Berkeley Folk Dancers is America’s largest folk dance club.
Dancing seven times a week, fifty weeks a year.
Now in our 84th year!
August Break Schedule
Last 2 Weeks of August there will be dancing:
Monday evening: August 18 and 25 but not Sept. 1st (Labor Day) Yaqi and Tom
Wednesday evening: August 20 and 27 Peter and Ilene (No dancing Aug 20)
Thursday (8/28) at Northbrae Church Matt Miller, from Changs in SF, will lead the dancing and focus on Balkan dancing. He led most of the dances at the Da! Moshem live music dance last February that was so popular.
Friday Request Nights: August 22 and 29
Time to Renew or Join!
Berkeley Folk Dancers Membership Information
Membership Fees
- Annual Dues: The annual membership fee is $260. However, if you are joining for the first time, the fee is reduced to $190 for the first year .
Beginner Classes
- Class Options: New beginners can attend the Tuesday afternoon class at Northbrae Church or the Thursday evening class at Live Oak Park (See the Instructors and Classes section below)
- Drop-in Fee: If you are unsure about committing to the full membership, you can attend any class for an $8.00 drop-in fee
- 8-Week Session: For those interested in the Thursday evening class, there is an option to sign up for an 8-week session for $40
Special Offers
- Free Membership: Thanks to the Mel Mann Fund, full-time students or individuals under 30 are eligible for a free membership .
Registration Process
- Online Registration: The preferred method for joining or renewing your membership is online. The link for the 2025-26 membership is HERE.
- Paper Registration: If you need to register using a paper form, you can download, print, fill out, and mail the form along with a check to Berkeley Folk Dancers, c/o Arnold Stoper, 6439 Regent St, Oakland 94618. The link to the paper form is available here .
- Credit Card Payments: Please note that credit card payments can only be processed online. Paper forms cannot be used for credit card payments
Additional Information
- For more details, especially about the Beginner Class, please refer to the “More Facts About Us” section under the “About Us” page on our website
Two Great Beginner Classes: Which One Should I Take?
Berkeley Folk Dancers (BFD) has two beginner classes. Both classes offer fun, exercise, camaraderie and great teaching! We have posters for each of them below. What’s the difference between them?
- Thursday evenings,(poster on the right) 7:45-9:30, at Live Oak Hall, 1301 Shattuck, Berkeley. Teachers: Marian Snyder assisted by Cornelia Ghafur. Covers the entire Berkeley Folk Dancer beginner repertoire between September and the following August, which is the ideal preparation for eventually moving up to higher-level BFD classes. Offers two $40 8-week sessions for newcomers, starting the first week in September, so you don’t have to pay annual dues or $8/session until January. You may take this class for up to two years.
- Tuesday afternoons, (poster on the left) 1:30-3:00, at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley. Teacher: Andy Partos. Many BFD beginner repertoire dances are taught + some dances from other BFD levels or non-BFD sources. Join BFD right away or pay $8/session until you’re ready to join. You may keep taking this class as long as you like.
Upcoming Events
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Instructors and Classes
Introduction to Folk Dancing
Tuesday Afternoon 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Northbrae Church
apnitrate@aol.com
(510) 375-6874
Beginner
Thursday Evening 7:45 to 9:30
Live Oak Park
kindermar54@sbcglobal.net
(510) 549-1703
c.ghafur@gmail.com
Intermediate
Thursday Afternoon 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Northbrae Church
marijahillis@gmail.com
510-684-7514
Intermediate
Tuesday Evening 7:45 to 9:30 pm
Live Oak Park
kindermar54@sbcglobal.net
(510) 549-1703
davidhillis1@comcast.net
(510) 872-5066
dlsmsme@hotmail.com
(404)-217-5230
Advanced Intermediate
Wednesday Evening 7:45 to 9:30
Live Oak Park
luoping@berkeley.edu
(510)528-0749
marijahillis@gmail.com
510-684-7514
Advanced
Monday Evening 7:45 to 9:30
Live Oak Park
yaqizhang@comcast.net
(510) 345-2845
Tom Sha
shaqz123@gmail.com
(510)842-7538
Request Night
Friday Evening 7:45 to 9:45
Live Oak Park
pvdangelo@hotmail.com
(510)654-3136
If you would like to subscribe to our Bulletin and be informed of future events please send a message to arnold.stoper@gmail.com with “Subscription request” in the subject line (current members receive the Bulletin automatically and don’t need to do this)
BERKELEY FOLK DANCER 2025 CALENDAR at Live Oak: 1/1/2025
The following is the list of City Holidays in 2025 on which Berkeley Folk Dancers will be dancing.
January 20 Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 17 Monday President’s Day
March 31 Monday Cesar Chavez Day
June 19 Thursday Juneteenth
November 11 Tuesday Veterans Day Observed
We will not be dancing on the Following City holidays in 2025:
January 1 New Year’s Day
May 26 Memorial Day
July 4 Independence Day
September 1 Labor Day
November 27 Thanksgiving Day
November28 Thanksgiving Holiday
December 25 Christmas Day
December24, Christmas Eve. Though it is not a City Holiday we will not be dancing
Special Events
January 11, Saturday Birthday Ball Hours: 10-5pm Dancing 1-4pm
January 18, Saturday E Loui Tucker Salsa Rueda(Teachers) Dancing 1-3
February 8, Saturday Festival of the Oaks Dancing Institute 9:30-12 Dancing 1-5pm Set Up Friday Feb 7 @ 5pm NC
February 14 Friday Live Music Da Mozem 6:30-10:30 Dancing 7:30-9:30om
March 21, (Friday) AI Class Party Hours: 6:30-11:00 Dancing 7:30-10:30pm
May 24, (Saturday)Int Class Party Dance Hours: 1-5:30pm Dancing 2-5:00pm
July 19 (Saturday) Beginning Class Party Hours: 1-5:30pm Dancing 2-5:00pm
Sept 20 Saturday Inaugural Ball Hours: 12-5pm Dancing 1-4
September 27 , Saturday David and Marija Hillis Anniversary Picnic 11:30-3pm Dancing 2-5pm
October 31 Dance Selection Night Demo, Voting, Dancing
November 21 Adv Class Party 6:30-11pm Dancing 7:30-10:30
December 31 Wed New Year’s Eve Party Hours: 8-12:30 Dancing 9-Midnight