01/01/2024
Ethnic Dance Chicago (EDC) and the Virtual Dance Room (VDR) invite you to meet up in the Second Floor Ballroom Chicago’s Color Club (4146 N Elston Ave, Chicago 60618) on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 7:00pm to 11:00pm CST for the 2024 Chicago Winter Dance Festival to kick off the new dance year.
We’ll celebrate the richness of America’s many ethnic groups by coming together for a dance and music event that follows our theme of “Dancing as a Second Language” (DSL).
This dance event incorporates elements common across multiple cultures and will give participants a taste of how folks from other backgrounds approach dancing to different types of music. These types of dancing are great social mixers and offer aerobic workouts appropriate for all ages.
EDC/VDR facilitates the sharing and preservation of the dance and music heritage of America's many ethnic groups as well as of America's own traditional dance and music.
This Dancing as a Second Language event offers a program of many easily accessible dances (as well as some challenging ones). Some dance instruction and leadership will be provided by Stanislav Ivanov (Bulgarian), Milan Andrianic (Serbian), Nina Lusterman (International) and Paul Collins (International). Some other participants will be happy to assist and coach those new to ethnic dancing on when and how to join in some of the more easily accessible dances.
Ethnic dance lessons are enjoyable for both beginning and experienced dancers. Formal instruction will be mixed in with occasional “learn by doing” experiences. Everyone is welcome to attend, with or without prior dance experience and with or without dance partners. Just come as you are and dance – no special outfits required.
The Chicago Winter Dance Festival program will feature live music by special guest musicians Clara Byom, Vladimir Rokvic and Danny Wallenberg as well as recorded music.
See related jpg documents for details.
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As a follow-on program, EDC/VDR is offering off a 10-lesson class (plus a final class party) of Dancing as a Second Language material running from January 12th through March 29th in the Color Club’s second floor classroom. The class (limit up to 20 participants) will run on Fridays starting at 7pm, prior to the VDR’s regular Friday evening global Zoom dance program that begins at 8pm. Class registrants will be provided links to online dance descriptions, dance music and dance videos. Registrants are also invited to stay for the 8pm global Zoom class at no additional charge. Class instructor is Paul Collins.
DSL programs are open to all communities, generations, ethnic groups, genders, life-styles, schools, etc. Classes and events are targeted to serve specific audiences including young adults, families, youth and seniors
Details on the class schedule and cost will be available soon. For questions and additional information, contact Paul Collins: [email protected].
Keywords: exercise, fitness, ethnic dance, ethnic music, folk dance, folk music, school dance, recreation, traditional dance, ethnic heritage, contra dance, square dance
