Thanks for Being Here Sylvia Stachura

Sadly, we’ve learned that long-time co-op member, Sylvia Stachura, died on August 18th. She had danced with us at Friday night dancing just the week before. Our condolences go out to her son, Joseph.

Sylvia was an active and generous member of the co-op since the early 1980’s. She served on the board, taught dances, and helped with MCing, refreshments, events–pretty much anything that needed to be done. She was also active in the Federation and served as president from 2002 till 2004. And she was a generous soul outside the folk dance community as well. She used to make yearly trips to Guatemala to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. Even after she didn’t have the energy to haul cinder blocks around, she served as a bridge to the local communities, doing crafts with the children and chatting with them in Spanish. 

We’ll miss you, Sylvia. Thanks for everything.

There will be a co-op board meeting soon and included on the agenda will be planning for an event or commemoration in Sylvia’s honor. Whatever is decided will be announced here and in our newsletter.

Fifth Friday at the Eagle Rock Ice Cream Social

On Sunday, August 16, the co-op’s own Fifth Friday band played at the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society’s annual Ice Cream Social. This community event features games, snacks, music, dancing, and of course ice cream. Fifth Friday first performed there in 2009, and has been invited back every year since. 

Co-op Dancing in September

Every Friday
7:30 PM till 9:30 PM
with special programs starting at 6:30
St James Episcopal Church
1325 Monterey Rd
South Pasadena, CA  91030
Admission: $8 (members $7)

In our 8:00 teaching sessions for September, Rick Cofield will be teaching Cimpoi, a circle dance from Romania.

1st and 3rd Friday Beginners’ Hour
On the first and third Fridays, from 6:30 till 7:30, Mari Werner teaches and reviews beginner level dances and reviews folk dance basics as needed. Beginners can start the class on either the first or third Friday of any month.

2nd Friday 
From 6:30 till 7:30, Valerie Daley teaches a variety of new beginner or intermediate level dances not in the co-op’s current library. Dances that turn out to be particularly popular may then be added to our regular weekly programs. Both beginning and experienced dancers are welcome.

4th Friday Intermediate/Advanced Teaching
On the fourth Fridays from 6:30 till 7:30, teachers, Toti O’Brien, Valerie Daley, and Rick Cofield teach and review of some of the more challenging dances in our music library.

New Dance Classes on 2nd Fridays

Starting August 14th, we inaugurated a new dance program in the 6:30 slot on 2nd Fridays. Valerie Daley teaches a variety of new dances learned at Stockton, Statewide or other folk dance camps and festivals. These are dances at beginner or intermediate level that are not in the co-op’s current library. The idea is to challenge ourselves, learn new dances, and have fun. Dances that turn out to be particularly popular may then be added to our regular weekly programs. Both beginning and experienced dancers are welcome.

Memberships

Memberships in the co-op for the 2025/26 year expired at the end of June, so if you’re a member but haven’t yet renewed, or if you aren’t a member but would like to become one, see Lucie Cofield or Rick Cofield on any Friday night. A membership costs $15 for the whole year and entitles the member to vote in elections, serve on the board, and enjoy a $1 discount on Friday night admission. It’s also a valuable gesture of support and solidarity with the group.

Folk Dance Resources

Pasadena Folk Dance Co-op is a member of the Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc. Through the federation we are connected with other folk dance groups around the region, and the federation provides us with support and a wealth of folk dance resources. They also sponsor our festivals and those of our sister organizations in the area. On their website you can find a directory of federation clubs, advices on teaching, organizing events, and managing clubs, as well videos and syllabi for an enormous library of dances, plus folk dance news and events, and more.

Something probably less well known is that via the federation we belong to the National Folk Organization (NFO). NFO also offers a wealth of resources on their website and through various events both online and in-person nationwide, and they offer scholarships to many of their events. Check out a recent newsletter to get a flavor of who they are and what they do.

Join the Folk Dance Federation Facebook Page

The Folk Dance Federation of California South has a page in Facebook Groups here. If you’re a Facebook user, joining it will help you stay informed on all the great folk dance happenings going on in the whole region and also connect you with lots of folk dance clubs and individual folk dancers. 

Folk Dance Scene

Folk Dance Scene is the official publication of the Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc. It comes out ten times a year in both print and email form (monthly, with combined issues for June/July and December/January). In it you’ll find news and information on our sister clubs in the area plus interesting articles on folk dance, music, costumes, customs, lore, and culture of the peoples of the world, as well as news of folk dance opportunities in other regions.

Click here to peruse a sample issue (March 2024) and if you’re interested in a subscription, send an email to: subscriptions@FolkDanceScene.org.

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Current Health Protocols for Co-op Dancing

• Do not attend if you are sick
• Face masks are recommended but not required
• Please bring your own water and any snacks you want to have
• Hand sanitizer is available

Some Co-op History

From January 9, 2025

Dear Dancers,

Sadly, I have to inform you that our dance venue has burned down in the Eaton fire. Our condolences go out to the staff and members of Altadena Community Church, along with thanks for the years they’ve hosted us. A number of our dancers have been affected by the disaster, but by all reports, everyone is safe and well. I hope all of you are also safe and well.

We will dance again soon though not right away, and we won’t be able to have our Winter Festival on the 18th. After personally affected board members have had time to recover and regroup, we’ll meet and organize and find a new venue. Possibly we’ll dance at a temporary venue for a little while. 

Dancing in the park will continue. See Nomad Dancers on the Associated Groups page, and you’ll find other dance groups listed there as well.

Please keep the faith and keep dancing in your heart. We shall overcome. Stay safe and well.

All the best, Mari Werner
for the Pasadena Folk Dance Co-op Board

from Marshall Cates

In the middle  80’s the Pasadena Coop was at a very low state  We had been dancing at the Odd Fellow’s Lodge -upstairs when they suddenly doubled our rent. I was President at the time, so It fell on me to find a new location.  I thought I had a place at the congregational church, but when they said we had to quit at 10:30, it was a deal breaker (we were dancing to 11:30 at the time).  We finally settled on Holliston Church even though the floor was not wood. Slowly we lost people, eventually Ray Augustine quit coming. This was a serious blow as he and I were the main teachers with Ester Purcell doing beginning. He brought the new dances from Stockton.  We dropped to about 15 with Cheryl bringing refreshments, both of us opening and closing and me doing most of the teaching. We started quitting at 11:00.  About two years later Phil Gamble found Throop hall with its wonderful floor. Ray returned and we began again to flourish. By 1993 we had good attendance at both the New Year’s Eve party and the Winter Festival.

1990s

Quotes

The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.
– Amit Kalantri

Hard times require furious dancing.
– Alice Walker

Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.
– Voltaire

If you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl under it, or dance on top of it.
– Unknown