We meet most Thursday evenings
Special teaching by appointment ~7:00pm
IFD beginner teaching 7:30pm
IFD advanced teaching ~8:15pm
Request dancing ~8:45 to 10pm
Street dancing and performances
Join our 'village' on Thursday nights, 7:30pm. Most dances are taught in the first hour.
This is a list of about 300 of the 900 or so dances we have done at some point in the last 30+ years.
If you visit and request one of these (or any of the 900 we have music for) chances are good some of us will know it, or be pleased to follow your lead.
Ada's Kujawiak, Ajd' na Ljevo, Adje Jano, Aino Kchume, Ais Giorgis, Ally Ally, Alunelul, Amelia's Waltz, American Schottish, Andro, Arap, Arkan, Arnold's Circle, Avant Deaux de
Travers, Aysino, Bagi Cycle, Ballo Sardo, Balta, Bannielou Lambol, Bavno Horo, Baztan Dantza, Beejo, Bekosi Csardas, Bekosi Paros, Bela Rada, Belicisko Oro, Belle Kawe, Berance, Berde, Biboda Dudacka
Polka, Big Hill Mixer, Bir Mimdur, Biserka Bojarka, Bitolski Gajda, Bitte Man I Knibe, Black Nag, Bosarka, Bourre D'Oulches La Crouzade, Briul Drept, Briul Fagaras, Briuletul, Bucimis, Bufcansko,
Bunjevacko Momacko, Cacak Zaplanski, Cajun, Carnavalita, Ceceno, Cetvorno, Champs Elysee, Chukanoto, Cica Obrenovo, Cicerenella, Ciganski Orijent, Ciganskoto, Ciganytanc, Cilveli Oy, Cimpoi, Citcit,
Cocek, Corrido, Coskun Corun, Cotton Eyed Joe, Cuileandra, Daichovo Horo, Dance De Mouchoirs, Dargasson, Daronee, Das Fenster, De-A Lungul, Delile, Delilo, Devollice, D'Hammerschmied Gesellen,
Dhivaritikos, Dipat, Djanguritsa, D'Nvertit, Dobrudzanska Reka, Dospatsko, Doudlebska Polka, Drmes Iz Zdencina, Drumul Draculul, Dzhanguritsa, Elenino Mome, Eleno Mome, Eminem, Ersko Kolo, Espan,
Evangalina, Fatise Koto, Feiar Meds Vals, Floracica Oltenesca, Flowers Of Edinburgh, Forgatos, Galoanalul De La Birca, Gankino, Gasior, Gavotte Des Montagnes, Gay Gordons, Gerakina, Geud Man of
Ballengigh, Godecki Cacak, Grand Square, Graovsko Horo, Guhnega, Gul Dali, Guzelleme, Gypsy Wine, Haire Mamougeh, Hajduk, Halay, Hambo, Hanter Dro, Hasapikos (fast and slow), Hashtayee, Hole In The
Wall, Hopak, Hora Dragasenilor, Hora Dreapta, Hora Fetelor, Hora Goicesti, Hora Oltenesca, Hora Pe Gheata, I Mate Li Vino, I Trata, Idam Ne Idam, Ini Vini, Invertita Din Luna Turda, Invertita_2, Irish
Waltz, Iste Hendek, Istip, Itele, Ivanica, Jacok, Jambolski-Triti Puti, Jeni Jol, Jetlli, Jocul De a Longul, Jovanka Jovanka, Jove Male Mome, Kabadayi, Kalamantianos, Kapuvari Verbunk, Karagouna,
Karsi Bar, Katya, Ketri Ketri, Kevi Csardas, Kjustendilska Rucenica, Klistos, Kocharee, Korcardas, Koroglu, Kostursko, Krakowiak, Krcino, Kreuzkoenig, Krici Krici Ticek, Kritiki Sousta, Kritikos Syrto,
Krivo Zensko Oro, Kujawiak Wiscelny, La Bastringue, La Marieta, Lamita, Le Laride, Lemonia, Lepa Anka Kolovodi, Lerikos, Les Noto, Levi Jackson Rag, Logovac, Loorke Salvori Yerke, Loosenee Shogun,
Lorenz Norm Rms, Lum Lum Ley, Luneburger Windmuller, Mach, Macka Yollari, Mairi's Wedding, Makazice, Mazurka, Medax Tashginag, Mehribahnim, Menum Balim, Meraner Dreiertanz, Merenge, Mesosegi, Miserlou,
Miteritsa, Moher Prachim, Moja Diridika, Monday Mazur, Narodno Oro, Nebesko Kolo, Neda Voda Nali Vala, Nestinarsko, Niska Banja, Nonesuch, Novo Zagorsko, Oberek Na Levo, Olahos, Omeomi, Opas, Orijent,
Ovecepolska Petropulka, Pajduska, Parharelul, Pata Pata, Pentozali, Petronella, Petrunino, Picking Up Sticks, Pinasavka, Pletyanka, Po Zeljano Trati, Pol Harrow Burn, Polka Od Przeworka, Polka Souvana,
