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Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
DANCING WITH TWO LEFT FEET |
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Recently I wrote about Bora Gajicki and what I remembered about him. This made me think about some of the teachers and musicians I have known over the years. Before my memory totally fades, I thought it might be nice to write some of the impressions I remember about them.
I started dancing in the early 1960s in Laguna Beach. My wife, who is an avid folk dancer since her college days of dancing with Michael Herman in New York, finally convinced me to join her at Wednesday night dancing at Laguna Beach High School. In those days Nate Moore, would come down from Los Angeles every week to Laguna and teach our group. The majority of the dances he taught were couple dances, and once in a while he would throw in a line dance. I still remember the excitement and feeling the satisfaction when we finally mastered the steps of a Hasapiko. In those days, the faster the dance was the more I liked it, and Balkan dances certainly fit that formula.
That year we decided to fly to San Francisco for the "Kolo Festival" and I still remember one of the workshops given by an exuberant and energetic young man, Dennis Boxell. Between the long weekend, dust to dawn dancing, and the steep San Francisco hills, we returned home barely able to walk. From all the dances, we remembered only one dance. And now I forget which dance that was.
Soon after, we moved back to San Diego and started searching for a group that would fit our interest. Low and behold, UC San Diego offered an extension class called "Balkan Dancing 101" taught by Dan Lulue and his nineteen year-old girlfriend, Vicki Mayhew. Needless to say, we were in seventh heaven and took his class over and over. I still remember him saying, "Look at me for the steps, but if you want to get the styling of the dances, look at Vicky." After all these years, we lost track of Dan, but still look up to Vicky for our styling.
Thinking about all the dancing we did in the past, leaves me breathless and tired, so I will take a brief respite until next month when I will continue with my folk dance ramblings.
Printed in Folk Dance Scene, "DANCING WITH TWO LEFT FEET (41), February 2009.