Daniela Ivanova - Bulgarian

 Daniela Ivanova is an accomplished, professional folk dance teacher and performer. She is also a very gifted choreographer and a researcher of the South Slavic folk dance culture. Daniela graduated from the Institute of Music and Choreography, Sofia and also from the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” with MA degrees in Philosophy, Literature and Cultural Studies. This broad educational background gives her the unique opportunity to combine theory and practice, research, teaching and performance in her very extensive works.

Radboud Koop - dances of Russia

Radboud Koop started international folk dancing at the age of eleven, started teaching already some five years later, and has been dancing and teaching international folk dance ever since. More than twenty years ago he became involved in Russian folk dances while working with Hennie Konings and since then regularly replaces Hennie at workshops and teaches Hennie’s Russian folk dance program in the Netherlands and Belgium. He regularly attended classes both in the Netherlands as well as in Russia with Olga Zolotova, the director of the Pyatnitsky Ensemble folk dance school. At Stockton this year he will present new material from Hennie’s program.

Richard Schmidt -- Polish

Richard Schmidt has studied extensively in Poland and has received the lifetime achievement award from the Polish government for his work. His love and passion has always remained the vibrant and beautiful dances of Poland such as the obereks, kujawiaks, polkas and mountaineer dances, to name a few. He is the artistic director of the Polish-Canadian Folk Ensemble “Podhale,” in Montreal and has taught at many folk dance camps and events.

Roberto Bagnoli -- Italian
 

New to Stockton this year will be Roberto Bagnoli. He will be teaching the Dances of Italy.

Cristian Florescu and Sonia Dion-- Romanian

Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu will be sharing their love of Romanian folk traditions with us. Cristian has danced and choreographed for many Romanian folk ensembles and studied with various specialists including Theodor Vasilescu. In 1993, he joined Les Sortilèges, a professional folk dance company based in Montréal, where he danced, taught and choreographed. In the course of her 20 years with the same company, Sonia was lead dancer and artistic director, among other roles. It was at Les Sortilèges that the two met and formed a professional and personal partnership. Together, they now teach folk dance workshops throughout the US and Canada and are known for their wonderful energy, warmth personality and exciting choice of dances and music. (website)

Tineke van Geel -- Armenian

In 1977 Tineke van Geel received her degree as folk dance instructor. She specializes in Armenian dance and works as a choreographer. Tineke conducts workshops for students at various levels, beginners to professional, and has taught classes in international folk dance, Dutch and Armenian dances in many countries around the world. Her main focus is to break down complicated steps and movements to basic elements and slowly ‘rebuilding’ them to the original dance form. This skill is part of her worldwide success and is combined with a vast knowledge of Armenian dance and culture.

Since 1985 she has regularly visited Armenia to study folklore at the Pedagogic Institute and Choreographic School in Yerevan. A part of each research trip was devoted to working with several amateur groups in Armenia and doing research on costumes. Two of those research trips were sponsored by the Dutch government. On several occasions Tineke visited the USA to observe the dances performed by the Armenian communities there.

Jerry Helt--Squares and Contras

Jerry Helt is internationally known for his expertise in the calling and teaching field, respected by callers and dancers for his ability to bring fun and joy into the dance world. Jerry first came to Stockton Folk dance Camp in 1956, and has been here every year since, delighting us with his great squares and contras, doing a build up to Exploding Squares on Friday night.

Barbara Bevan - Singing

Barbara Bevan is a folk dance teacher and singer from Sacramento. She has been singing all her life and was always in the school choirs. She is a retired elementary teacher who taught choir and dancing in addition to the basic subjects for 33 years. While teaching in Germany, she was part of a singing group who performed for the U. S. military and at local German events. After starting to folk dance, she fell in love with the folk songs of the Balkans and helped form the "ZADO  Singers" in 1980.

ZADO  consists of 13 women who sing the traditional folk songs of other countries with an emphasis on those of Eastern Europe, especially those of Bulgaria, Russia, and Croatia. They sing the songs in their original languages. They do extensive research and rehearsal to assure that their songs are as authentic as possible. They perform for church groups, retirement homes, community events, and folk dance parties.

Barbara looks forward to sharing her love of folk singing with you.

Merilyn Gentry & Nora Nuckles--Island Dance Workshop

Merilyn Gentry is owner and director of the Hi-Desert Dance Center in Ridgecrest, California, where whe teaches Polynesian dance (Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa, and Tahiti). She teaches both the ancient Kahiko and the slow, modern 'Auana' styles of Hawaiian dance. Merilyn directs and performs with Kalena's Polynesian Dancers. For many years, Merilyn studied in Hawaii with master teachers and her training includes the various percussion instruments of the islands. Nora Nuckles often partners Marilyn for her teaching appearances. Nora dances with Kalena's Polynesian Dance Troupe. She has studied Polynesian dance and the use of the percussion instruments for ten years and continues to participate in special workshops and lessons. Although she spends most of her time as an elementary teacher, she enjoys learning and experiencing Polynesian culture.

Susan Worland & California Kapela

Several years as a musician with the Mandala Folk Dance Ensemble in Boston exposed Susan Worland to music from all over the world; and she specializes in music of Scotland and Central Europe, particularly Poland.  She is presently music director for San Francisco's Lowiczanie Polish Dance Ensemble and this past winter was featured in "Christmas Revels, Roads of the Roma" in Washington, DC