News

Folk the night away

Twenty years ago, a University of Wisconsin ethnic dance group had a Christmas party in January. The event evolved into Madison’s Folk Ball festival, an exchange of tradition through singing classes, dance workshops and all night live-music parties.

The festival, sponsored by the Madison Folk Dance Club, lasts Friday through Sunday in the Memorial Union, as hundreds of folk enthusiasts and UW students participate in cultural events from Balkan singing to Argentine Tango.

Daytime events include instruction in traditional forms of dance and a singing workshop.At night, festival-goers will congregate in the Great Hall for international music and dance.

“Sometimes Americans tend to think of dancing as something you do by yourself in your own little spot,” said Michael Kuharski, who calls himself the event’s architect. “That is one way to respond to music, but traditional village dances often emphasize dancing the same way as your neighbors and say the same thing at the same time.”

According to Kuharski, Folk Ball’s main crowd has background in traditional dance, but he assures newbies will leave grinning. After first-timers warm up to the styles and different approaches to music, it becomes a harmonious environment for all, he said.

The event begins Friday with Contra Dance lessons and a musicians’ jam, in which anyone can join in on the music before a handful of featured artists take the stage. The weekend lineup includes 13 local, national and international acts.

Some groups play traditional music while others, like local favorites Reptile Palace Orchestra, add a modern twist, according to Chris Alfeld, former president of the Madison Folk Dance Club.

The dancing is also a mix of old and new, as Folk Ball aims to merge modern styles with traditional dancing, Alfeld said. “There’s a balance between the dancing in a broad cross-cultural dance form and the goal of being authentic,” he added.

When Alfeld first attended Folk Ball five years ago, he joined in on a Saturday night dance line despite some hesitance as a newcomer. The majority of attendees show up for the parties, but workshops throughout the day are beginner-friendly ways to learn the dances, he said.

“I wandered in and stayed a half-hour, and the next thing I knew I’m cleaning up at 2 a.m.,” Alfeld said. “I stumbled through the night with little idea of what was going on, but I had a lot of fun. Try to keep up and do your best, and people will be very welcoming.”

A typical dance workshop involves around 150 people in a large circle around an instructor, according to Nancy Yugo, who has helped coordinate the event for years. Many traditional styles emphasize group dancing like line dances, where participants are connected holding hands or belts.

Kuharski admitted harmonies and dissonance can arise when combining various traditions, but said more often the mix results in a unique combination of cultures. This is where world music—a growing part of Folk Ball—originates, he said.

“Dynamics are at work here,” Kuharski said. “If a Cajun band is playing, the natural thing to do is Cajun dances. … If you’re used to doing the waltz, sometimes you can match your music to the dance and make it work.”

The event is free, although donations are suggested at the door and after workshops.

“Just come give it a try and see what you like,” Kuharski said. “A lot of people come in curious and see what the event really is, and you see them start smiling and jumping in some lines. They realize the dances are actually pretty exciting.”