Recenter. Regather. Renew.

Summer is officially here, and we’re ready to celebrate! With both the East and West Coast BalkanFests around the corner, our Board and Staff are working around the clock for our first in-person events since 2019. It will be a joy to see all of you very soon, and we cannot wait.

As you all know, we were heartbroken to cancel our weeklong Balkan Music & Dance Workshops again in 2022. As a board, we are fully committed to putting on our camps in 2023, and we have been having extensive conversations to make sure that we have the resources in place to be able to do so. This year’s summer BalkanFests are intended to be a delightful appetizer to the main course of our 2023 camps, allowing us to reconnect with each other and to reground in the things that we love the most. They are also an opportunity for the EEFC to invite new community members to our table.

In this recipe, there is one ingredient that we cannot do without: You.

Our community spaces thrive on your presence and participation. Make plans now to attend one (or both!) of our BalkanFests. Bring your family, and invite your friends to experience the joys of holding hands (or handkerchiefs!) on the dance floor and making music together.

Can’t make it to BalkanFest? Or looking for other ways to support the EEFC? Here’s how you can help:

• Make a contribution. Donations help sustain our programs year-round, and will support our ability to put on camps in 2023.
• Spread the word. Publicize BalkanFest and EEFC events to your personal circles, mailing lists, and musical and dance connections; or hit the share button on our Facebook or Instagram posts. Every repost helps us reach a bigger audience.
• Volunteer your time. Producing our events would be impossible without the generosity of our volunteers. If you would like to help out at BalkanFest, please contact one of our Site Managers: Bonnie Silver (East Coast) or Sharon Grodin (West Coast).

We’re confident that BalkanFest will whet your appetite for next year’s workshops. Save the dates now:

Balkan Music & Dance Workshops 2023
Mendocino, CA: June 17-24
Iroquois Springs, NY: August 5-12

And help us plan! The Board will host office hours in October to share our progress and hear your ideas for our next adventures.

We look forward to celebrating together once again. . .