Prague Balfolk Weekend

Let's try something new! Sharing is fun, they say... Do you have any dances that you want to share with others? From your country or region, or that you learned somewhere? Let me know (martin.chlebek at gmail.com or FB), and you can have your slot for teaching your dance.

We'll start with Aacho – a relatively new mixer from Sustainabal 2022, that you can dance on Sunday to L'air Inconnu.

Ozzy can then offer some dances from all three historical countries of the Czech Republic: Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, so you can come even if you don't have any dance to share. You can still share your dancing enthusiasm. ^_^

Martin Ozzy Chlebek started with historical dances (in 2005-2006) and then, thanks to Breton dances, discovered balfolk. In 2016, he began attending balfolk festivals and workshops abroad, organizing summer open-air dancing, and teaching at Vyšehrad; he also started with Brazilian Zouk. He organizes regular dance sessions at Komunitní prostor Smíchov and at Vyšehrad.

Things you didn't know about Breton dancing, so it didn't occur to you to be afraid to ask

? They dance An Dro and Hanter Dro in Brittany, don't they? ! Well… sometimes. But sometimes the dancefloor looks like a kindergarten. ? OK, if you say so… but you always dance in a row? ! Or a quadrille, a couple or groups of three. ? I see, but they always play the small loud backpipe or they sing, right? ! Not always, you can also dance to rap, electro or swing… ? Swing? No way, I give up! Don't give up, come to the worskhop!

Anna Ward has explored various dance styles over her 28-year journey, gravitating most towards social dances with folk origins. Since 2015, she has focused on balfolk and Breton dances in Brno as a founding member and teacher of the Ton Simple dance club.

Anna believes that everyone can dance, and she will tirelessly convince you that this includes you. She considers Vincent Laine, Mikuláš Bryan, Mary McElroy, and Anne Kennedy to be the most influential figures in her dance journey. Her most valuable experiences come from the well-worn dance floors of Brittany, where she returns whenever possible.

Ever wondered if Balkan melodies fit with Balfolk? Well, we invite you to find out! In this music workshop we will learn a couple of Balkan tunes that are danceable with well-known Balfolk dances. The workshop will be learning by ear, so no music reading skills are needed. Melodic instruments will work best, as we will primarily be learning the tunes, however some time will be spent on rhythm and chords. Music sheets will be provided for those that want them.

Kieren Alexander is an accordionist based in Prague. He works with various folk projects, including Ethno, and has been running the Prague Folk Session for 10 years.

During the workshop we will try to perceive the space in a bit different way as you are used to. Space perception not only as a dance floor, but also as a place for interaction and playfulness. During the workshop we will use some props from the new circus – such as juggling clubs, hula hoops and juggling scarves and we will try to connect them with dance and cooperation with the partner. So yes, we will play. And a lot.

Tereza Pavlíčková loves movement. And in its various forms, until she finally settled by a new circus, which she currently teaches. During her circus internship, she founded a balfolk community in Rostock, Germany. She is interested in healthy movement and the possibilities of nonverbal storytelling. She currently creates under ND+, a group under the National Theatre, and teaches at Cirkusárna, an inclusive project providing circus classes for children.

Throw your motherf*cking hands in the air, yo! This is not your usual hip-hop workshop: B.I.G.D. actually stands for Biomechanics In Group Dances. The workshop that lets you finally swing your arms properly and gives you all the secret tools to finally fully appreciate group dances, without the strain and the pain. Discover simple and natural concepts that will allow you to dance with ease and fluidity, have a better connection and enjoy round and chain dances more. There might even be goosebumps*. (*reported by participants, not guaranteed)

Find more about the whole concept at https://balfolk.cz/workshop/.

Disclaimer: this is the festival digest version of a 12 hour learning journey. It’s based on the popular Swing: 0 to hero workshop from 2024. The concept stays the same as last year (and last centuries), the dances are subject to change.

Attention, this is one long workshop with a break, it is not possible to come only for a part.

The capacity is limited, you can register on Friday during the evening at the reception.

Mikuláš Bryan has been sharing his love for dancing since 2003, with teaching experience ranging from small, focused workshops to classes for several hundreds people at festivals like Gennetines or Boombal. He studied folk dancing in Brittany, dancing and performing with Cercle Celtique de Rennes, but also took a deep dive into couple dancing at several blues camps. His other dancing background consists of tango, swing, salsa and balboa with occasional jazz and contemporary workshops. While approaching every dance with deep respect for its roots and traditions, he always aspires to expand its horizons and create a bridge between tradition and modernity.

We will learn some easy dances of Macedonian, Albanian, Greek, Jewish and related origins. The workshop is open to everybody, no experience is necessary.

For many years, Gianmarco Armellin has been taking care of the fact that on the Czech balfolk scene, dances from cold Brittany are balanced with those of the warm Mediterranean. He is also a long-time organizer of Prague mazurka clandestina.

Fandango de Pollença, also called Pollencí, Pollenci, Pollencia or Pollensa, from the name of one of the towns on the island, is the variant of fandango that is danced in Mallorca. It has a ternary rhythm, like all fandangos, and is danced in couples made up of a man and a woman and arranged in a row, men on one side, women on the other. It has a calm and relaxed pace and the dance is characterised by movements with the arms raised, turns and small jumps.

For many years, Gianmarco Armellin has been taking care of the fact that on the Czech balfolk scene, dances from cold Brittany are balanced with those of the warm Mediterranean. He is also a long-time organizer of Prague mazurka clandestina.

Using creative techniques, we will discover more about ourselves and connect with others.

This workshop is for everyone – even if you think you can’t draw or paint! It’s playful, relaxing, and uses techniques from artefiletics and art therapy, combining simple creative activities with opportunities for reflection.

Aleksandra Porada is passionate about the transformative power of art. With a background in visual arts, she focuses on using creative processes to explore self-expression and personal growth. Her work integrates techniques from art therapy and artefiletics, blending artistic creation with deep reflection. She teaches art to children at Art School and runs workshops that help people connect with themselves through art. She is committed to making art accessible to everyone, regardless of their artistic experience, and believes in the therapeutic potential of creative practices. She enjoys traditional techniques, such as gilding, so you may occasionally come across pieces of gold in her workshops. 😊 For her artistic work, she performs under the name Sowilo Wings, where you can find her work on Instagram (sowilo_wings).

Have a drink, join a team and have fun with some balfolk-related questions. There will be prizes for the winning team.

The first round starts at 17:30, second round (with different questions) at 18:30. You can take part in one of them or both.

You don’t need to register beforehand, just come and form a team with the other participants.

The quiz takes place in a traditional Czech pub Na Růžku (Náchodská 869/34, just round the corner from the main venue). Please bear in mind that the pub doesn’t serve any food, just drinks. Payment is possible only in cash.

We understand that you will need to recharge your batteries before the last bal of the festival and also need to talk to all those old and new friends. Therefore, instead of more dancing, the gym will be transformed into a relax zone. We will provide some board games (language-independent and/or with rules in English) and origami instructions (you can help us fold some butterflies for next year :-) ). A gym with wall bars is also an ideal place for a clothes swap. And of course you can just lie or sit down, chat with friends or stretch.