Balkan Music &
Dance Workshops

Every summer the EEFC presents two week-long workshops. Follow the links below to read all about them!

June 28-July 5, 2025
More info…

August 9-16, 2025
More info…


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Get the FAQs

Find out almost everything you always wanted to know about the EEFC’s in-person Balkan camps.
FAQs


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Kids at Camp!

Our in-person workshops are a great experience for families. Get the scoop to ensure everyone has a blast!


Scholarships

We award full scholarships to our in-person workshops.
Find out more

David Bilides

Macedonian Tambura & Macedonian Village Ensemble

David Bilides’ initial encounters with Balkan folk music were the weddings and dances of the New Haven, Connecticut, Asia Minor Greek community in which he grew up. After hearing other Balkan music while attending international folk dancing in high school, he took the first of several trips to the Balkans in 1974, visiting Romania, Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. He learned dances, made field recordings, and collected instruments. On returning to the United States he taught himself the music and instruments, formed groups, organized festivals and other music events, and performed and taught music and dance from the region.

David has been fortunate to study with many wonderful teachers of traditional music and dance from the Balkans. He continues to play, teach, and perform music on a variety of traditional instruments, and has appeared as a guest with different groups and at traditional folk music and dance events in the US and Canada. Currently he is collaborating with Macedonian singer and Radio Skopje recording artist Dragi Spasovski, and plays tapan, tambura, and kaval in the group Osem i Devet, with Michael Lawson.

Contact

Websites:
Izvor Music
Izvor Music (YouTube)
Osem I Devet (YouTube)

Video: