International Folk Dance Association   of University City presents . . .
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Dances from Somogy, Hungary
a workshop taught by 
Cathy Lamont and Rudy Petke
with live music and Táncház by the band 
Szászka

November 22 - 24, 2002
University City (St. Louis), Missouri

Dances from Somogy, a county in Hungary, are a great introduction to Hungarian dancing.  Although the dances are exuberant, the movements are not very hard or physically very demanding, and no specialized skills (such as boot slapping or difficult women's turns) are required.  There is something for everyone -- the dances include a line dance, a leaping dance, the more familiar csárdás, and a karikázó or women's circle dance.  There are also some good party dances, including bottle and stick dances.  The csárdás is a couple dance, while the others can be done individually, in circles, in couples, or in circles of couples.  Cathy and Rudy are the directors of the Tisza Ensemble, a highly-acclaimed performing Hungarian dance group in the Washington, D.C. area, and Szászka is one of the finest táncház ("dance house") bands in North America.

Schedule and Prices

A weekend dance pass is available for $35 which includes everything in the schedule except for the meals.  Total cost for the weekend dance pass plus all meals is $55.  Individual sessions may also be paid for at the door (see schedule for prices).  However, it is recommended that you do not skip workshops, as the learning sequence is progressive, and you may have great difficulty if you miss too much material.  The review session is for workshop attendees only.  Interested persons are invited to come and observe.

Meals may be ordered individually, but dinner reservations must be received by Monday, November 18. You may use the registration form to make reservations.

About the Teachers and Musicians

• Cathy Lamont is the founder and artistic director of the Tisza Ensemble in the Washington, D.C. area, and Rudy Petke is the dance director.  They have been deeply involved in dancing and Hungarian culture for many years, and have made numerous study and research trips to Hungary and Romania.  In 1986 they spent a year in Hungary studying and performing Hungarian dancing and singing.  Cathy has been dancing since early childhood, with 10 years each of study in ballet and tap dancing in addition to modern dance experience.  She has done international folk dancing since 1964, and has extensive experience as a dance director, teacher, performer, and choreographer.  She has studied Hungarian dance, language, and singing since 1980.  Rudy also has several years of training in ballet and modern dance, and has done folk dancing since 1976.  He has over 24 years of experience in managing, directing, performing, and choreography for theater and dance companies.  This will be their second time teaching in St. Louis.

The Tisza Ensemble has an impressive list of past venues, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center, and in Hungary.  For more about Cathy, Rudy, and the Tisza Ensemble, visit their web site at www.tisza-ensemble.org.

• Szászka is a music group that performs village dance music from Transylvania and Hungary for events and workshops in the United States, and is one of the finest táncház bands in North America.  The group has studied with musicians in Hungary and Transylvania, and with visiting bands from those areas in North America and the Netherlands.  Nienke Oomes (fiddle), Doug Code (kontra), and Sara Bruins (bass) formed the band in Madison, Wisconsin in 1996.  Nienke has recently moved to the Washington, D.C. area, but are pleased to have them reunited for this special event.  To learn more about them and their exploits in Transylvania, visit their web site at www.Listen.To/Szaszka.

To hear examples of the type of dance music that will be featured at this workshop, tune in to Music from the Hills on Saturdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on radio station KDHX, 88.1 FM in St. Louis.

Locations

Church of the Holy Communion (Friday and Saturday):  7401 Delmar Blvd., University City, Missouri.  The church is on the northwest corner of Delmar and Jackson (see map).  Park on either street and enter through the red double door in the middle of the L-shaped building.  Note:  Due to coming church renovations we may have to meet at a different location -- please call or E-mail after the first of November.

Focal Point Traditional Arts Center (Sunday):  2720 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri.  This is 1 1/2 blocks south of Manchester Rd. (see map).  Park on the street.  Directions will also be available at the Saturday sessions.

Made possible by grants from

Other Information

Hard-soled shoes (leather or synthetic) are recommended, as rubber tends to stick to the floor.

Meals will consist of traditional Hungarian food.  Lunches will feature soup and salad.  The Saturday dinner will be a traditional Hungarian meal.  Contributions of fruits and sweets for snacks would be appreciated.

Crash Space is available.  Please indicate your needs in the registration form or call Diana Blanchard at 314-726-5737.

For Other Information: Contact Rex and Nancy Couture (phone 314-275-8228, E-mail couture@primary.net) or Diana or Bill Blanchard (phone 314-726-5737, E-mail Diana.Blanchard@att.net).

Views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the International Folk Dance Association of University City, which is not sponsored by or otherwise connected with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.