Cross-Step waltz is a relatively new social dance form, in large measure invented by popular dance master Richard Powers at Stanford in 1995, that has some roots in post ragtime dance of the 1930s. Drawing on tango, swing, and even scandinavian traditions, as well as waltz, it is designed to facilitate improvisation and spontaneity. It can be satisfying both to beginners and experienced dancers alike. For a demonstration and more info go to Stanford Cross Step Waltz, or simply search on "Richard Powers waltz".

A lively Irish hoedown, led by Norita Callahan, with round, line and square figures danced to reels 'n jigs 'n hornpipe music.

Traditional Irish Ceili (K-lee) folk dance classes for beginners - pre-teen to adult - are held on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

These classes have been on-going in Albuquerque since 1985.

Ceili dances are simple, mildly aerobic and no partner is needed. We dance 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 16 hand dances in round, square and line formations. The lively music - which makes your feet want to dance - are reels, jigs, polkas and hornpipes.

Please call/email Norita 298-2708, noraabq@yahoo.com for more information. IT'S FUN - Join us...

Chacarera is one of the most famous folklore dances of Argentina. It is fun to dance and very easy to learn. Chacarera is danced in couples but without embrace and follows a given choreography. All couples line up facing each other. The basic idea of chacarera is courting each other in order to be together in the end. For an example, see YouTube.

Square dancing is a truly American folk dance that's evolved over the years to its current modern form. In this session, we'll learn dances that show how square dancing has changed over time, and you'll see a demo of the exciting modern dance where the dancers never know what will come next. You won't need any experience to try a little do-si-do; everyone's welcome.

Kris Jensen calls both modern and traditional squares locally and around the country.

For more information on modern square dancing in Albuquerque, check the Albuquerque Square Dance Center's website at www.asdc.org. FolkMADS contra dances often include traditional square dances; check them out at www.folkmads.org.

The Enchantment Scottish Country Dancers (http://www.losalamos.com/nmrscds/) love dancing. We meet on Friday nights and new people are very welcome to join us. Scottish Country Dancing is usually done in a four couple set. The dances are Reels, Jigs and Strathspeys and are great fun and good exercise. Further information from Kenneth Armstrong at 294-0042 or karmstronІ0@comcast.net.

Enjoy lively couple's turning dances from Scandinavia! Easier Scandinavian folk dances will be taught for all to enjoy. The music is traditionally fiddle music in 2-part harmony, but other instruments unique to Scandinavia are also used. These include the hardanger fiddle of Norway, and the nyckelharpa of Sweden.

Scandinavian folk dancing and folk music have a long history dating back several hundred years. The dances include set dances (choreographed dances for small groups), gammaldans ("old" dances, about 100 years old, that include the vals, schottis, polka, snoa, and the Hambo), and bygdedans (village dances, that are up to 500 years old). Our main focus is on gammaldans and bygdedans – couple's turning dances from areas all over Sweden and Norway.

Some of the dances are in 2/4 time, but most of the dances are in 3/4 time. For the fast turns, the couple will typically make a complete revolution in one measure. To make things more interesting (and more challenging), the men and women's steps are usually different, the music is usually syncopated, and there is an up/down motion (called "svikt" in Norway). The syncopation and svikt are unique for each dance.

We have learned most of the dances directly from dance teachers and fiddlers from Sweden and Norway at numerous workshops in the U.S. over the past 27 years. We have been teaching and dancing Scandinavian folk dances in Albuquerque for more than 27 years.

The Scandinavian Folk Dance group meets at the Lloyd Shaw Dance Center in Albuquerque on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 7:30 – 10:00 PM. Everyone is welcome, either single or partners, and we frequently change partners. If you are interested in Scandinavian folk dancing, please contact Craig Olson at (505) 922-1157 for further information.

You'll be dancing swing by the end of class - no partners needed - just a smile! Practice your new steps after the lesson to live music at the Barn Dance at 7:30pm in the Dance Tent. To receive more information about fun dance activities and dance classes in New Mexico, sign up to receive our free Dance E-newsletter, "Local DanceNews" (LDN) by calling 505-299-3737 or e-mail glkello@nmia.com. Also contact us for information on: The Albuquerque Dance Club (ADC w/over 700 members); our ongoing dance lessons offered at The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall every Tuesday and Wednesday; and classes offered through UNM Continuing Education. We look forward to dancing with you soon!

