Berkeley Folk Dancers is America’s largest folk dance club.
Dancing seven times a week, fifty weeks a year.
Now in our 84th year!
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
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.
- 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.
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 2026 CALENDAR at Live Oak:
Berkeley Folk Dancers dance every weekday with the following exceptions and special everts.
We will not be dancing on the Following City holidays in 2026:
January 1 Thursday New Year’s Day
January 19 Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 12 Thursday Lincoln’s Birthday
February 16 Monday Washington’s Birthday
March 30 Monday Cesar Chavez Day
May 18 Monday Malcolm X’s Birthday
May 25 Monday Memorial Day
June 19 Friday Juneteenth
July 3 Friday Independence Day (observed)
September 7 Monday Labor Day
October 12 Monday Indigenous People’s Day
November 11 Wednesday Veterans Day Observed
November 26 Thursday Thanksgiving Day
November 27 Friday Thanksgiving Holiday
December 24, Thursday Christmas Eve.
Though it is not a City Holiday we will not be dancing
December 25 Friday Christmas Day
Special Events
January 10, Saturday Birthday Ball Hours: 10-5pm Dancing 1-4pm
February 7, Saturday Festival of the Oaks Dancing Institute 9:30-12 Dancing 1-5pm
February 13 Friday Live Music Da Mozem 6:30-10:30 Dancing 7:30-9:30om
March 20 Friday AI Class Party Hours: 6:30-11:00 Dancing 7:30-10:30pm
May 16 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 19 Saturday Inaugural Ball Hours: 12-5pm Dancing 1-4
October 30 Friday Dance Selection Night Demo, Voting Dancing 7-10pm
November 20 Friday Adv Class Party 6:30-11pm Dancing 7:30-10:30
December 31 Thursday New Year’s Eve Party Dancing 9-Midnight