Madison band Reptile Palace Orchestra shoves diversity right in your face.

Have you ever wanted to impress your friends with your unique dancing skills, but you’ve never found the right opportunity – or time – to perfect them? From Friday, September 25 through September 27, the Eau Claire International Folk Dancers (ECIFD) will host their 30th Anniversary Dance Workshop – the perfect opportunity for avid dancers to show off their “moves!” “This workshop is set up as a participatory event,” stated Paul Wagner, event organizer. “The evening parties are not concerts, but opportunities to dance with our local and regional folk dance community to some amazing live music.” Held in the Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral’s Great Hall (on beautiful wood floors just waiting to be danced on!), the workshop will feature three opportunities for attendees to learn various dances: California native Lee Otterholt will teach Balkan dancing, Bulgarian native Yuliyan Yordanov will teach Bulgarian dancing, and Lee’s wife Hilde will teach Hawaiian hula dancing. There will also be live music nightly, with performances by Madison-based Reptile Palace Orchestra and the Orkestar Bez Ime, one of the Midwest’s most sought-after international folk dance bands. The event is the second of its kind organized by the ECIFD, who have been hosting Friday night dances at the Eau Claire YMCA since 1979. The group focuses on the traditional dances of Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, and Greece, among others. “This is an opportunity for those with some dance experience to learn international folk dances from nationally recognized teachers,” said Wagner. “Anyone attending will leave with a better understanding of the variety and richness of international folk dance and music. The rhythms, melodies, and dances of these areas can be quite captivating.”

    Eau Claire International Folk Dancers’ 30th Anniversary Dance Workshop · Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 2 · Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral’s Great Hall, 510 S Farwell St., Eau Claire · www.cs.uwec.edu/~wagnerpj.htm