Folk Ball Festival

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Paula A. White

A big circle of dancers.

A past Folk Ball Festival at the UW Memorial Union.

Madison Folk Dance Club and the Wisconsin Folk Arts Association team up to present this weekend of dancing and workshops, which returns for the first time since 2020. The evening dances (7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday in the Great Hall) both feature sets by New Orleans-based Balkan music collective Blato Zlato, along with more danceable music from around the world by Orkestar Bez Ime, Yid Vicious, Szaskas and others. Workshops begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, which also features a buffet dinner at 5 p.m. with music by Intemperance Collective. Find a detailed schedule below, and updates at madfolkball.org.

media release: Folk Ball Festival live and in person with special guest band Blato Zlato!  January 27-28, 2023, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St  53715.

January 27:

FRIDAY DANCE PARTY 7:30-Midnight in Great Hall : 7:30   YID VICIOUS [klezmer & int’l/Madison] ;  9:00 BLATO ZLATO  [Bulgarian/New Orleans]; 10:30   SLOBODA  [Balkan/Milwaukee]

January 28:

SATURDAY WORKSHOPS : 10:00-noon DANCE WORKSHOP  Great Hall, by Mimi Goldberg & Dan Talmo; Noon-1:00 BYO BROWN BAG TALK  Old Madison Rm   “Blato Zlato  - The Water Flows” Band members share their journey; 1:00-3:00  TANCHAZ in Tripp Commons with music by Szaszka; teaching circles led by Dan Talmo & Paula White. Our Friday Táncház moves to Saturday.  Not a workshop, but teaching circles welcome all to enjoy the Tanchaz experience!  1:00-3:00 DANCE WORKSHOP Great Hall by Dan Garvin & Paul Collins; 1:15-3:00 BULGARIAN SINGING Old Madison Rm by Lou Carrig of Blato Zlato; 3:00-5:00 DANCE WORKSHOP Great Hall by Paul Wagner & Michael Kuharski

FOLK BALL BUFFET DINNER 5:00-7:00  Sat.  in  [room to be determined] “Na Trapeza!” with music by Intemperance Collective & ethnic torch songs by Anna Purnell. Reservation:  mk@mailbag.com $15 per person

THE LEGENDARY FOLK BALL DANCE PARTY  7:00-Midnight Great Hall ballroom:  7:00  SZASZKAS [Transylvanian/Twin Cities] ; 7:50 BLATO ZLATO [Bulgarian/New Orleans ; 9:00 ORKESTAR BEZ IME [Int’l/Twin Cities]; 10:40 IZVOR ORCHESTRA [Int’l/Milwaukee]

THE MONEY: 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. THANKS!

SUGGESTED DONATIONS:  Workshop $15 ; Party $30; Weekend $125

PUBLIC HEALTH:

(1)  VACCINATION required of all participants & observers. On arrival, go to Festival Info Table in Great Hall & sign in.  (Be prepared to prove vax status.)

(2)  MASK should be worn at Festival events  EXCEPT if you have a NEGATIVE same-day COVID-19 TEST (Sign form for TEST at Festival Info Table.)

THANK YOU for respecting fellow dancers & for coming to dance in Peculiar Times!

SUNDAY BONUS  –  Folk Ball After-Party. Sleep late, then help Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble celebrate its 27th anniversary with a Kleztacular . 6:30-8:30 at Harmony Bar (2201 Atwood Ave). $10 adult (kids free) & free Yid CD to every reveler! Space for dance & the music to fuel it.

WEBSITE:   www.madfolkball.org

FFI:  Michael 608-469-2543/ mk@mailbag.com

LIKE IT!  "Madison Folk Ball" fb page  https://www.facebook.com/Madison-Folk-Ball-825492254169523/

Sound Wizardry by Lonya Nenashev of Red Square Audio!

Presented by Wis. Folk Arts Assoc. & Madison Folk Dance Club. Co-sponsored by Dept. of German,  Nordic,  & Slavic. Generous support from Nancy Yugo Memorial Fund .