professional musicians. While on tour in Europe in 1973 the Allende Government was overthrown, and the group lived for 15 years in exile. Inti-Illimani have recorded some of the most spirited, professional and poetic albums of South American folk music in the business, and this album is their thirtieth! Perhaps one of their best-known is the soundtrack to Flight Of The Condor, a BBC-TV series on South America. Compiled in large part of tracks from earlier albums, it is typical not only of the beauty and freshness of South American traditional music, but also of the unique sound of this particular band. The group's personnel have changed a little since then, but Horacio Salinas remains their musical director and driving force. He wrote most of the music on this album, which departs from native Chilean and Andean sources and concentrates on a Latin American laid-back vocal sound. Their recent live performances in Australia were drawn from their entire repertoire, so for those who were lucky to see them, be prepared for something a little different here. There's no doubt however that the album has the band's usual stamp of class on it. Julius Timmerman

COMING EVENTS Earthly Delights Mediaeval Bush Dance Join John Garden and Earthly Delights at St John's Church Hall, Constitution Ave, Reid, on 8th April, 8pm, in an evening which features flowing dances and dance games. Come and see the first Chess Dance to be performed in Australia that follows the rules of both English Country Dancing and Chess. This evening is part of a series of dance evenings (see Dates for your Diary, page 17), in which John is leading century old dances and lots of traditional and new dances that will have a lot of appeal to Canberra's regular bushdancers. The series is a big plus for the bush dance scene - with lots of flowing dances, great calling and dynamic music. Twelve years ago, John started a regular monthly dance series and weekly dancing in the Park with the Monaro Folk Music Society (Canberra). For six years he taught dances from around the world - attracting national attention and proving influential to many dance callers. For the last six years John has been equally active in both public and private events both interstate and in Canberra. The band mixes rare medieval instruments, such as the hurdygurdy, border pipes, Transylvanian viola, citera and furulya, with classical 'cello, modern soprano saxophone and world percussion instruments such as the African djembe, Celtic bodhran and Latin American congas. It blends Anglo-Celtic and Central European musical styles to produce exhilarating new music and leads fun dancing for which no partner or experience is necessary. Dress up or come as you are! The cost is $12, $10 conc and free for children under 12. Contact Aylwen on (02) 62811098 or email. Hungarian Dance, Music, & Art Seminar The primal syncopations of the Tükrös Band (from Hungary) are almost impossible to describe. Formed in 1986, this 5 member band from Budapest has been instrumental in the revival of Hungarian village music. From 14 - 17 April, you can join with them by attending the "Mezoségi Tabor" to experience Hungarian dance, music and art at this seminar organised by Kengugro (a Sydney-based, Hungarian Dance Ensemble). The two dance streams (with live music), running simultaneously for all over 13, will cater for beginners and advanced; a children's workshop will be held on Sunday afternoon (16 April); each evening there will be a táncház (Hungarian Bush Dance); for those interested, lessons will be given in violin, viola, double bass and cimbalom - focussing on the style from the Mezoseg region of Transylvania; art and craft workshops, covering leatherwork, woodcarving, embroidery, cooking, etc will be held. The food (Hungarian cuisine - vegetarians catered for) and accommodation is included in the price. Other Tükrös Australian Tour Dates: April 21 - 24 National Folk festival, Canberra; April 29 Sat Concert The Hakoah Club 8pm, 61 -67 Hall St. Bondi Beach; 02 9130 3344 continued top of next column =>

