Statewide 2024 Folk Dance Festival

Statewide 2024 is a weekend festival of folk dance workshops and parties including

• Dance workshops (Greek folk dance and Salsa Rueda)
• Dance performances
• Evening Parties with Orkestar Unbound
• Sunday Square Dance Hoedown called by Kurt Gollhardt
• Culture Corners
• Request Dancing
• Meeting friends – Old and New

All events take place at the Newark Pavilion, Newark, CA.
Full details and registration at http://statewide.folkdance.com

# Instructors and Band

## Yannis Konstantinou – Greek/Macedonian


Yannis Konstantinou is an internationally renowned instructor and ethnologist of Greek Macedonian dance and culture. His passion for traditional music and dance began in his childhood, dancing with his family in his parents’ villages of Alona and Akrites in the Florina region of Greece. Today, his knowledge extends beyond that of the Greek Macedonian people indigenous to the area. Since 1990 he has conducted research on the impacts on Florina dances due to the migration of social groups and ethnic minorities to northwest Greece, such as Vlachs, Sarakatsani, and refugees from Thrace and Asia Minor. He also has participated in comparative research studies of Macedonian communities beyond the Greek borders. In 1994 Yannis produced The Musical Tradition of Florina, a long-playing album, in collaboration with the Center of Greek Tradition.

## Cesar Garfiaz – Salsa Rueda and More


Cesar Garfiaz was born and raised in Los Angeles , CA (Hollywood). He has been hyperactive since early childhood, and has always enjoyed moving. Being partly raised by his aunt, Garfiaz was influenced by her affinity for Salsa. He began dancing Salsa at the young age of seven, going on Sundays to Steven’s Steakhouse with his Tia Raquel. In high school, he was part of a performing arts class for two years, where he learned of his passion for performing. Garfiaz joined UCLA’s Department of World Arts & Cultures in the Fall of 2004. In the Spring of 2003, Garfiaz began working and collaborating with Ana Maria Alvarez and was a cast member of her original thesis concert “contra-tiempo”. Over the past seven years he has studied various styles including modern, hip hop, house, tai chi, Ghanaian, Mexican Folklorico & Afro-Cuban. As a part of UCLA’s Repertory Tour Ensemble, Cesar performed and inspired young people in high schools all over Los Angeles. Through his work with Rep Tour, he became passionate about youth arts education, and is continuing this important work with his involvement in CONTRA-TIEMPO. He currently teaches Salsa and Latin Dance at Cal Poly Pamona and at several studios around Los Angeles. As a founding member of the company, he is committed to seeing this group actualize its’ full potential as an agent for change. Garfiaz is dedicated to being a leader in this important work and sharing with others his absolute love for movement.

## Kurt Gollhardt – Square Dance


Kurt Gollhardt is President of the Santa Clara Valley Callers Association and has been calling in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2006. He began calling square dances in 1996 and frequently calls for weekend hoedowns. He has been very active in promoting new approaches to teaching and supporting newer dancers, most recently as a champion of CALLERLAB’s new Social Square Dance (SSD) program. Kurt has been voted a Top Ten Caller by the Santa Clara Valley Square Dancers Association (SCVSDA) since 2017.

## Orkestar Unbound

Bill Cope will be assembling Orkestar Unbound for Statewide 2024. Bill is a multi-instrumentalist who is drawn to play music without borders, that will get people on their feet, dancing! Orkestar Unbound guest artists include Dan Auvil, Janie Cowan, Ralph Iverson, Asaf Ophir and Emily Saletan, playing international folk music from the Balkans and beyond!

## Registration

Registration for all workshops and parties: $150 when payment is received by April 30, $155 at the door.
Individual workshops or parties
$30 Friday special workshop
$30 Friday evening party
$30 Saturday evening party
$40 Saturday AM instruction
$40 Saturday PM instruction
$40 Sunday AM instruction
$15 Sunday afternoon square dance hoedown

Full details and registration at http://statewide.folkdance.com