Come celebrate Balkan music and dance with us at our weekend festival—in person! Our West Coast BalkanFest will be held in the picturesque Presidio of San Francisco. Jump into the joy with a live-music dance party on Friday night and then come back for classes and more dance parties on Saturday with world-class instructors and performers. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome!
Presidio Theatre Plaza
The Presidio Theatre Plaza is located adjacent to a historic Spanish Colonial-style building on a corner of the parade grounds that once housed a movie theater used by U.S. Army members and families who lived on the Presidio Army Base in times gone by. The theater complex has been recently renovated and now hosts full theatrical productions in its 600-seat house. The Plaza is an open-air space behind the main theater building, with access to airy reception and rehearsal rooms and a full catering kitchen. Behind the Plaza itself is a hilly eucalyptus grove, and beyond the building complex is a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
[more detailed description of what’s being offered] Food costs are included in your tuition—beginning with a generous welcome spread on Friday. On Saturday we will offer a light spread available beginning at noon, then a full dinner to be served before the evening dance sets begin. Select alcoholic and premium non-alcoholic beverages will be available for sale over the weekend.
A number of full scholarships are available for the BalkanFest weekend. Start here—deadline to apply is July 1, 2022.
A few tuition-waiver work exchanges may be available for participants. Inquiries for work exchanges will be entertained only after registration has begun (see below). Please contact the EEFC Office if you wish to be considered for a work exchange. We will follow up on individual work exchange requests as soon as possible.
Event updates will be announced through our E-newsletter (sign-up if you haven’t already), the EEFC Discussion list, and on our Facebook page.
Our 2022 staff is still in process. Stay tuned!
Staff and band listings are subject to update and change.
Greek Singing
Christos Govetas was born in the village of Proti, in the province of Serres in Greek Macedonia. After emigrating to Boston in 1978 he joined the Rebetiko band Taxími as a bouzouki and baglama...Read MoreGreek Dance
On Friday, Joe will introduce dances to Kavala Brass Band during the dance workshop. On Saturday, he will briefly introduce the dances as needed before each tune in...Read More
Greek Strings
Nick Maroussis is a musician based out of Seattle, Washington, where he grew up playing strings in various rock bands in the greater Seattle area. His involvement in the Greek community and...Read MoreCroatian Singing
John Morovich grew up in Seattle's sizable Croatian community. Since 1973, he has studied, taught, and performed traditional music and dance of Croatia and other parts of Southeastern...Read MoreBalkan Vocal Technique
Michele Simon has been involved with music all of her life, and with Balkan folk music for most of it, as a dancer, singer, drummer and teacher. She was raised surrounded by music of all kinds,...Read MoreBalkan Rhythms
Drawing on a musical base in folk music from the Middle East, Turkey, Greece and the Balkans, Sean Tergis brings a unique element to his drumming through many different influences. At an early...Read More
Greek & Balkan
Aya Safiya and Tano Brock play a variety of music styles from around the Balkans, including Greek, Albanian, Turkish, and Romani. They both started playing Balkan music at a young age, and have...Read More
Please note the schedule and bands are subject to change, even at the very last minute. The below is an outline of activities. A full, detailed schedule will be published soon.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!