New members - Balkan folk dances in Dublin - Fridays

Explore folk chain dances from Bulgaria and surrounding countries, learn about the bagpipe, and socialise. No partner is required.
About this Event

Are you thinking of joining the Balkan folk dances group in Dublin? Here is more information on how you can do it.

Who is this for?

Potential members are people with various experience in life and music but here are a few points:

• Ideally, you are a person who already has some experience with folk dances from the Balkans. Maybe you have danced at weddings and other informal occasions or you were part of dance groups as a child. In other words, following rhythm and simple steps patterns is not something absolutely new to you.
• You might not have any experience with Balkan folk dances but you are a dedicated learner who understands that repetition and persistency are key to enjoy the effect of the music and dances.
• These practices are aimed at people who want to really get into Balkan / Bulgarian folk dance, rather than simply try a different dance class each week. You should be prepared to practise, concentrate and build on what you learn from week to week.

If you already have experience in other forms of dance, folk music or rhythm-based activities, your existing coordination and rhythmic awareness will be very useful.

You will join the warm up, basic steps and combinations easily from the first visit. After that gradually you will learn the dances by dancing behind the main chain until you feel comfortable - there is always someone who will be able to show you the basic patterns before/after the practice or during a break (they are six or eight steps usually) and you will catch up with the new dances as eveyrone else.

What to expect

We'll start gently and progressively increase the tempo and complexity as the evening develops:

• 🔥 Warm-up and rhythmic exercises using Bulgarian folk music.
• 👣 Work on basic steps and combinations, with detailed breakdowns and plenty of repetition.
• 🕺 Learn several Bulgarian dances, ranging from relatively accessible patterns to more challenging combinations and rhythms.
• 🎶 Dance with live gaida accompaniment as well as recorded music, experiencing how the same dance feels when the musical context changes.
• 💪 The final 40 minutes will be more intensive, with faster tempos and more demanding material, particularly suited to improvers and experienced dancers.

The aim is to understand, practise and feel the rhythms and movements, gradually becoming more comfortable with the distinctive character of Bulgarian horo.

Important studio requirement!!!

Please bring a pair of soft-soled indoor shoes that you will use only in the studio. Trainers or similar footwear suitable for physical activity are perfectly fine. There is space to change shoes and a changing room.

Bare feet and socks are not permitted in the studio, and you will not be able to participate or move around the dance space without appropriate indoor footwear. Please make sure you bring your shoes with you - no refunds will be given if you arrive without suitable footwear.

Clothes - there is no special clothes requirement but wear something comfortable for physical activities. Jeans, tight skirts and trousers are not suitable.

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Please note there is no practice on November 6th. If you select the trial option of three visits (new visitors only, can be used once) - they should be consecutive from the Friday you start (except the mentioned break). If you join early with full membership, you will get the opportunity to visit two additional Sunday practices (on Nov 1st and one more to be announced).

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