April 30 Sun Singing workshop with Éva Korpás 1pm, National Voice Centre, Sydney Uni; 02 9569 3410; May 2 Tue Concert The Harp Irish Pub 8pm. 900-920 Princes Hwy, Tempe, Sydney; 02 9559 6300; May 5 Fri Dinner and show at Triselies Greek Taverna 7pm, 287 main St. Katoomba; 02 4782 4026; May 6 Sat Táncház/Dance House 8pm, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Bedford St, Newtown. For more information, contact Antal Stopic on 02 9399 2492 or email: cstopic@ozemail.com.au or visit the website http://www.ozemail.com.au/~cstopic National Folk Festival, April, 2000 "Passport to the World". From 20 - 24 April, the Easter National Folk Festival, will be held at the Exhibition Ground in Canberra, ACT. With over 200 acts (some of which involve FDA members), 16 performance venues, entertainment, workshops, dancing, music, children's events, camping and food stalls, it's not to be missed. NSW will be the featured state and emphasis will be given to children and the "young at heart". A new venue for teenagers and young adults has been introduced. Contact NFF Office 02 6249 7755, fax 02 6247 0906 or email natfolk@spirit.com.au or visit the webpage http://www.spirit.com.au/~natfolk Folk Dance & Music Weekend 12-14 May 2000 Presented by VOSA in conjunction with FDA, a Folk Dance and Music Weekend with Kay Laurendet, Bayram Kusman, Xenos, Skips Christoph Maubach, Jon Madin, and more. NOTE: Change of venue to: Lady Northcote Camp, Bacchus Marsh, VIC. Event Times: Friday 12 May 2000 Evening: Informal meal at Bacchus Marsh Pub, dance sharing 7.30 pm at campsite. Saturday 13 May and Sunday 14 May, Mornings: recreational dancing (introductory and advanced) and children's classes; Saturday Afternoon: recreational dance classes, music and singing for adults; canoeing, archery, yabbying for kids; Saturday Night: International Dinner Dance. Sunday Afternoon: Review and sharing of weekend's activities, 3pm departure. Folk Dance CDs , cassettes and dance books for dance teachers and musicians will be on sale at the camp! For registration form and more information, please see February Footnotes page 15, write to VOSA, PO Box 5267, Mordialloc, Victoria, 3195 Australia, phone (03) 9481-3386 or email: shenanigans@labyrinth.net.au. FDA Hungarian Workshop - 14 May 2000 Celebrate a Dance Week event with Gary Dawson, who will present this one-day workshop for FDA, where you can enjoy learning some delightful Hungarian dances or hone your skills gained from the Türkrös experience. When: 10 am - 4 pm, 14 May 2000 Place: TBA Cost: $20 (concession $18 for FDA members). Music & dance instructions available at workshop.

... Coming Events continued Edy Greenblatt - June 24 - 27 Nirkoda, a Melbourne-based Israeli Dance group, is delighted to announce an experience like no other - featuring the return to Melbourne of Edy Greenblatt, to run a workshop series on 24, 25 and 27 June 2000. Edy has previously run successful workshops in Melbourne in 1991, 1994 and 1996. Edy is a qualified Master Teacher, has unparalleled skill at teaching dances and technique for all levels, and a unique ability to bring energy & excitement to dancing. Those who have seen her before still speak with great enthusiasm about her. More details will be available shortly - but keep those dates free! Contact Adam Held for more details: (03) 9866-8177 or mobile (0407) 548-632. (Ed. Negotiations are underway to bring her to Canberra and/or Sydney as well). Bowral Weekend - August, 2000 ADVP World Dance, featuring André van de Plas as teacher, will again present a Folk Dance Weekend at the Annesley Guest House, Bowral, from the 25th - 27th August, with dance sessions being held at the Bowral High School. Application forms are now available and will be sent to folk dance groups and also those who attended the 1999 Weekend. For further information and application forms, please ring Kaye on 02 9528 4813. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS MAZOXI Folklore & Dance Conference - in the village of Roustika, Rethymnon, CRETE, July 17th - July 30th, 2000 with Kety Karekla Fragiadaki and Andreas Fragiadakis. The MAZOXI Folklore and Dance Conference will once again feature several regional experts from various outlining provinces and islands with their unique individual unique and colorful traditions. Experts who have devoted their lives to gathering, promoting, and disseminating the regional authentic styles of Greek music, song and dance the history and traditions that often tell us the full story of folklore that still thrives in this land. A 14 