Group folk dancing has long been considered a non-verbal, universal language that brings people together.
The Midwest Folk Dance Association held its June Camp Folk Dance Weekend, June 12 – 15, at Lake Forest Academy.
Camp director, Mady Newfield, says June Camp Folk Dance Weekend has a 70-year tradition in the Midwest and this year attracted 140 participants from across the United States and Canada.
Newfield says the focus of the weekend is for participants to learn about and enjoy recreational folk dancing.
“We gather with teachers who can offer insights into dance of different ethnic traditions, from different parts of the world, and choreograph these into modern dance versions and some authentic ethnic dances,” Newfield said.
This year’s esteemed instructor, Steve Kotansky, originally studied ethnic dance at UCLA, now an expert in dances from Eastern Europe and the Balkan States, has dedicated research travel to dances of Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Hungary, Greece and Albania.
Jennifer Forbes-Baily of Omaha, Nebraska, participated in the June Camp weekend.
“Learning to appreciate other cultures, music and dance from other nations, that’s part of what makes America great,” Forbes-Baily said.
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Newfield says, June Camp has become a mainstay of the Midwest international folk dance community, with a focus on engaging all skill levels and in dancing for enjoyment rather than performance.“This is recreational, not authentic ethnic dancing, Newfield said.
“Most participants are retired people in their 60s and 70s, and while the origin of the tradition and styles can be found in international folk dancing, we do it for fun,” Newfield said.
According to Newfield, while June Camp has historically been held at a variety of venues, this year’s location, Lake Forest Academy, provides an easy-to-navigate campus, with dorms, dining facilities and sports center, all surrounded by a large open green space.
Ninety-seven years young, renowned Skokie area ethnic dance teacher, Dit Olshan, attended June Camp.
“It is a place to see old friends both from both the local and national dance communities and to dance together again,” Olshan said.
“It’s our Midwest hospitality that makes June Camp so welcoming, we love sharing what we know and bringing joy to new dancers,” Newfield said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.