Past festivals

66 years of the festival

For more than six decades, SAFDF has brought beautiful dancing, great teachers, dazzling concerts, delicious food, and wholesome camaraderie to folks young and old. Here’s a mosaic of our rich past!

Teachers

Here is a list of teachers we’ve had over the last 20 years!

YearTeachers
2024Andy Taylor-Blenis (international dances)
Miroslav “Bata” Marčetić (Serbian dances)
Željko Jergan (Croatian dances)
2023Ventzi Sotirov (Bulgarian dances)
Fusae Carroll (Macedonian dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (international dances)
Seneca Patino (Samba)
2022Jaap Leegwater (Bulgarian dances)
Mihai David (Romanian dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (international and Mexican dances)
Fusae Carroll (Macedonian dances)
Shmulik Gov-Ari (Israeli dances)
Iliana Bozhanova (Bulgarian dances)
Zeljko Jergan (Croatian dances)
2021Caspar Bik (international dances)
Roberto Bagnoli (Macedonian dances)
Franklin Houston (Balkan dances)
Genci Kastrati (Albanian dances)
Jaap Leegwater (Bulgarian dances)
Bata Marčetić (Serbian dances)
Lee Otterholt (international dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (international and Mexican dances)
2019Michael Ginsburg (Balkan dances)
José Ángel Pérez Fumero and Elsa Morales Perera (Canary Island dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (International, Scottish, and Mexican dances)
Mihai David (Romanian dances)
2018Jaap Leegwater (Bulgarian dances)
Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu (Romanian dances)
Campbell Miller (vintage and social dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (International, Scottish, and Mexican dances)
José Ángel Pérez Fumero and Elsa Morales Perera (Canary Island dances)
2017Ahmet Lüleci (Turkish dances)
Miroslav "Bata" Marcetic (Serbian dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (International, Scottish, and Mexican dances)
2016Yves Moreau (Bulgarian dances)
France Bourque-Moreau (French Canadian and children's dances)
Tonya Pennie (West African dances)
2015Lee Otterholt (international dances)
Jacqueline Schwab (English country dances)
Mihai David (Romanian dances)
2014Miroslav "Bata" Marčetić (Serbian dances)
Sanna Longden (international dances)
Rene'e Park (Hawaiian dances)
2013Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu (Romanian dances)
Joseph Pimentel (English country dances)
Jose Padron (Mexican dances)
2012Yves Moreau (Bulgarian dances)
Ira Weisburd (international dances)
George Fogg (English country dances)
2011Lee Otterholt (Balkan dances)
Sandy Starkman (international dances)
George Fogg (English country dances)
2010Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu (Romanian dances)
Sandy Starkman (international dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (children's dances)
George Fogg (English country dances)
2009Lee Otterholt (Balkan dances)
Sandy Starkman (international dances)
Andy Taylor-Blenis (children's dances)
George Fogg (English country dances)
2008Bob Leibman (Albanian dances)
Vonnie Brown (Slovak dances)
Paul Collins (Serbian-American dances)
2007Daniela Ivanova (Bulgarian dances)
Daniel Sandu (Romanian dances)
George Fogg (English country dances)
2006Yves Moreau (Bulgarian dances)
Mihai David (Romanian dances)
France Bourque-Moreau (teachers' workshop)
George Fogg (English country dances)
Stewart Shacklette (contra and square dances)
2005Germain Hébert (French dances)
Miroslav "Bata" Marčetić (Serbian dances)
2004Mihai David (Romanian dances)
Lee Otterholt (Balkan dances)
Jacqueline Schwab (English country dances)
2003Mihai David (Romanian dances)
Enrique Ramon (Latin dances)
George Fogg (English country dances)

Dance parties

Festival evenings culminated in parties featuring folk dance favorites that kept everyone, from complete beginners to seasoned veterans, dancing for hours. We sometimes also had live music by talented musicians both from around Central Texas and from far away — for example, Tom Pixton and his band in 2018, and Homegrown in 2019. And there was great food too!

Concert

The SAFDF concerts showcased the beautiful talent and energy of local performing folk dance groups, plus special guests from further away. These performances, together with the fabulous ambiance and professional stage of OLLU’s Thiry Auditorium, combined for an unforgettable evening of music, song, and dance.

Here are some of the groups we have hosted:

  • Academy of Serbian Folk Dancing (Toronto, Canada)
  • Alamotion Dance Troupe (San Antonio, TX)
  • Alegria Dance Company (San Antonio, TX)
  • Arte y Pasión (San Antonio, TX)
  • Ballet Folklorico South Texas College (McAllen, TX)
  • Bluebonnet Scottish Country Dancers (San Antonio, TX)
  • Carrie’s Swing Kids
  • Csárdás Hungarian Dancers (Austin, TX)
  • Fandango Dance Troupe (San Antonio, TX)
  • Flamenco Arts Society of San Antonio (FASSA) (San Antonio, TX)
  • Folk Dance Group UZORI (Houston, TX)
  • Hermann Sons Polkateers (San Antonio, TX)
  • Houston International Folk Dancers (Houston, TX)
  • Hula Halau Ohana Elikapeka (San Antonio, TX)
  • Gazelle Turkish Folk Dance Group (Houston, TX)
  • Jagoda Dance Ensemble (Dallas, TX)
  • Karilagan Philippine Cultural Group (San Antonio, TX)
  • Komenka Ethnic Dance Ensemble (New Orleans, LA)
  • Lannaya Drum and Dance Ensemble (Austin, TX)
  • Panamanian Folklore (Killeen, TX)
  • Raices de Arte Espanol (San Antonio, TX)
  • San Antonio Swing Dance Society (San Antonio, TX)
  • Sebastien De La Cruz, El Charro De Oro (San Antonio, TX)
  • Teresa Champion and Dance Company (San Antonio, TX)
  • Tusuy Kusun Peru (San Antonio, TX)
  • Zenshin Taiko (Maui, HI)

And here are some photos from past performances:

Fun Arts Day!

SAFDF was proud to host Fun Arts Day!, an exciting and enriching half-day event devoted to children in local schools. Here are some videos of activities that typically occurred during Fun Arts Day!.