Poloxia, Polster Tanc, Pop Marinka, Port Said, Postie's Jig, Powolniak, Pravo Rodopsko Horo, Prekid Kolo, Punta, Put Your Little Foot, Raca, Rance, Ravno, Raz, Rencber, Reyhan, Rezianka, Rezianka
I&II old, Ripna Maca, Road to Isles, Roata Din Bihor, Romanian Medley, Rorospols, Rose Tree, Rustemul, Sadi Moma, Sadilo Mome (Pece), Sagaritikos, Salsa, Salty Dog, Sandansko Horo, Sano Duso,
Santa Rita, Saraevka Kolo, Savila Se Le Bella Loza, Schottische, Sedenka, Sedi Donka, Seljanicica, Sestorka, Set de Fortierville, Setnya, Sheikhani, Siamse Beirte, Sirbe Pe Loc, Sirdes, Sitna Zborenka,
Sitno Zhensko, Sivas Kiz, Skopska Crnagrka, Skudrinka, Sleeping Kujawiak, Sonderhonig, Soroc, Soultana, Sousta Mandindes, Spiro, St. Johns River, St. Gilgen's Figurentanz, Sta Dyo, Stepping Out,
Strandzhansko, Surok, Swedish Polka, Sweet Girl, Sweets of May, Syrtos, Szatmari Csardas, Szekely Forgatos, Szekely Friss, Tango, Tango Argentin, Ten Pretty Girls, Thracian Racenica, Tik, Timonia,
Tino Mori, To Ting, Toculi, Topansko, Trava Trava, Trenchmore, Trip to Bavaria, Trip to Paris, Trite Pati, Trugnala Rumjana, Trojak, Tropanka, Tsamikos, Tuberosa Csardas, Ugros, Usest, Vari Hasapikos,
Venezia, Vlasko, Vossarul, Vranjanka, Vrapceto, Vrtielka Czardas, Sweedish Waltz, Wiwat z Pozadowa, Wright's Humor, Yaylalar, Zajecarka, Zalna Majka, Zibnsrit, Zillerthaler Landler.
A circle dance in the Vieux Carre, Barkus Sunday 2005
Our group's name
Crescent City International Dancers, CCID
Specializing in
International Folk Dance
Introduction
We are a voluntary village. We strive to be like the hundreds of geographical villages in dozens of countries, where our 900+ dances come from. Our teachers learned them
from immigrant communities, or collected them from the villages where they have been danced for centuries.
Street dancing on
Mardi Gras 2003
Our dances are typically not choreographed for spectators -- they survived because they feel so good to do. I suspect they will be done as long as folk walk the
face of our dear mother earth.
Join us to learn and do some of the dances you see on the left. You will find perhaps 12 to 40 dancers at all skill levels. Some of us have been doing these dances for
30-40 years. We joyfully pass our dances on to guests and new members.
Our dances
We do mostly line or circle dances, and when there is a good gender balance, add couple and set dances. (A Folk Dancers 'line dance' is like an open circle, not a
formation of singles as in country/western dance.) Doing these dances, humming the music and/or singing the
words, will help you feel connected to the peoples of the world, the Greeks, Turks, Hungarians, Poles, Serbs, Macedonians, Croatians, Slovenians, Czechs, Slovaks, Romanians, Irish, English, Germans,
French, French Canadians, Russians, Mexicans, Scandinavians, Israeli, Lebanese, and others. Doing these dances also gives you an instant bond with the International Folk Dancers around the country,
people who revere these magical experiences just as we do.
Beginners always welcome!
We love beginners. It is our pleasure to share our great good fortune. We will
teach some of the easier dances to start the evening, and play other easy dances throughout the evening that many newcomers can pick up without special teaching. As the evening progresses, you will
see us attack the more challenging dances. You can leave if you like, but you're more than welcome to get behind the line and see what you can do. If you like that dance, ask for a teach, or get one
of us to break it down.
Skill
Do you tap your foot when you hear music? Can you march in time to music? That's probably all you need.
