Folk Ball Festival
to
UW Memorial Union 800 Langdon St., Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Paula A. White
A dance during the 2019 Folk Ball Festival.
A dance during the 2019 Folk Ball Festival.
Still hoping to burn off some big holiday season dinners? Or just looking to hear some intriguing international music? The Madison Folk Dance Club and the Wisconsin Folk Arts Association team up to present the annual Folk Ball Festival, with evening dances (7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday) featuring a distinct Balkan theme courtesy of Sloboda, Black Bear Combo, Izvor Orchestra and Orkestar Bez Ime. The dances also feature non-Balkan music by Yid Vicious, Intemperance Collective and Szaszka.If you would like to learn some steps, workshops begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. Find the full schedule below and updates at the MFDU website.
media release: Madison Folk Dance Club and the Wisconsin Folk Arts Association (with sponsor Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures and media sponsor WORT) team up to present the 34th Annual Folk Ball Festival, January 26 – 28, 2024 in the UW Madison Memorial union at 800 Langdon Street. All are welcome to join in this weekend of dancing and workshops. The evening dances (7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday in the Great Hall) feature sets by Midwestern International Folk and Klezmer bands Orkestar Bez Ime, Yid Vicious, Szaska, Sloboda, Izvor, Intemperance Collective, and Black Bear Combo. Workshops begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a buffet dinner at 5:00 p.m.
Find a detailed schedule below, with more information including public health policy and updates at madfolkball.org.
FRIDAY
DANCE PARTY 7:30 pm-midnight, with YID VICIOUS (Klezmer & International) 7:30 pm, SLOBODA (Balkan) 9:00 pm, INTEMPERANCE COLLECTIVE (International) 10:50 pm
SATURDAY
WORKSHOPS: DANCE WORKSHOP by Steve Kotansky 10:00 am, BROWN BAG TALK noon, IRISH SET DANCE WORKSHOP 1:00 pm, TANCHAZ with music by Szaszka; by Dan Talmo and Paula White 1:00 pm, E. EUROPEAN SINGING by Natalie Nowytski 1:15 pm, DANCE WORKSHOP by Steve Kotansky 3 pm, DANCE WORKSHOP Folk Ball 101 3:00 pm
BUFFET DINNER “Na Trapeza!” 5:00 - 7:00, DINNER TICKETS REQUIRED ($15 per person). Email Michael Kuharski to reserve and purchase tickets: mk@mailbag.com.
LEGENDARY FOLK BALL DANCE PARTY 7 pm-midnight with SZASZKA (Transylvanian) 7:00 pm, BLACK BEAR COMBO (Balkan Brass) 8:10 pm, IZVOR ORCHESTRA (Balkan) 8:45 pm, BLACK BEAR COMBO 10:05 pm, ORKESTAR BEZ IME (Balkan) 10:40 pm
SUNDAY
REVIEW: Review Session with Steve Kotansky 10:30 am
Folk Ball is funded solely by your GENEROUS DONATIONS. Come & go freely, but bring CASH, CHECK, or CREDIT CARD give as you can! Make one full-weekend donation at Info Table in Great Hall (checks to “Madison Folk Dance Club”) or donate at each event you attend but help keep this an open celebration for everyone.
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
(1) BEFORE YOU COME: If you have symptoms of respiratory illness, DO NOT COME. If you have likely been exposed in the last 3-5 days, DO NOT COME. Consider testing beforehand (especially if coming from a distance). We recommend a recent booster.
(2) YOUR CHOICE: VACCINATION or NEGATIVE SAME-DAY TEST. On arrival, go to Festival Info Table in Great Hall & REGISTER
(affirm vax/test status, provide contact info, get Name Tag ).
(3) MASKING is encouraged but is your decision. THANK YOU for making in-person dancing possible!