The High Desert Dancers will demonstrate and teach the 5-part "Las Quadrillas," or 4 couple dance, from early Territorial northern New Mexico which they learned from Lorenzo Trujillo at last year's festival. The High Desert Dancers can be contacted through Jim Calvert, Director, at calverҋ90@yahoo.com or 1-505-869-639.

People new to contra dancing have described it as "a kaleidoscope, a weaving, a quilting with humans to music" and "a human whirligig: people moving in patterns to live music". This "rhythmic swirl of awesomeness and dancing" is as easy as walking and holding hands with a richness coming from its endless variations and quality of connection between dancers. Contra dancing is a style of traditional American folk social dance in long line sets down the dance hall with your partner across from you. Under the prompting of a dance caller, each dancer and their partner dances with a couple next to them in the larger set forming moving figures as the couples progress up or down the set. These dances are social, providing opportunity for dancers to relate to each other in a fun and non-stressful way. All of the dances are taught, and beginners are welcomed warmly and encouraged. Come enjoy the "geometry in motion -- order out of chaos" by contra dancing with us!

Every Saturday you can enjoy contra and traditional community dancing with the New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society (FolkMADS). On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month dances are in Albuquerque, and on 2nd and 4th Saturdays they are in Santa Fe (see FolkMADS.org).

Caller Erik Erhardt calls contra and English country dance and teaches couples dancing (such as rotary and cross-step waltz and Scandinavian) at local community dances, dance weekends, and dance weeks throughout the U.S.

The Thrifters play folk music with a contemporary spin for contra dances in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM. The Thrifters is Deb Bluestone (violin and viola), Dave Faires (guitar, vocals, and percussion), and Robin Gurule (keyboards). Info at (505) 667-1135 or( 505) 699-5011.

Teaching international folk dances from Europe, the Balkans and the Near East.

Bill Croft has been dancing international folk dance since 1981. Bill began dancing in California, led the international folk dance group in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the late 1980s, and danced in Manchester, UK before moving to Albuquerque in 2006. He has attended workshops in California, Michigan, Illinois and the UK.

Noralyn Parsons grew up with folk dancing parents in Oak Ridge, TN, and has been dancing since she was 14, starting at various dance camps in the East (West Virginia, Kentucky, Maine and North Carolina) and workshops in Nashville and Atlanta. Noralyn has been dancing and teaching in Albuquerque for 22 years. Noralyn: ""I love the infinite variety of music and cultural influences evident in the dances, and greatly enjoy sharing what I love."

The zwiefacher (TSWEE-FAKH-ER) is a living folk dance from Bavaria. The catchy music alternates between ¾ and 2/4. Couples dance waltz steps to the waltz bars (3/4) and pivot steps to the 2/4 bars. Live music!!

Zwiefache have been around since Columbus was in diapers. Two forms of documentation have been preserved from the 1400's; musical notation and arrest records. Arrest records? Dancing in a closed hold, even with your spouse, was equivalent to 'doing it' in public. Basically, the dance is a fast turning waltz sprinkled with pivots. A couple's rate of rotation will continuously speed and slow, centrifugal forces changing at the same time. If you never dance it again, you'll still come away with improved social waltz skills. The workshop will be blessed with live music from Mad Robin (Tom Hunter, Bill Litchmen, Gary Mayhew, Juli Palladino,Sherilyn Urben). The tunes are melodic to the point of being 'ear-worms' and each tune has its set pattern of waltzes and pivots. You may consider it wise to wear shoes that protect your toes. A video of folks dancing zwiefache is on YouTube

Instructor Donna Howell has taught historic and modern couple dances for over 25 years. She currently teaches at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center in Santa Fe, produces a program of dance music on Santa Fe Public Radio KSFR 101.1 FM and can be reached at donna_jhowell@hotmail.com.