Camping at Indian Creek, tents, cabins, performance, 10/03
Age
Age is not important, though most dances are designed for full-grown people. Most of us love having little people underfoot, bring the kids.
Cost
The first time is always free. We ask for$5 for singles, $8 for couples, $2 for students -- or whatever -- no one is turned away. Some will contribute services and help
set up or clear up afterwards, or bring special treats for the parties. We are a co-op; everything we collect is used for things that benefit all members, mostly rent for the hall.
On occasion, we will have live musicians or guest teachers. You may be asked to donate a little more than usual. ALL proceeds will go to the guests.
Time and place
Hours will be 7:30 to 10 pm, but beginners or rehearsals may be set up for 7:00pm.
We are dancing at the Starlight Ballroom, in Metairie at Kent Ave & Fairfield St. See map.
What to wear
Just comfortable clothes. Some women choose to wear longish skirts, since they flow nicely while dancing. After a year or so, most dancers will select some ethnic
costume to wear to parties, performances, and street dances. Balkan outfits are a big favorite; you'll see some in the photo at the bottom of this page. Others design their own look. Bottom line:
we're there to dance, not dress!
Shoes are very important. Sneakers work, but leather soles are better. A favorite among regular dancers are opanci
(see right), simple leather shoes from Macedonia, ideal on grass or packed dirt in the village square. Leather-soled boots are ideal for Polish dances, and almost essential for the Hungarian Verbunks.
Contacts
Reggie Dawes, 504-861-2467 cell 504-228-4049, regi@Xfolkdancers.net (...
remove the X first)
Ginny Jones, 504-467-5090
International Folk Dancing around the world
There is a pretty good (but homely-looking and often out of date) directory on the Web, see www.folkdancing.org.
Among the printed directories, I recommend The Folk Dance Phone Book and Group Directory by Ron Houston. The cost is $14. If you travel much, you will love
it. Most groups keep a copy on hand. It has been published yearly since 1993 by the
Society of Folk Dance Historians 2100 Rio Grande Street
Austin, Texas 78705
fdhist@yahoo.com
You will find groups like ours, doing 'international' folk dancing in most any major city in the U.S., often at universities. REAL hotbeds exist in Chicago, Boston, San
Francisco, and New York City. The states of California, Texas and Florida are worthy of special mention. Scandinavia and Australia are terrific.
Extra curricular
If you can take late hours, there will usually be regulars who will go out after dancing, a chance to actually talk to the people you dance with every week.
We spend some weeks every year teaching and reviewing ethnic dances, preparing ourselves to attend events by Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Balkan, and other communities. This
lets us join real village people doing the dances they or their parents learned in the old country.
Many groups sponsor weekend workshops with out-of-town teachers, most of whom travel far to collect village dances. Groups from one village may van-pool to nearby
villages for these festivals.
Meeting new people, learning new dances and doing the dances you love, and hearing incredible, exotic music is what makes folk dancing great. It's easy to dedicate one
night a week to it: once the bug bites, you simply refuse to schedule anything else on that night.
Disclaimer
The observations above are those of the Webmaster, Reggie Dawes, with editing help from Kathy Laborde. Our views are not necessarily considered correct or appropriate by the
rest of CCID or folk dancers at large. To correct me or make suggestions, write regi@XXXfolkdancers.net,
but remove the anti-spam XXX's first.
Our card. The statue shows dancers performing the Sardana. Thousands of Catalans proudly do this dance in Barcelona's Plaça de la Seu every Sunday afternoon, or summer evenings
anywhere. Learn more of the history here and watch it danced below:
Dancing the Sardana
This page was last updated on Sunday, March 16, 2008
NO copyright. Visit the Webmaster's other sites at www.dawesbiz.net
humming the music and/or singing the
words, will help you feel connected to the peoples of the world, the Greeks, Turks, Hungarians, Poles, Serbs, Macedonians, Croatians, Slovenians, Czechs, Slovaks, Romanians, Irish, English, Germans,
French, French Canadians, Russians, Mexicans, Scandinavians, Israeli, Lebanese, and others. Doing these dances also gives you an instant bond with the International Folk Dancers around the country,
people who revere these magical experiences just as we do.
We love beginners. It is our pleasure to share our great good fortune. We will
teach some of the easier dances to start the evening, and play other easy dances throughout the evening that many newcomers can pick up without special teaching. As the evening progresses, you will
see us attack the more challenging dances. You can leave if you like, but you're more than welcome to get behind the line and see what you can do. If you like that dance, ask for a teach, or get one
of us to break it down.