day unique experience at this remote rustic village, Roustika, which still strives to maintain the living characteristics of traditional life unmarred. A peaceful haven away from the clamor of "civilization" and the fast pace of the technological revolution. If you have any thoughts how celebrate the new millennium. Visit Greece. Go to Crete. "Mazoxi" - a gathering of kindred spirits who share a devotion and deep appreciation for the folk customs of music and dance. Join the MAZOXI conference and dance your footsteps where the western civilization started. The conference includes: Dance sessions daily! Full participation and exercise! Folk dances for everyone in the family! Excursions to ancient Minoan ruins, museums, and Cretan caves! Continued top of next column =>

Organized guided tours! Evening gatherings. Dance to live music and village festivals! A true Cretan "glendi"! Excellent updated comfortable facilities! Swimming pool to cool off for more dancing! Outstanding traditional Greek village cuisine! Home style meals, prepared by the village staff! Personal diets and requests are honored! Cost: *$700 (triple occupancy) - * $840 (double occupancy) - *$980 (single occupancy) for TWO WEEKS (Ed: cost is probably in $US) Special arrangements for groups and families are available. Other accommodation facilities are made upon request within the vicinity For further information and details contact: Andreas Fragiadakis, 81A Egialias Street, Byron 162 33 Athens, GREECE Tel/fax: (011-30-1) 7661-949 or fax: (011-30-1) 38 43 953 or email: Muntaner@otenet.gr 3rd Moldavian Music & Dance Camp, July This dance camp runs from July 23 to 30, 2000 in Külsorekecsin/Fundu Racaciuni, Moldavia. Details to date are: Dance Teachers - Külsorekecsin villagers & others {TANIT Szarka Marica és Tündik Tamás} Music Teachers - regional musicians Music - Fehér Márton, Mandache Aurel, Paun Vasile, Legedi László István, Hodorog András & Öves (Czeran Csaba) and Csürrento group Songs - demonstrated and taught by Külsorekecsin villagers (Dobos Rózsa) Cost - of the course to be confirmed Camping - 100 DM per Western person camping, 6,000Hft per Hungarian passport-holding resident camping, other former Eastern bloc country residents should make food cost not included (food cost 700 Ft/day) The camp will end with a Festival event including many traditional musicians and dances. For more information, contact: Tündik Tamás 2040 Budaörs Szivárvány u. 8 X/59. tel: 06-30 2609467 Turcsán Péter Tamás - shy@origo.matav.hu, phone +36.23.420-574. (Ed. Apologies for lack of contact clarity - details received as is from email) Dance Workshop in Bulgaria: Jul/Aug, 2000 On the weekend of the 11 - 13 August, 2000, the Bulgarians are holding their traditional folk festival in Koprivstica. This festival, held every 5 years, is a genuine festival of authentic folklore with thousands of participants. To coincide with the festival, Belco Stanev is holding a two-week dance seminar, from the 31 July - 14 August, 2000, culminating in the weekend of the festival. 31 July - 8 August: stay in Varna at the Hotel Chaika (Dance Seminar, and visit the International Folklore Festival, 1 - 3 August) 9 & 10 August: travel to Koprivstica via Veliko Târnovo (the ancient capital of Bulgaria) and Gabrovo; 11 - 13 August: visit the National Festival in Koprivstica. continued next page...

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS continued from previous page Judging from Belco's previous seminars, this promises to be lots of fun. Great dancing, excellent teachers, Bulgarian folk songs, instruments taught on request (extra), excursions to places of interest, good accommodation and good food - all that you need for a great holiday. Cost: US$790 (chn < 12 yrs = US$300) Deposit: US$200 (by 15th May, 2000) If you would like to know more, call me, Chris Wild, on 02 9560 2910 (after 5pm) or email: christine@shawaust.com.au "Balkanfolk" in Bulgaria - August, 2000 Choices, choices!! Balkanfolk 2000, held from August 5-19 by "Zornitsa", will also incorporate the Koprivstica festival. You can attend Balkanfolk 2000 for one week or two (they are not repeats); prices are the same as last year, ranging from $480 (no courses) to $810 (6 courses) - that's US dollars. Other countries represented in Balkanfolk for dance (besides Bulgaria) are Macedonia (the republic), Romania and Serbia. If you let them know when you are arriving in Sofia, they will meet you at the airport and take you to Koprivstica, and return you to Sofia or the airport after the seminar. You can contact "Balkanfolk" for more information through SC ZORNITSA, 74 Opaltchenska St., Sofia 1303 BULGARIA fax. 359-2-931-1346 email: zornitsa@info.unacs.bg or website: http://www.balkanfolk.com/workshop/workshop.html You can also register online if you wish (and bypass the uncertainties of the Bulgarian postal system!). Rae Marnham is the contact in Australia: 51 White St, Henley Beach, SA 5022 Tel. (08) 8356-2172 email: marnham.rae@saugov.sa.gov.au To think upon Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. (JB Convant). Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died. (Erma Bombeck). I like things to happen, and if they don't happen, I like to make them happen. (Winston Churchill). My mother loved children ... she would have given anything if I had been one. (Groucho Marx). Die, my dear doctor? That's the last thing I shall do. (Lord Palmerston) vvClosing Date for the next issue:vv Please send articles for the June, 2000 issue to:- The Editor, "Footnotes", 18 Bayley Rd, PENRITH 2750, by 15 May, 2000 or e-mail liz@pnc.com.au

*** CONTRA-LINES *** by Gary King Dear Readers, Contra dancing dates in Melbourne this time: CONTRA DANCING with Gary King and friends at: The Old Rechabite Hall, 157 Westbourne Grove, Northcote, opposite the Town Hall 7.45p.m. on Friday 31 March, and Friday 14 April with live music. Cost is $5, to cover hall and live music at some stage. Also you are invited bring a little snack/refreshment to share. Enquiries to Gary or Janette (03) 9481 3386. I am putting forward in this issue what may prove to be some contra-versial answers to the question "What is Contradancing?" Notice I have not asked "What is New England Contradancing?" My answer to this question is, "Something you MUST do if you ever get to New England." No, I am asking what can we say about Contradancing as a phenomenon which has crossed oceans and survived centuries of cultural change. In trying to understand the concept of Contradance and how it can fit into the Australian context, I find myself moving to the generic meaning of the term. The most fundamental aspects of Contradancing have been with us for a long time, and are clearly of European origin. Independent sources seem to agree that partner dance styles grew out of older dances in group formation. Hungarian group dance forms such as Karikázo (women's singing circle dance) and Ugros (Jumping Dance) are described as having preceded the now predominant partner dancing. The BBC series of Popular Dance "May I Have the Pleasure" hypothesized a transition from the Carole or line dance to a partner Estampie in C12th Provence.' Readers will also recall hearing of the Contredanse of the French Courts - but it is intriguing to realise however that these French Contredanses are contemporaries of the Contradances in New England, having both descended from English Country Dances. What the French courts did contribute to Contradance was the Cotillion, as a development of C17th English squares such as Hunsdon House. Just as the music and dance of the old world was transformed as it 'took root' and flourished in the New World, I think I can already perceive that New England Contra will undergo transformations if transplanted to grow in the new cultural soil of Australia. This idea is already evidenced, I believe, by the consistent differences one experiences between contradancing style in New England and on the west coast of U.S.A. The Shenanigans Contraband will be at the National Festival in Canberra presenting a Contradance workshop on Friday 1pm followed by a Contradance at 5pm. Hope to see you there! Gary: (03) 9481 3386 or shenanigans@labyrinth.net.au

WHAT'S ON WHERE International Folk Dancing A.C.T. Canberra Monday 7.30 - 9pm. Advanced Classes, Folk Dance Canberra Hall, 114 Maitland St, Hackett. Enquiries Christine (02) 6241 3563. Tuesday * 10 - 11.30 am, Beginner/ Int. * 3.30 - 4 pm. Children's classes, 5 - 6 yo, * 4.05 - 4.50pm, Children's classes, 7 - 8 yo and then, * 7.30pm - 9pm, Introductory IFD, all above at Folk Dance Canberra Hall - contact as