Bronx Pharo

Sani Rifati learned this dance he named "Bronx Pharo" in the Bronx. he is teaching it here at the Herdelejzi Festival in Washington, D. in May, 2008. The music is Makedonska Gajde by Yuri Yanokov.

Maskoto Phirno

Maskoto Phirno was taught by Sani Rifati at the Herdelejzi Festival in Washington, DC in May, 2008.

Kosovsko Gajde

Kosovsko Gajde is a deeply soulful dance in 7/8 rhythm. Sani Rifati introduced this dance and is demonstrating it here. It is a dance from his mahala in Kosovo--a mahala that no longer exists.

Sitno Topahanska

Sitno Topahanska was taught by Sani Rifati at the Herdelejzi Festival in Washington, DC, May 2008. The dance is from Topahana, a mahala in Skopje, Macedonia.

Galinsko, Sebastopol, CA

This is Sani Rifati dancing Galinsko Tinkno at the Herdelejzi Festival in Sebastopol, CA in May, 2008. Sani is a Macedonian Rom who has lived in the US since he lost his home in Kosovo, Macedonia. He is a political activist and is involved in raising funds for refugees from Kosovo. He has a website called "Voice of Roma" which explains his philosophy and many of the events he sponsors. Each year he hosts the Herdelejzi Festival in Sebastopol, California which is a delight and well attended by Rom and non-Rom alike.

Galinsko Tinkno

This dance, Galinsko Tinkno, was taught by Sani Rifati at the Herdelejzi Festival in Washington, DC, May, 2008. "Galinsko" means from the town of Galin and the dance comes from this Macedonian town. In this video there is a good demonstration of Sani dancing at the end of the line or "tail." Notice how Sani curls the line in toward the center of the dancing circle. He explained that this is done to give the leader room to dance and is particularly useful in small spaces. Both the leader of the dance and the leader of the tail hold a handkerchief and it is the responsibility of the tail to coordinate his/her dance movements with the leader. Both positions are highly desired and the two leaders are usually friends. New dancers enter in the center of the line. Macedonian dancers value the notion of "being as one body" as they dance and all work together to create a dancing line that moves together flawlessly.

Phirno Pharo

This dance, Phirno Pharo, was taught by Sani Rifati at the Herdelejzi Festival in Washington, DC, May, 2008. "Phirno" means walking and "Pharo" means heavy or slow. The music is Petrichko Oro by Rumen Shopov on the CD "Soul of the Mahala."