Group Choreography in Balkan Dance (Intermediate/Advanced Level): Yorgo Kaporis Yorgo will be teaching dynamic, fast and vigorous dances from the Balkans including, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Greece and Romania. Folk dance elements that have been choreographed using modern and traditional dance styles into spectacular vibrant and colourful sequences.
Dances from Leskovac in south-east Serbia (Open Level): Gary Dawson Learn dances and the folk culture of Leskovac (Leskovats), a cultural centre in south-east Serbia featuring an amalgam of Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Gypsy traditions. Dances will include Bela Rada, Cetvorka (‘chetvorka'), Cacak (‘charchak'), Cigancica (‘siganchitsa'), Eleno mome, Pravo oro and the most common Serbian kolo.
Balkan Dance (Open Level): Gary Dawson Revise many of the favourite dances from previous camps, including Dajcovo horo, Drumul Draculoi, Trite puti, Pravo Trakijsko horo, Bajrace/Pusteno and a selection of Gypsy dances.
During the workshops we will put together a simple choreographed performance to present at the final Bamedam concert. The choreography draws from Serbian choreographic traditions and will be performed in traditional dress. Gary will provide photographs of the traditional dress of the region. Workshop participants are asked to bring along clothes resembling the traditional dress to wear at the performance. For men: long brown or black pants; white embroidered shirt; brown/black vest; red or multi-coloured cummerbund; long red socks; ‘opunci' (leather sandals) or other footwear. For women: white embroidered blouse; full white skirt (embroidered at the hem); black apron; black, green, or dark red vest; red or multi-coloured cummerbund, with ‘pafte' (large belt buckle) if possible; headscarf; ‘opunci' or other footwear. For men and women – ‘kais' (leather belt) – most dances are performed holding the belts of neighbouring people; ‘ mara ma' – scarf/handkerchief – dancers twirl their mara ma during many of the dances.
Balkan Dancers will also be interested in some of the Egyptian and Middle Eastern folk styles on offer at the camp this year such as Tannoura (Raqs Sufi), Tahkteeb (stick dance) and Dabke (Lebanese circle dance). These styles are suitable for men and women.