ABOUT
The Boulder Balkan Bash is an epic, all-evening event at the Avalon Ballroom that combines live folk music from SIX local bands specializing in Balkan styes, with wonderful dancing, food and a fabulous feeling of community. Dozens of musicians will perform throughout the evening, singing and playing music in genres ranging from village-style Bulgarian folk band to scintillating Serbian and Roma brass music, Greek taverna-style tunes to belly dance grooves.
Many of the dances are easy to learn on the spot. Not a dancer? Not a problem; the Avalon ballroom has plenty of room to sit, watch and listen. Grab a table with friends and enjoy the evening!
FOOD
In Eastern Europe, live music and dancing are always accompanied by food . . . and with five and a half hours of dancing, we will need refueling! So roll up your sleeves, make a great dish to contribute to the heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert potluck and come celebrate! All guests are kindly asked to bring a dish to share. Don’t know what to bring or don’t like to cook? Contact Mary Ann at maesaussotte@comcast.net for ideas.
PROGRAM
The dance music program will feature tunes from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and Roma (Gypsy) traditions. While the majority of dances are done holding hands in a line or solo-style, a few waltzes and other couple dances are included.
Doors open at 4:30 pm. Live music begins at 5:00. Around 10:45, following the last band's performance, all the musicians who are still standing will return to play a few numbers together for final dances, and everyone is welcome to sing along, with lyrics provided.
DANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY!
There will be plenty of dances you can easily follow without knowing them beforehand, but if you’d like to dig a little deeper, folk dancer Biz Hertzberg will be teaching dances specifically from the Bash program for the next two weeks at Boulder International Folk Dancers’ regular Friday dances. Sodal Hall at the Avalon, Friday Nov. 14 and 21. Easy beginner dances from 6:30 to 7:30, and then slightly more advanced dances 7:30-8:30, mostly village style, without a lot of choreography to remember. All lessons free (except BIFD members should pay as usual).
THE PERFORMERS
The Bitovniks 5:00-5:45
Planina 5:50-6:35
Gaitani (dance performance) 6:40-6:55
Barbelfish 7:00-7:45
Mishmish 7:55-8:40
Gaitani (dance performance) 8:45-9:00
Sherefe 9:05-9:50
Gora Gora Orkestar 9:55-10:45
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
If you’d like to exchange a couple of hours of work for free admission, we have a limited number of volunteer work-exchange positions, such as shifts doing setup, tear-down, box office, kitchen (keeping the potluck snack tables orderly), and more. Please contact Mary Ann Saussotte, 720-936-5055 or maesaussotte@comcast.net, to volunteer.
JOIN US!
Join us in celebrating Eastern European traditions of live music, dancing, and food.
This is one of Boulder’s most exciting music and dance events and, for Balkan music and dance aficionados, THE event of the year (or couple of years). Your buying tickets in advance really helps us plan and there is a discount for advance purchase.
Hope to see you there!
QUICK REFERENCE
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 5-11:00 pm
Avalon Ballroom (6185 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder, 80303)
More info: maesaussotte@comcast.net or 720-936-5055
Please buy tickets in advance if you possibly can to help us estimate the food/beverage needs.
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