SPRING FESTIVAL

University of Chicago International House, Center for Eastern European & Russian/Eurasian Studies, & Ens. Balkanske Igre present the 45th Anniversary
                  SPRING FESTIVAL
                March 19-21, 2010
International House,1414 E 59th St, Chicago, IL, 60637
                    (Hyde Park / University of Chicago)     
Workshops, concert, parties, culture sessions featuring the dance and music of Eastern Europe and Mediterranean

DANCE WORKSHOPS§ MUSIC WORKSHOPS    Sat & Sun, 9am-5pm
 (per workshop:  $8/$10/$12)

Boris "Kete" Ilievski  Macedonian dances       
Chris Bajmakovich accordion, Macedonian songs
Ahmet Luleci  Turkish dances               
Ljupco Milenkovski Macedonian kaval, gajda
Ventzi Sotirov  Bulgarian dances           
James Stoyanoff  clarinet
Sani Rifati  Rrom (people formerly called "Gypsies") dances, songs, & culture
           
FRIDAY EVE PARTY, 8pm-midnight, dance workshop/party with Jim Stoyanoff & Orch Chalgija ($10/$15/$20)

SATURDAY EVE,    6pm DINNER buffet style with food prepared by expert Balkan cooks ($25/$30/$40)
            7pm CONCERT of Balkan & Eastern European music and dance
            8:30pm-1am DANCE PARTY with live music
featuring 

Alija Dalipovic, Angel Dobrev, Chris Bajmakovich & Muzika4U, Ljupco Milenkovski,
Orchestra Legenda, plus ethnic Bulgarian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, etc.
dance and music groups including:
           
            Dukati and Svilen Konac Serbian Folklore Groups
                Ensemble Balkanski Igri
                    Kitka Macedonian Folklore Group
                        Miorita Romanian Folklore Group
                            Siumni Polish Highlanders
                                Veselica Slovak Folk Ensemble
                                    and others...           


The SPRING FESTIVAL is an eagerly awaited annual event which draws enthusiasts of Balkan, Eastern European, and
Mediterranean music, dance, food, and culture from throughout North America to Chicago - a chance to celebrate with
old friends and to make new ones.  Guided by master dance teachers and inspired by virtuoso musicians you'll dance,
sing, and jam all weekend long!  Be enthralled by splendid performances of music and dance at the Saturday evening
concert.  Enjoy dancing on a sprung, oak floor to exhilirating live music each evening at the dance parties. Sample
mouth-watering delicacies prepared by expert Balkan cooks.  Our sizzling parties are renowned from coast-to-coast
and a hit among dancers, world music fans, and the Balkan and Eastern European communities.  Bring your family
and friends too!  Finally, don't miss the Sunday evening post-festival dinner & party!
 
    INFORMATION:   847-331-7842    or   847-858-9822 
    balkanske_igre@yahoo.com      Balkanske Igre, PO Box 1157, Chicago, IL 60690
   I-House Global Voices Performances Arts Series   ihouse.uchicago.edu   for handicapped access, contact 773-753-2274 72 hours in advance

SEE OTHER SIDE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING TEACHERS, GUEST ARTISTS, &  MISCELLANEOUS

GUEST ARTISTS AND TEACHERS TEACHING WORKSHOPS ALL DAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY:
BORIS "KETE" ILIEVSKI  is one of the top authorities on Macedonian folk dance, directing "Koco Racin" for ten
years.  His father, Ilija Ilievski, was the leader of the Postupano in the 1948 film "Jugoslavenski Narodni Plesovi".    
AHMET LULECI  is a fabulous dancer and one of the premier teachers of Turkish dance in the world.  Ahmet directs
the popular annual "World Camp" on the east coast and is in great demand at workshops, camps, and festivals.     
SANI RIFATI  is the director of the Voice of Roma and will give presentations on the dance, songs, & culture of the Roma.
Voice of Roma sponsored tours with Esma Redzepova, "Queen of Romani Music", Yuri Yunakov, & "KAL". 
VENTZI SOTIROV is a native of Sandanski in the Pirin-Macedonian region.  He was a lead soloist with the Bulgarian
National Folk Ensemble "Pirin" and was rated by his peers the number one professional dancer in Bulgaria. 
CHRIS BAJMAKOVICH is a young, talented, and versatile musician and vocalist much in demand in the Macedonian
community who can play Macedonian, Bulgarian, Rom, Serbian, and other genres with equal authority.  
LJUPCO MILENKOVSKI, a native of Dracevo, Macedonia was a three-time gold-medalist on the Macedonian kaval
(shepherd's flute) at the Dolnensko-Prilepsko folk festival and is the last and best student of the legendary Mile Kolarov.  
JAMES STOYANOFF  is a master of the clarinet and performs and teaches Greek, Macedonian, and Turkish music.
He studied clarinet with such masters as Karakos, Halkias, Anestopoulos, Gundeger, and others. 

EVENING EVENTS:
FRIDAY and SATURDAY evening will feature exciting music and performances by a variety of master Balkan musicans.
Jim Stoyanoff and friends have formed a "calgija" (traditional Macedonian town orchestra) and will lead off the weekend with this style of music as well as classics from the old-time bands of Kime Nanchoff et al. Also, Ljupco Milenkovski& Legenda; "Music4U" with Chris Bajmakovich & friends; members of "Balkanski Ritmi" Bitov Orch, Alija Dalipovic, plus Balkanski Igri, Kitka-Macedonian, Siumni-Polish Highlander, Miorita-Romanian, Dukati and Svilen Konac-Serbian, & Veselica-Slovak groups.
SUNDAY EVENING post-festival dinner for the teachers, committee, and friends has been so much fun, we are inviting
everyone to join us at (restaurant to be announced) for dinner, music, and dancing.  Check form if interested.   

Bulgaria Sega newspaper
www.BulgariaSega.com