for Monday Wednesday * 1 - 2.30 pm. Beginner/ Int, * 6pm - 7.30pm, World Bush, then * 7.45pm - 9.15, Israeli, all at Folk Dance Canberra Hall, contact (02) 6241 3563 * 7.30 pm - 8.15 pm Ongoing beginners; 8.15 - 10.30pm, Easy to Intermediate, CIFDA (Canberra International Folk Dancing Association) Hughes Community Centre, cost $6 (includes supper). Contact (02) 6231 5896 or (02) 6281 3987. Thursday * 6pm - 7.30pm, Greek dance and then, * 7.30 - 9.30 pm. Intermediate IFD at FDC Hall, contact (02) 6241 3563 * 7.30 - 9 pm, Israeli Folk Dancing, New Creation Ministeries Multi-purpose Hall, Dixon Drive, Holder. Contact Verna, (02) 6288 2476 Friday 5.30-7.30pm, Welsh Dance, Reid Uniting Church Hall, Reid, contact Winifred 02 6230 4937 or Jean 02 6251 2478 for exact dates, $5. Saturday Social Dance 2nd Saturday of each month (March - Nov) from 8 pm St John's Church hall, Constitution Ave, Reid with John Garden and 'Earthly Delights', $12, includes supper. Contact John or Aylwen 02 6281 1098. Sunday * 3.30 (beginners), 4.30 - 6.30 (dancing), Israeli Folk Dancing, Forrest. Contact Naomi on (02) 6258 9254 or email: peter_tina@one.net.au * 5pm, Scandinavian Folk Dance Group, Weston Scout Hall.. New members very welcome. Contact Brad Sherman (02) 6288 3050 ah, or email: brad.sherman@cbr.clw.csiro.au NEW SOUTH WALES Sydney Monday * 10 - 12 noon. During school term. Earlwood Senior Citizens Centre, 362 Homer St. Earlwood. Contact Gwynne (02) 9558 4753. * 7.30 pm. Bush dancing workshops for beginners (Bush Music Club) Pennant Hills Community Centre (downstairs, opp railway station); Contact Linda Nilson (02) 9674 1184 (ah)

NSW continued... Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday After school classes in International Folk Dance for children 6 - 18 years. Collaroy Plateau Youth & Community Club. Cost $28 per school term. Contact Carol Maddocks (02) 9905 1563. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Sutherland Shire Folk Dance Group. Contact Kaye Laurendet (02) 9528 4813. Tuesday * 7.30pm - 9.30pm, Hungarian Dance classes, with Gary Dawson, Dance Action Centre, 17 Marlborough St Leichhardt. Contact Gary Dawson (02) 9559 4485. * 7.30 Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers, Scout Hall, Martha St, Yagoona. Contact (02) 9150 6765. * 8pm - 10pm, Turkish Dance classes, with Yusuf Nidai, Lidcombe Community Centre. Contact Yusuf Nidai (02) 9646 1166. Wednesday * 7.15 - 8.15 pm. Adult International Folk Dance classes. Collaroy Plateau Youth & Community Club, Blandford St. Collaroy Plateau. Cost $35 per school term. Contact Carol Maddocks (02) 9905 1563. * 8 - 10 pm. Australian Heritage Dancers, rehearsals, Annandale Neighbourhood Centre, 79 Johnston St, Annandale). Contact Patrick Burnett: (02) 9957 6049. Thursday * 7 pm Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers, Girl Guide Hall, Wardell St, Arncliffe. Contact (02) 9150 6765. * 7.30 - 10 pm North Parramatta. Contact Chris Green (02) 9749 1968 Friday 8 - 11 pm. Sedenka International Folkdance Group, Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre, 665A Darling St, Rozelle. Contact Chris (02) 9560 2910. Saturday (am) Children's classes in International Folk Dance, 6 - 18 years. Pennant Hills Community Centre, Yarrara Rd. Pennant Hills (opp. railway station). Contact Carol Maddocks (02) 9905 1563. Blue Mountains Monday 7.15 - 8.45pm. For all - Uniting Church Hall, Katoomba. Contact Bronwyn on (02) 4757 2441or Ray (02) 4759 2534. Thursday 7 - 8.15 pm and/or 8.30 - 10 pm. The Blue Labyrinth International Folk Dancers, Baptist Church Hall, King St, Glenbrook. Contact Jo (02) 4739 6498 or Pat (02) 4739 1005. Bowral Thursday 9 - 11am. Southern Highlands Recreational International Folk Dance Group. Presbyterian Hall, Bendooley St. Bowral. Beginners start at 9 am. Contact Margaret Connor (02) 4861 2294. Newcastle Saturday (2nd Saturday of month) 7.30pm, Wesley Fellowship Hall, Hamilton. Contact Bill and Vicki Wiseman: anvilbw@mpx.com.au or Cecille (02) 4957 0830

