Learn folk dances from Israel, Romania - and how to dance 'gypsy' style - in Claxton

On Thursday evening, Sept. 28, the Oak Ridge Folk Dancers are sponsoring a workshop at the Claxton Community Center, 1150 Edgemoor Road, with Roberto Bagnoli, of Rome, Italy, teaching folk dances from Albania, Bulgaria, Israel, Romania and also dances in the Roma "gypsy" style.

Oak Ridge Folk Dancers was started in 1944 by Roger and Marge Knox.

"The story goes," according to a news release, "that in those early days of Oak Ridge, workers had free time in the evenings. Roger had a record player and records of folk dance music and knew how to teach the steps."

Paul Taylor is the dance instructor/leader for the Oak Ridge Folk Dancers and that group meets Wednesday evenings at Claxton Community Center, 7:30 to 10 p.m. The website is www.oakridgefolkdancers.org.

Robert Bagnoli

Bagnoli grew up in Rome, where he was first introduced to folk music and dance; eventually he began performing and teaching.  He currently organizes two dance camps in Europe: Balkanot (Balkan and Israeli dance) and Camp Yofi (Israeli dance). Roberto teaches weekly classes in various cities in the north of Italy and conducts monthly sessions in Rome and Milan besides conducting workshops and seminars throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Learn folk dances from Israel, Romania and how to dance 'gypsy' style