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Bill and Louise Lidicker
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Bill and Louise Lidicker were involved in international folk dance as dancers, teachers, and performers for many years. Of particular note, they were invited to teach at five institutes sponsored by the Folk Dance Federation of California, were invited for a four day teaching stint in Taipei, Taiwan; taught on an Alaskan cruise; and taught "classic" couple dances at Stockton Folk Dance Camp three times.
The Lidicker's also taught and performed Czech dances at two local Czech festivals. Starting in 1996, they began going to the Czech Republic (four times in all) for special training in Czech and Slovak dances.
They had many fine teachers, but have been most influenced by Radek Rejšek and Eva Rejšková, Pat and Hugo Pressnall, and Dean and Nancy Linscott.
Russian folk dance was a special interest of theirs. They taught and performed Russian dance for several Russian club parties and at two Russian festivals. Bill credited three long-time dance partners who made all of his folk dancing possible: Naomi Lidicker, Susan Galleni, and Louise Lidicker.
Bill, born in 1932, started in folk dancing with the Berkeley Folk Dancers in September of 1964. This Club provided him with a wonderful environment for learning dance, improving social skills, and giving him an opportunity to give back through teaching. He even claimed that the teaching of dance had been a synergistic influence on his main professional activity of teaching and researching in science.
Bill has attended many camps, including the Stockton Folk Dance Camp, Mendocino Woodlands Folklore Camp, Dvorana in the Czech Republic, Feather River Family Camp, California Folk Dance Federation Statewide Festivals, California Kolo Festival, and the North/South Teachers' Seminar.
He also had intensive training in Scottish Country Dance, English Country Dance, and Square Dance and taught kids of various ages at many schools, summer programs, and scout groups.
Bill performed with the Westwind International Folk Ensemble and went on their European tour in 1995. He also performed at the Jubilee American Dance Theatre and with South Carolina and Georgia Scottish, English, and Irish dance groups.
Bill served as Vice-president of the Berkeley Folk Dancers in 1968 and President in 1969. Bill and Louise were elected Honorary Members of the club.
Bill and Louise chaired the Folk Dance Federation Statewide Festival in 1996 and he joined the Dance Research Committee in 1997. He served as President of the Federation from 2007-2009, Vice-president from 2009-2011, and was appointed Parliamentarian in 2011. He organized a thorough re-writing of the Federation bylaws and served on the Federation Scholarship Committee. He also was Deputy Chair of the Statewide 2016 Committee.
Bill was an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the National Folk Organization and was a member of the Rules and Regulations Committee after joining the Board (mostly as Chair). He also served as President of the NFO from 2011-2013, and Immediate Past-president from 2013 to 2016.
Bill passed away on Wednesday, Aril 27, 2022.
Dances the Lidickers taught include Ajd’na Livo, Ajnzerica, Alexandra Valss, Andulička, Ariciul de la Peretu, Baztan Dantza, Boerenplof, Bohemian Mazurka, Boleslav, Čerečnka, Čerešničky, Čerjana, Četvorno horo, Cigántánc, Čumurka-Sarájčica, Dans Tiganesc, Danţ din Groşi, Divčibarsko kolo, Dudačka polka, Fate Tango, Goralski ze Stocktonu, Gorarçe, Hopak, Hora de la Chircani, Ijswals, Imate Li Vino, Jan Pierewiet, Kačerac, Kako Kostadine, Kak pri Balkye, Kalina, Kikapu, Kohanochka, Kojčovata, Kolo kalendara, Korobushka, Kosjatants, Koster C'hoad, Kujawiak No. 3, Kujony, Kulsko Horo, La Salamandre, Lipa ma Marýca, Louky, Lucky, Mariana, Mazur Royale, Moldovan, Myslivacká Na Yagorya, Nino, Nochka, Opsa, Opšaj diri, Oy Tsveyot Kalina, Pardubačka, Passu Torrau, Pilky, Polonez Royale, Po Ulitse Mostovoy, Pravo Plovdisko horo, Raca, Sor Cesare, Šotyš from Zahorie, Spacyr Polka, Starobabska, Staro Zagorsko horo, Szot Madziar, Trava Moya Trava, Trójak, Tsiganochka, U Rekee, Valašsky Starodavny, Vdovec, Věnec, Warszawianka, and Ya da Kalinushku Lomala.