Taree Wednesday 5 - 8 pm. Lazarka International Folk Dance Group, Church of Christ Hall, Victoria St. Taree. Contact Sandra Bassetti (02) 6552 5142. NORTHERN TERRITORY Darwin Tuesday * 7 - 9 pm International Dance (mainly European and Israeli) - Beginners to advanced; $4. * 9 - 9.30 pm. Advanced Israeli Dance. The Dance Co-op, Leanyer Primary School (GP Room) Leanyer. Contacts: Anna (08) 8984 4775 or 08) 89816400 or Sue (08) 8985 1827 (h) QUEENSLAND Brisbane Friday (2nd & 4th of month) 8 pm. Brisinta International folk dancing, Uniting Church Hall, cnr Kingsley & Kadumba Sts. Yeronga. $4. Contact Lyn (07) 3879 1224. Cairns Wednesday 8 pm; Italian dancing classes, Tennis Court Hall, Windarra St, Woree. Contact (07) 4054 4259 or (07) 4051 1065. Thursday 7 pm, Bavarian, Austrian and Swiss folk dance practice, Germania Club, Winkworth St. Sunshine Coast Monday * 9.30 - 11.30 am, Lutheran Hall, Sydney St, Nambour. $4 * 10.00 - 12 noon, Masonic Hall, Moorindil St, Tewantin, $5 Thursday 9.30 - 11.30 am., Lutheran Hall, Sydney St. Nambour, $4. Friday 9 - 12 noon, Noosa Bicentennial Hall Annexe, Bicentennial Drive, Noosa, $5. For Nambour contact Jean (07) 5441 2315 or Lorraine (07) 5445 1740; for Noosa and Tewantin contact Danni (07) 5442 8821. The Queensland Folkloric Dance Association (QFDA) is a central organisation for recreational and ethnic folk dance. Write to PO Box 3011, Yeronga, QLD 4104 or phone/fax (07) 3848 7706. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Monday 7-10pm, Adelaide Traditional Dancers, RSL Hall, Norwood Oval, Norwood. Teaching for beginners from 7 - 8pm, cost $2. Contact Rae 08 8356 2172 SA continued next column --> All too true... If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines. May you live every day of your life. Not many people realise just how well-known I am. He who laughs last didn't get the joke. Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.

... SA continued Thursday International: 1st, 3rd (& 5th) Thursday of the month, Broadview Baptist Hall, cnr Collingrove & Howard Sts, Broadview. Contact: Kay (08) 8278 8087 TASMANIA Hobart Thursday 8 pm, Hobart Multicultural Dance Group, St Peter's Hall, cnr Lord & Grosvenor Sts, Sandy Bay, $3 + contribution to shared supper. Contacts: Graeme (03) 6239-1553, Krista & Peter (03) 6227-8471, or email Peter: Peter.Sands@ffp.csiro.au VICTORIA Melbourne Monday 1.45 pm. International Dancing, University of the Third Age, Rob Roy Rd, Chadstone. Contact Margaret (03) 9530 4372 or Audrey (03) 9898 3567. Tuesday * 7.30 - 10 pm. Greek traditional, popular, national & folkloric dancing at Margaritas Centre of Greek Dance & Folklore, Richmond Community Primary School, Cnr Davidson & Kent Sts, Richmond. Classes for beg/inter/advan or private lessons. Also available for teaching intellectually, sensory & physically disabled (03) 9583 1173 (all hours) or Mobile 015 821 203. * 8 pm, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday, International Dance Workshop, St. Michael's Church Hall, Cnr MacPherson & McIlwraith Sts. N. Carlton. Beginners start at 7.30; ongoing class 8.30 pm. Contact Audrey (03) 9898 3567. Wednesday 6 - 10 pm. Pine St Hall, Pine St. Cheltenham. Contact Margarita (03) 9583 1173. Thursday * 9.30 am International Dancing, University of the Third Age, Dandenong. TAFE College (Robin McKay Hall). Contact Conny (03) 9792 9377. * 7.45 - 9 pm during school term. Adult classes. Thomas St, Hampton. Wide range of dance styles taught & danced in small friendly class. Contact Kim Dunphy (03) 9555 4813. Friday * 10 am. International Dance, Council of Adult Education, City Campus, 256 Flinders St. Contact Liliana (03) 9652 0668 or Audrey (03) 9898 3567. * 7.30 - 10.30 pm 2nd, 4th & 5th of each month. Eltham International Dancing, St Margaret's Church Hall, Putt St. Eltham. $4 or $20 for 8 week term. Contact Ina Bertrand (03) 9439 9991. Sunday 2 - 4.30 pm. Margaritas Centre of Greek Dance. (See above, Tuesday). WESTERN AUSTRALIA Perth Monday Perth International Folk Dance Group, 7pm teaching, 8.30 - 10 pm social dancing. Uniting Church Hall, cnr Tyrell and Elizabeth Sts Nedlands, WA. Contact John Whaite (08) 9444 4736, email: john.whaite@wpcorp.com.au or Martin (08) 9445 2072, email: martin.williams@wcorp.com.au Tuesday 7.45 - 9.45 pm. Hora Dance (Israeli), Temple David Social Hall, 34 Clifton Cres, Mount Lawley. Contact (08) 9276 7566 or (08) 9335 2042. Thursday 10 am - Noon, St Paul's Hall, 162 - 164 Hampton Rd, Fremantle. Contact (08) 9276 7566 or (08) 9335 2042. More? Some people are easily entertained - all you have to do is to sit down and listen to them.

