After this post you find all current and past announcements of Jaap’s activities.
Clicking on items in the menu at the top, you can learn more about Jaap, contact him via Facebook or E-mail and see some video recordings of Jaap in action on YouTube.
Originally written in English, you can also let Google automatically translate the site by clicking on an appopriate flag.
Background information and sheet music of many of the dances introduced bij Jaap can be found on the music resource website of Jan Wollring, Studio ЯНВ.
🇺🇸 Saturday 24 July 10:00 – 11:00 PM PDT 🇪🇺 Sunday 25 July 07:00 – 08:00 (AM!) CEST
Jaap Leegwater and Jan Wollring are invited to lead an one hour Bulgarian-dance-along in Dance with our teachers as part of this year’s virtual Stockton Folk Dance Camp. We will be live and we welcome request dances in the chat.
🇺🇸 Saturday, July 17th, 3:00 – 6:30 PM PDT 🇪🇺 Sunday, July 18th, 00:00 – 03:30 AM CEST
Jaap Leegwater is a guest dance leader with live music played by Jan Wollring. Dances will also be led by Holly Plotner and our regular team. Following the party is an after party hosted by Paul Collins and friends.
Sunday, March 14, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM PDT (19:00 – 21:30 CET), San Antonio, Texas, US: Springfestival (via Zoom). Dance workshop and culture corner.
Jaap with one of his “teachers” Baba (“grandmother”) Stanka in the village of Gurkovo, Bulgaria (1980)Jaap training with Dance Ensemble Râčenica (last row, in the middle), Plovdiv, Bulgaria (1979)
Sunday, March 14, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM PDT (19:00 – 21:30 CET), San Antonio, Texas, US: Springfestival (via Zoom). Dance workshop and culture corner.
Jaap with one of his “teachers” Baba (“grandmother”) Stanka in the village of Gurkovo, Bulgaria (1980)Jaap training with Dance Ensemble Râčenica (last row, in the middle), Plovdiv, Bulgaria (1979)
Burnaby folk dancers
Tuesday February 16, 2021, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM PT (Wednesday February 17, 04:30 – 07:00 (AM!) CET), Burnaby (near Vancouver, Canada): Online workshop with Jaap Leegwater
Burnaby International Folk Dancers is having Jaap Leegwater with live music for two dance workshops for two hours and a week later on February 23 for an one hour review session. Accompanying Jaap will be Jan Wollring, accordionist and Tijn Boissevain with video and technical support.
Please note that these workshops are free of charge. Tune in at 7:15 PM PT for chat time. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99504932576, meeting ID: 995 0493 2576, passcode: Bifd (Uppercase ‘B’ lowercase ‘ifd’).
Los Angeles LIFE virtual Bulgarian Dance Workshop
Join us! Turn up the sound for a bit of a tune Jan Wollring plays and composed for Jaap’s 65th birthday and in honor of their 25 year of fruitful artistic collaboration together.
Friday 29 January 8:00-10:00 PM PT = Saturday 30 January 5:00 – 7:00 AM CET
The Los Angeles LIFE Balkan Dancers are happy to bring you, live from The Netherlands (at 5am), Jaap Leegwater. Jaap is known worldwide for his fun teaching and having introduced dances including Karamfil, Dobrudžanska Pandela, and Mâri Marijko.
Sherry Cochran, Joan Hantman, and Tom Bozigian and Sheree King will be on hand for this special evening. We will open the doors at 7:45 PM PT with warm up dances. Jaap will start just after 8 PM PT and teach for most of the evening.
Friday 8 January 8:00-10:00 PM PT = Saturday 9 January 5:00 – 7:00 AM CET
The Los Angeles LIFE Balkan Dancers are happy to bring you, live from The Netherlands (at 5am), Jaap Leegwater. Jaap is known worldwide for his fun teaching and having introduced dances including Karamfil, Dobrudžanska Pandela, and Mâri Marijko.
