Music by Gypsy Stringz, Hungarian/Croatian Dance Workshops, Jan 14-15, Harrisburg PA

12 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by folkmama in Croatian Dance, Fiddle, Folk Music, Gypsy Stringz, Hungarian Dance, International Dance, St Lawrence Club, Susquehanna Folk Music Society

By Bart Carpenter

In collaboration with the St Lawrence Club of Steelton, the Susquehanna Folk Music Society (SFMS) is pleased to present a weekend of Hungarian/Croatian music and dance Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14-15, 2012. Dance classes will be taught by Rick Vukmanic, a Croatian-American from Steelton, and Richard Balazs, a Hungarian citizen now living in the U.S. Music will be provided by Hungarian-American George Batyi and the Gypsy Stringz Orchestra of Pittsburgh on Saturday and by Bosnian/Croatian pop-folk singer Mate Bulić on Sunday. The Steelton-based band, Zadnja Stanica, will open for Bulić.

Three dance classes will be held at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, 5501 Locust Lane, Harrisburg. These are as follows: 10:30 a.m. Croatian dances of Steelton, a repeat of the popular “Steelton 101″ dance class held last year; 1:15 dances of the Croatian diaspora, i.e., Croatian communities in Hungary, Slovenia, and Bosnia; and 2:45 Hungarian dancing, focused on the ugros and csardas. Classes are $16 apiece or $40 for all three. Students are $10.

The evening event is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the St Lawrence Club, 13 Highland Street, Steelton PA. It begins with a concert set by Gypsy Stringz, followed by open dancing from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m. Both dance instructors will be available to help lead the dancing. Admission is $10 at the door.

On Sunday, Jan. 15, the St Lawrence Club presents a Croatian music spectular. Zadnja Stanica will play a dance set at 7:00 p.m., with international folk star Mate Bulić performing at 8:30. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the kitchen and bar are open. Admission is $35 at the door, $30 in advance. Contact Marija Kuren, marijakrpan@hotmail.com, 717-649-5409 for advance tickets.

Additional biographic information on the dance teachers and musicians appears on the SFMS website.