Folk Ball Festival
Paula A. White
A dance at the 2019 Folk Ball Festival.
A dance at the 2019 Folk Ball Festival.
media release: 36th Folk Ball Festival Live and in person January 23-25, 2026, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St 53715
Folk Ball is Madison’s largest public participation international dance festival, with two evening dance parties powered by six bands and a full day of workshops. Find up-to-date information, register and donate online, and reserve your optional dinner spot at madfolkball.org. You can also email info@madfolkball.org.
The evening parties will feature dance music sets by Balkan, Hungarian, Romanian, and Klezmer bands: Orkestar Bez Ime, Yid Vicious, Száska, Orkestar Sloboda, Izvor Orchestra, and special guest band Bulgarika.
The featured Balkan dance instructor will be Lee Otterholt, with additional workshops by regional International Dance leaders.
FRIDAY DANCE PARTY: 7:30-Midnight in Great Hall
SATURDAY WORKSHOPS: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in the Memorial Union will include Balkan dance workshops, a Bulgarian singing workshop, a brown bag lunch presentation, and more
SATURDAY DINNER: 5:00 – 7:00 pm in Tripp Commons ($20 per person). Register and pay online at madfolkball.org or by email to info@madfolkball.org
SATURDAY LEGENDARY FOLK DANCE PARTY: 7:00 pm – Midnight in Great Hall
SUNDAY REVIEW: 10:30 am – Noon in Memorial Union's Festival Room
Folk Ball is funded by your GENEROUS DONATIONS. Come and go freely, but please donate online or bring CASH, CHECK or CREDIT CARD. Give as you can! Make one full-weekend donation at the Info Table in Great Hall (checks to “Narodno International Dancers Incorporated ”) or donate at each event you attend. We suggest the following levels:
Full weekend $ 150.00
Evening parties $ 30.00 each
Workshops $ 20.00 each
Review $ 20.00
Brown Bag $0
Virtual attendance $ 15.00 per party
Donations can be made online here, and dinner tickets can be purchased online here. In addition, The Information Table in Great Hall will accept accept cash, checks, or credit cards. Checks should be made out to Narodno International Dancers Incorporated. If you are interested in paying ahead of time, but offline, please e-mail info@madfolkdance.org. Thank you!
Narodno International Dancers Incorporated is a 501(c)3 and donations to it are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Audio Engineering by Lonya Nenashev of Red Square Audio
Thank you to our sponsors: WORT 89.9 Community -Sponsored Radio, Wisconsin Folk Arts Association, Madison Folk Dance Club, UW Center for Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures, Nancy Yugo Memorial Fund.
Also connect with us on Facebook.
Send inquires to info@madfolkball.org or call (608) 571-4389.
Folk Ball 2027 will be January 22-24, 2027
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