Sherry Cochran, Joan Hantman, and Tom Bozigian and Sheree King will be on hand for this special evening. We will open the doors at 7:45 PM PT with warm up dances. Jaap will start just after 8 PM PT and teach for most of the evening.
Kolo Festival and Texas Folk Dance Camp Thanksgivings folk dance party
The San Francisiso Kolo Festival and the Texas Folk Dance Camp present an on-line Zoom Thanksgivings folk dance party. Featuring Blast from the Past with special cameo appearances of alumni “Texas-Kolo” teachers of previous years. Date: Thursday November 26 Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM Pacific Time (that is Friday 4:00 – 6:00 AM West-European Time!) Click here to register: https://kolofestival.org/register.html
AVC-Terpsichoré – ‘Jaaps Bulgaars’
October 27 – December 15, 2020, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – AVC-Terpsichoré – ‘Jaaps Bulgaars’ (Bulgarian from Jaap)
Dear folk dance friends and interested participants,
Even in these challenging times we can dance Bulgarian nicely and safely. With a specially adapted program and a well thought-out approach: hands-free, individually in the room, all facing the mirror, at a safe two meter distance from each other. We’ll enjoy dances with hands, clap combinations, spoons, scarves and sticks.
On Tuesday October 27, my course Jaap’s “Hands-Free Bulgarian” will start at AVC-Terpsichore Dance House in Amsterdam.
As far as the content is concerned, am going to give the lessons an exciting twist that provides more depth. We travel imaginary from South-West to North-East Bulgaria and will dance the Râčenica dance in the different styles of the country (Rose Valley, Severnjaško, Šopluk, Trakia, Rhodopen and Dobrudža) As you get more northeastward, the whole body will be more involved in the dancing, e.g.: creating clap variations and mimic references to certain crafts and professions.
In short, it will be a course with special and new elements!
Register quickly!
Online Dance Workshop FACoNE
Saturday, November 7, 2020, 2 – 4 pm ET, review on Saturday, November 14, 2020, 2 – 4 pm ET
Bulgarian Online Dance Workshop via Zoom – To benefit the Folk Arts Center of New England with Jaap Leegwater teaching Bulgarian. Accompanied by Jan Wollring, accordion. More information: Folk Arts Center of New England.
Click here for more information on the review on November 14th.
SWIFDI August Camp
We might not have gotten the camp this year, but a special edition T-shirt as issued for this years staff and participants of The Camp That Wasn’t. We keep our fingers crossed for next year!
Workshop Bulgarian Folk Dances
Saturday 23 November in Dokkum, The Netherlands Dances from different parts of Bulgaria, different levels and tempo. Music and dance descriptions available at the workshop.
Location: Zalencentrum Old Dutch Noarder Stasjonsstrjitte 52 9271 CL De Westereen (Zwaagwesteinde)
Voor het vierde seizoen heeft Zajednica mij uitgenodigd voor een korte cursus (4 maandagen) met “Goud van Oud” uit mijn Bulgaarse les repertoire. Net zoals voorgaande jaren, wordt het weer een reünie voor vele oude bekenden, maar ook een nieuwe kennismaking voor die dansers die de eerste introducties van mijn ouder materiaal destijds gemist hebben. Om jezelf te verzekeren van een plek, geef je wel even op van te voren op bij Zajednica. Nieuw dit jaar:
De cursist is koning
De cursisten worden uitgenodigd de inhoud van deze cursus te bepalen. Verzoekdansen uit mijn oude lesprogramma’s zijn van harte welkom. Zie ter oriëntatie het bijgevoegde LP en dansrepertoire overzicht waaruit gekozen kan worden. Ook op de cursus aanwezig: de oude Zajednica/Terp cassettes volumes 1-8.
Geschikt voor alle niveau’s
De dansen zijn “goud van oud” voor velen, en “nieuw” voor die dansers die de introducties in de jaren 70 en 80 gemist hebben. Geschikt voor alle niveau’s, dansleiders op zoek naar dansbaar lesmateriaal en fans van de Bulgaarse dans.
