Join the circle—come and learn dances of the Balkans!

Though traditional Balkan dances feature solo dancers or pairs performing within a group too, yet the image of circle dances is the one that is associated with Balkan folk dances the most. It is not a complete stereotype as many Balkan dances involve dancers forming chains and moving circular.

In these chains participants are often linked by hands and all follow the head dancer who guides the movement and dictates the steps. When dancing like this, the combination of rhythm, physical contact, and synchronised movement generates a great social energy and a strong feeling of unity.

In addition to this mood lifting social aspect, given that Balkan music is a vibrant mix of even and odd rhythms, finding the beats and dancing on complicated rhythms to music in meters different from the common 4/4 or 3/4 time is more than just a physical exercise—it also challenges the brain.

If you never danced anything like this before and would like to give it a go, this is the opportunity to start with. Join Erzsebet, originally from Hungary, with a background in adult learning and education, and an extensive experience in Balkan dances. She previously tutored at U3A Melbourne City.