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."

Aidin

This dance called Aidin goes by many names and is danced widely throughout the Balkans. The dancers in this video are from Flambouro, Serres, Macedonia, Greece. Laura Shannon has taught this dance under the name of Kambana More Mitro.

Syrtos (Sta Dhio)

This is a group of dancers from from the dancing group of the Association of Lakkomata Ioannina (Epirus, GREECE) doing the Syrtos or Sta Dhio. It is useful to contrast the style of doing this dance with the way it is done on the island of Lesvos.

Aptalikos 2, Lesvos

This is another view of Aptalikos as it is danced on the Greek island of Lesvos. Note that the step here is the same as the video clip from the Sardine Festival in which the dancers were in a circle. This video comes from the website: www.iera.gr/mousiki.

Syrtos in Lesvos

This video comes from a group devoted to music and dance in Lesvos, Greece. I think it illustrates nicely the lilting way the Syrtos step is done on the islands. Their web address is: www.iera.gr/mousiki.