Muziek
Al mijn Bulgaarse les LP’s zijn opnieuw uitgebracht, en nu verkrijgbaar als zesdelige CD-set tijdens de cursus.
Tot ziens op 4 juni in Amsterdam!
Bulgarian dance house
Saturday February 10th, 2018, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Bulgarian dance house with Balkan swingband ‘Sultan’ and Dutch/Bulgarian choir ‘Chubritsa’. AVC/Terpsichoré, Ellermanstraat 16Q, 1099 BW Amsterdam
“UNKNOWN BULGARIA” – a two month course (9 classes). In this course Jaap wil introduce new dances, from his extensive archive of dances researched and recorded in (“old”) Bulgaria over the past years. A special CD with previously unreleased recordings will be available during the course.
“DANCES FROM BULGARIA & BEYOND” – Special weekend course. Dance instructors are Mea Nordenfelt (Sweden) and Jaap Leegwater (The Netherlands). The classes will be accompanied mostly life by two musicians, know from several of Jaap’s recordings: Jan Wollring, accordion (Trediki, Trio Kusmet and Wii Muzikanti) and Wim Zuiderwijk, percussion (Prijatno, Doe Dans Basics and Kaleb). Location: The Hägerstensåsens Folkets Hus in Stockholm.
22 – 24 September 2017, Kalträsk, Sweden
“DANCE WITH MEA & JAAP” – Weekend course with dances from the Balkans with Mea Nordenfelt & Jaap Leegwater.
“BULGARIAN GOLDEN OLDIES“ – a short course (4×) with Jaap’s most popular dances of 35 years of dance teaching. The content of the course will be based on the dance requests by the participants themselves. So get out your old cassettes and LP’s, and let’s dance to your own good old favorites. The course is open to all levels and ages. Fun guaranteed.
“BULGARIAN DANCE TAVERN” – a whirling dance evening with Jaap Leegwater, Mea Nordenfelt & life music by Balkanswingband “Sultan”. After the big successes of this concept for the past few years in Amsterdam, this team now goes “on tour”. Their first stop will be the Nitsanim dance house in The Hague.
Saturday February 11nd, 2017, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Bulgarian dance house with Balkan swingband ‘Sultan’ and Dutch/Bulgarian choir ‘Chubrica’. AVC/Terpsichoré, Ellermanstraat 16Q, 1099 BW Amsterdam
August 14 – 20, 2016, Fryeburg, Maine, USA Teaching Staff: Jaap Leegwater (Bulgarian), Ercüment Klilç (Turkish), Erica Goldman (Israeli), English, Contra’s & Squares (John McIntire) International Folk Dance Musicians, dir. by Barbara Pixton & Julie Poirrier Mainewoods Dance Camp in Fryeburg, Maine Website: Mainewoods Dance Camp
Sunday September 4, 2016, 14:00h, De Paasheuvel, Vierhouten, The Netherlands Bulgarian Dance Tavern with Jaap Leegwater and life music by Balkan Swing Band Sultan Website: Doe Dans festival
September 9 – December 16, 2016, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Friday eveninges 20:00 – 22:00h AVC-Terpsichore World Dance Amsterdam Address: Ellermanstraat 16Q, 1099 BW Amsterdam Dance course “The unknown Balkans”. Authentic folk dances from the ethnic, and (almost) forgotten, minorities of Roumenia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Presented by Dominike Karantzounis (September) , Jaap Leegwater (October) and Turgay Onatli (November). The course will be concluded with a joint session with all three teachers together on December 16. Website: AVC-Terpsichoré
July 30 – August 6, 2016, Castle of Eerde, The Netherlands Dance teaching staffInternational Folk Dance Camp Eerde III Castle of Eerde, Kasteellaan 1, Ommen Website: Folkcamps Eerde
