What kinds of dances are taught?
Read the answer here.
Who teaches the classes?
Read the answer here.
When and where do you dance?
Berkeley Folk Dancers meets Monday through Friday evenings, punctually
from 7:45pm to 9:45pm, at Live Oak Park Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck at Berryman, Berkeley, California. The Beginners’ class (for the 2007-2008 year) is on Tuesdays.
Please come at 7:30:00 PM the first night of the year (in September) to allow
time for registration. Try to come early every night so you’re fully
ready to begin dancing when the class starts. You may need time to sign
in and change your shoes.
Do you dance year round?
Except for the last two weeks in August and a few holidays, we dance year
round five nights a week.
How do I get there?
Read the answer here.
What door do I go in? Just exactly where is the dance room?
Enter the door on the west side of the building on Shattuck Ave – between
the children’s playground and the theater. Walk past the office on your
right and then turn right; you’ll see the entrance to the dance room on
your left.
How much does it cost and how do I join BFD?
An 8-week Beginners' class is $30. A second 8-week session will follow.
After attending these two sessions, dancers are offered the opportunity
to join BFD. If you are not a beginner, you may join at any time. Annual
dues are $125.
What are the benefits of BFD membership?
Beyond the Beginners level, members pay $125 per year (from September to August
). They are entitled to dance any or all nights per week without
additional fee except for special parties. To dance in the Beginners
class, members should check with the teachers.
Classes are on four levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Intermediate, and Advanced, each on a different night of the week. Friday
night is all-request party night, open to everyone. Besides classes and
request nights, there are special parties on two weekend nights and four
Fridays a year. Members receive reduced rates for special parties and
special events with guest teachers or live music.
May I dance at BFD if I am not a member and not taking one of the
8-week introductory sessions?
There is a $5 nightly charge for non-members. Non-members, including
out-of-towners, are welcome to drop in on any night, but should check
with the teachers before coming to the Beginners night.
What kind of music do you use?
We generally use recorded music. Occasionally we have live music.
How big are the classes?
The classes usually have 20-30 people. There is plenty of room to spread
out to dance and to be able to see what the teachers are
demonstrating.
Do I have to have a partner?
No partner is needed; you are welcome to come by yourself. If there are
extra people, the teacher will rotate partners. Dancing with different
partners adds a dimension in learning.
I’m interested in exercise and fitness. Will this help me? Do you do
warm-ups, stretching, cool down?
Folk Dancing is a great exercise. While we do not formally do warm ups,
stretching and cool downs, individuals often do some stretching and we
usually start with a good warm- up dance and end with a slower cool-down
dance.
Do I have to wear any special clothing?
Most of our members dress casually. Clothing can be anything that is
comfortable for you to dance in. Wear layers to remove as you warm
up.
Do I have to wear a skirt or dress?
Skirts are optional. Some women wear them and some don’t. Men don’t
usually wear skirts unless it’s a kilt or special outfit for a party.
Do I have to buy dancing shoes?
Your shoes will need a sole that turns easily on the floor. Your shoes do
not have to be expensive. Some people use leather soles or jazz shoes.
Others use duct tape on the soles. Worn tennis shoes can work. It’s a
very good idea to keep a separate pair of dancing shoes that you use just
for class and not elsewhere. We have a good hardwood floor that we try to
protect.
What kind of floor do you dance on?
We have an excellent sprung wood dance floor, which means it has some
flexibility and is easy on the knees and other joints.
Is Berkeley Folk Dancers geared toward a certain age
group?
All age groups are welcome; people with a wide range of ages dance with
us.
Can I bring my children?
If well behaved, they can watch, do their homework, etc. If able to
dance, they can join in. (School aged children are half price). Parents
and children must be aware of safety issues. We do not want large adults
colliding with smaller people.
Especially about the beginners’ class:
How hard is it? I’ve never danced before.
The beginners’ class assumes no previous experience; everything is
taught. Every dance is taught 4 sessions in a row, so don’t be
discouraged if you don’t master a dance the first time it’s taught. Some
people catch on quickly, but many take longer. It can be like learning a
whole new language, a bit challenging at first, but lots of fun.
What if the session has already started? Can I join late?
Come the first night and pay $5 then discuss with the teacher.
Can I come and watch first before making a commitment?
Yes, you may observe first, but there is nothing quite like actually
getting out there and dancing.
I’ve had some experience folk dancing. Should I go to the Beginners
Class?
This would depend on how experienced you are. Our club has a different
repertoire for each class and the dances that have been taught at the
lower level will be danced but not taught at a higher level class. You
may want to discuss this with the teachers of the class you are most
interested in joining.
If I do start in Beginners and it turns out to be too easy for me, can
I switch to another level? Yes, and we recommend you discuss this
with the teachers of the class you wish to join.
Eight weeks is a long commitment. What if I don’t like it or just
can’t seem to get the hang of it? Can I just sign up for one or two
lessons?
This is not a drop-in situation. It is disruptive to a class and the
teaching process when people drop in and out.
What if I don’t learn as fast as the rest of the class? Will I make a
fool of myself? Can 1 get a tutor?
People do learn at different rates, and we were all beginners once. You
are not expected to know the dances really well after a few teaching
sessions. The teachers often have more experienced dancers help the newer
dancers learn in class. Many dancers repeat a level several times. On
Fridays we have an all request night; you may attend and request a dance
to get more practice. There is nothing like practice to learn a dance
well.
What if I miss a class? Can I apply that to the next session?
Our prices for the beginning classes are for the whole series of classes
and are very reasonable. We are unable to give credit for any classes
missed.