8 Apr	Earthly Delights Monthly Dance, at St John's Church Hall, Constitution Ave, Reid, 8pm, $12, $10 conc, free for children < 12, contact (02) 62811098 or garden@earthlydelights.com.au
9 Apr	One week, Lake School of Celtic Music, Song & Dance, Koroit, VIC, daily tuition with some of Australia's finest musicians and teachers. Accom bunk-style, contact Val 03 5565 8763, email bwz@alphalink.com.au, net http://www.alphalink.com.au/~bwz
14 Apr	4 day, Hungarian Dance, Music, & Art Seminar, including accommodation, held at Heathcote, NSW, contact Antal Stopic on 02 9399 2492 or email: cstopic@ozemail.com.au or visit the website http://www.ozemail.com.au/~cstopic.
14 Apr	Contra Dancing, Gary King & friends, Old Rechabite Hall, 1517 Westbourne Grove, Northcote (opp Town Hall), 7.45pm, live music, bring refreshments to share. Contact Gary or Janette (03) 9481 3386 or shenanigans@labyrinth.net.au
20 Apr	5 day, Easter National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT, Exhibition Ground, over 200 acts, 16 performance venues, it's BIG, entertainment, workshops, dancing, music, children's events, camping, food stalls, contact National Folk Festival Office 02 6249 7755, fax 02 6247 0906, website: http://www.spirit.com.au/~natfolk/.
22 Apr	2 day, Opal Festival, Cooper Pedy, SA, focusses on the multicultural diversity of Cooper Pedy – 45 different nationalities, incorporating dance, singing, food from around the world. Contact R. Coro 08 8672 5683.
23 Apr	6 days, Prague Festival 2000, featuring groups from five continents, 20 countries, 46 cities Festival Competition for Ballet, Contemporary Schools, youth, Companies and Theatrical/ Dance Departments, Educational Institutes held in various theatres of the New Czech Republic.
29 Apr	Anglo-Celtic "Spring" Dance, a dance swap with leaders of various groups teaching dances of the British Isles, and colonial / bush. Contact Patricia, 02 9649 6978.
29 Apr	2 day, Kellybrook Winery Farm Cider Festival, Wonga Park, VIC, folk music, Morris dancing, cider-making and more, contact Darren Kelly, 03 9722 1304.
5 May	3 day, Australian Celtic Festival 2000, Glen Innes, NSW, pipe bands, country dancers, contact Glen Innes Visitors' Centre, 02 6732 2397, email: celticfestival@hotmail.com or net: http://www.celt.net/og/cath/austone.htm
12 May	St Albans Folk Festival, NSW, contact John, 02 9528 2193 (ah), or email: johnandbetty@one.net.au or website http://folk.mountaintracks.com.au/St.Albans/
12 May	8.15 pm, Boîte Music Café, 1 Mark St, Nth Fitzroy, Melbourne,VIC, presents an evening with the Habibis and music and dancing of Greece; http://home.internex.net.au/~boitevic or 03 9417 3550.
13 May	Earthly Delights Monthly Dance, at St John's Church Hall, Constitution Ave, Reid, 8pm, $12, $10 conc, free for children < 12, contact (02) 62811098 or garden@earthlydelights.com.au
14 May	One day, FDA Hungarian Folk Dance Workshop, with Gary Dawson, 10 am - 4 pm, venue TBA.
26 May	3 days, Swiss-Italian Festa, Hepburn Springs, VIC, music, art, food, displays to celebrate Swiss-Italian settlers of local district. Contact Richard Rigby ph/fax 03 5348 3512.