June 2 – 23, 2016, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Thursday evenings 20:00 – 22:00 Dance House Zajednica Address: Argonoutenstraat 13 1076 KJ Amsterdam Programme: Jaap’s ”Goud van Oud” / “Golden Oldies” Website: Zajednica
Februari 13, 2016, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 20:00 – 24:00 AVC-Terpsichore World Dance Amsterdam Address: Ellermanstraat 16Q, 1099 BW Amsterdam Bulgarian Dance Taverna to life music with Balkan Swing Band Sultan & Bulgarian Mixed Choir Chubritsa Website: AVC-Terpsichoré
January 6 – March 23, 2016, The Hague, The Netherlands
Wednesday evenings 20:00 – 22:00 ‘Nitsanim’ International Folk Dance Foundation Three-month theme course ‘Macedonia’ together with Jaap Leegwater (Pirinska Makedonia), Dick van der Zwan (Aegeiska Makedonia) and Paul Mulders (Vadarska Makedonia) Address: Genemuidenstraat 208A 2545 NZ The Hague Website: Nitsanim
May 21 – June 25, 2014 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Thursday evenings 20:00 – 22:00 Dance House Zajednica Address: Argonoutenstraat 13 1076 KJ Amsterdam Website: Zajednica
January 7 – March 31, 2015 The Hague, The Netherlands Wednesday evenings 20:00 – 22:00 ‘Nitsanim’ International Folk Dance Foundation Three-month theme course ‘Trakia’ together with Turgay Onatlı (Turkish), Dick van der Zwan (Greek) and Jaap Leegwater (Bulgarian) Address: Genemuidenstraat 208A 2545 NZ The Hague Website: Nitsanim
September 26 – 28, 2014 Deposit, New York Roberson 48th Annual International Folk Dance Weekend ‘Oquaga 2014’ Address: Oquaga Lake House Resort, Deposit, NY Together with Evan Euripidou and Maria Panayotou – Dances from Greece and Cyprus Website: Roberson International Folk Dancers
October 1, 2014 Morristown, New Jersey Morristown Folk Dancers Morristown, NY Website: Morristown Folk Dancers
October 4, 2014 Amsterdam, The Netherlands 55th Anniversary Festival Dance House Zajednica Address: Doelenzaal, Kloveniersburgwal 87, Amsterdam Website: Zajednica
November 7 – 28, 2014 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Friday eveninges 20:00 – 22:00 AVC-Terpsichore World Dance Amsterdam Address: Ellermanstraat 16Q, 1099 BW Amsterdam This is the Bulgarian section of a 3 month theme course “Dancing Around The Black Sea”. Website: AVC-Terpsichoré
May 15 – June 26, 2014 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Thursday evenings 20:00 – 22:00 Dance House Zajednica Address: Argonoutenstraat 13 1076 KJ Amsterdam Website: Zajednica
January 24 – February 14, 2014 Haarlem, The Netherlands Oro specialisatie Bulgaarse Dans
August 18 – 24, 2013 Fryeburg, Maine, USA Mainewoods Dance Camp in Fryeburg, Maine Website: Mainewoods Dance Camp
September 28, 2013 Eindhoven, The Netherlands Day workshop 13:00h – 17:00h Internationale Dans Eindhoven Address: De Ronde, Tongelresestraat 146, 5613 DP Eindhoven Website: IDE dans web
September – December 2013, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Thursday evenings 20:00 – 22:00 Special theme course “Dances from Trakia” (Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), together with Dick van de Zwan and Turgay OnatlıDancehouse Vereniging AVC-Terpsichoré, Ellermanstraat 16q, 1099 BW Amsterdam, tel.: 020-6260193, e-mail: info@avc-terpsichore.nl Website: AVC-Terpsichoré
May 23 – July 4, 2013 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Thursday evening course 20:00 – 22:00 Dancehouse Zajednica, Argonautenstraat 13, 1076 KJ Amsterdam Website: Zajednica Folklore Danshuis
Thursday, April, 26th and Thursday May 3rd 2012, 7:30 – 10:00h PM
Evening course, Kuhn Village Barn, Che Che Pinqua St, Warrenville IL, 60555 USA
