Folk Ball Festival

×

Expand

Paula A. White

A dance at the 2019 Folk Ball Festival.

A dance at the 2019 Folk Ball Festival.

The Madison Folk Dance Club and the Wisconsin Folk Arts Association team up to present the annual Folk Ball Festival, which marks its 35th anniversary this year. The main events are stylistically diverse dances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, featuring DB Polka Express, Orkestar Sloboda and Yid Vicious; and 7 p.m. Saturday, with Orkestar Bez Ime, Cherven Traktor, Black Bear Combo and Izvor Orchestra. Workshops take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, followed by dinner in Tripp Commons (with RSVP). Hear more about the weekend as Brian Hirsh interviews Michael Kuharski on the Jan. 21 edition of Green Morning Radio in the WORT-FM archive. Find a full schedule below and registration info at madfolkdance.org.

media release: The 35th Annual Folk Ball Festival will take place January 24-26, 2025 in the UW Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street. Folk Ball is Madison’s largest public participation international dance festival, powered by eight bands. Find up-to-date information, register online, and reserve optional dinner spot at madfolkball.org. You can also email info@madfolkball.org or call (608) 571-4389.

Featured Balkan dance instructor will be Michael Ginsburg.

FRIDAY DANCE PARTY: 7:30-Midnight in Great Hall

  DB Polka Express, Orkestar Sloboda, Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble

WORKSHOPS – Saturday, January 25

10:00am-12:00n BALKAN DANCE WORKSHOP, Great Hall 

  Michael Ginsburg

12:00n-1:00pm BROWN BAG TALK, Old Madison Room 

  John Uhlemann, Intrepid Music Adventurer (interview & sound samples)

1:00-3:00pm BALKAN AND CARPATHIAN DANCE, Great Hall

  Music by Szaszka, teach/lead Dan Talmo & Paula White

1:00-3:00pm RUEDA DANCE WORKSHOP, Festival Room

  Cuban called-figure genre.

1:15-3:00pm BULGARIAN SINGING, Old Madison Room 

  Donka Koleva - vocalist of Bulgarika, Cherven Traktor

3:00-5:00pm BALKAN DANCE WORKSHOP, Great Hall

  Michael Ginsburg

3:00-5:00pm TANCHAZ, Festival Room 

  Music by Szaszka, teach/lead Dan Talmo & Paula White

3:00-5:00pm DANCE WORKSHOP "Folk Ball 101", Old Madison Room

  Quickstart intro to line dances with Michael Kuharski

FOLK BALL DINNER – 5:00-7:00 Saturday, January 25 in Tripp Commons

   $15 per person.

Grilled chicken breast, wooded mushroom sauce, roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables.

Cheese ravioli, tomato vodka sauce, seasonal vegetables.

   Advance reservation required via Festival pre-registation

   Atmospheric Bulgarian na trapeza music by Nikolay Kolev at the end.

THE LEGENDARY FOLK BALL DANCE PARTY: 7:00-Midnight in Great Hall

  Orkestar Bez Ime, Cherven Traktor, Black Bear Combo, Izvor Orchestra

BALKAN DANCE REVIEW:

  10:30-noon SUNDAY in Festival Room - Michael Ginsburg

Folk Ball is funded by your GENEROUS DONATIONS. Come and go freely, but please bring CASH, CHECK or CREDIT CARD. Give as you can! Make one full-weekend donation at the Info Table in Great Hall (checks to “Madison Folk Dance Club”) or donate at each event you attend.

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.