2 June	4 day, National Celtic Folk festival, Geelong, VIC, music, dance, concerts, workshops, food, markets, games, displays. Contact 03 5222 6844, 0419 372 455, fax 03 5223 1648, PO Box 1314 Geelong 3220
2 June	3 days, 2nd Red Cliffs Folk Festival, near Mildura, contact 03 5024 1458 (ah)
5 June	8 days, Australian Folk Festival, Kiama, NSW, & 6 - 7 Jun, 3rd National Convention of Folk Alliance Australia, to be Convention presenter, contact David De Santi 02 4257 1788, fax 02 4257 1787, email ddesanti@keira.hotkey.net.au, PO Box 17 Albion Park NSW 2527.
10 June	Earthly Delights Monthly Dance, at St John's Church Hall, Constitution Ave, Reid, 8pm, $12, $10 conc, free for children < 12, contact (02) 62811098 or garden@earthlydelights.com.au
11 June	Philippine Festival, Gold Coast, QLD, at the Magic Millions Pavilion, Bundall. Cultural celebration of dancing, music, art & craft, cuisine etc. Contact 07 5532 4300
16 June	Boîte Winter Festival: June 16-July 16 2000, Boîte World Music Café, 1 Mark Street Nth Fitzroy, VIC. Website: http://home.internex.net.au/~boitevic
Mid July	Le Grand Bal de l'Europe, 8 day dancing festival, Gennetines, France. Contact Laurel de Vietri, (08) 9 448 8179 in Perth, WA
29 July	ContraDance, with Julie Bishop, 8pm-12, at Granville Town Hall, Sydney. Contact Julie 02 9524 0247 or email.
31 July	2 weeks, Bulgarian Dance Seminar, with Belco Stanev, culminating in Koprivstica Festival. Contact , Chris Wild, on (02) 9560 2910 (after 5pm) or email christine@shawaust.com.au.
5 Aug	2 weeks (1 week optional), Balkanfolk 2000, folkdance and music workshop with "Zornitsa", combined with Koprivstica Festival. Contact: Rae Marnham (Australia), (08) 8356-2172 or email: marnham.rae@saugov.sa.gov.au or Zornitsa (Bulgaria) - email: zornitsa@info.unacs.bg or website: http://www.balkanfolk.com/workshop/workshop.html
26 Aug	Winter Weekend, at Bowral Folk Dance Workshop, with André van de Plas, more details later.

On "Speed" Mahatma Ghandi said , "There is more to life than increasing its speed". Talking about speed, Footnotes received the following true (?) story: A report has revealed that two traffic patrol officers from Newcastle were involved in an unusual incident whilst checking for speeding motorists on the Pacific Highway between Gosford and Cooranbong. Last May, they were using a hand-held radar device to trap unwary motorists at the bottom of a long descent. One of the officers used the device to check the speed of an approaching vehicle, and was surprised to find that his target had registered a speed in excess of 800 km/h. Thinking that all his Christmases had arrived at once, he pulled over a very tired Leyland P-76 and ordered the driver out of the car. After booking the incredulous motorist for 813km/h, the officer returned to his duties. He then discovered that the $15,000 radar gun had seized up and could not be re-set. Following a complaint by the bemused motorist that his P-76 Leyland could hardly manage 110km/h, let alone a speed close to the speed of sound, charges were dropped. Investigations eventually revealed that the radar had in fact latched on to an RAAF FA-18 aircraft coming in from the Tasman Sea, while taking part in a simulated low-flying exercise over the area around the Williamtown air base. It was further revealed that the officers had a lucky escape – the tactical computer on board the aircraft not only detected and jammed the "hostile" radar equipment, but had automatically armed an air-to-ground missile ready to neutralise the perceived threat. Luckily the RAAF pilot was alerted to the missile status and was able to override the automatic protection system before the missile launched. The radar units have since been modified to ignore any readings over 300 km/h, and the RAAF has been ordered to switch off the jamming capabilities of their radar units while in exercise-only mode.

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