where folk can hora and hambo the night away

What do syrto, lesnoto and hambo have in common? And what about hora, clogging and prvo? Well, if you speak the language of the Greeks, Macedonians, Scandinavians, Israelis, Americans or Bulgarians, you’ll readily recognize these as folk dances.

The art has been around as long as people have moved their bodies to the beat of a country’s culture. In Southern California, folk-dancing devotees are part of a vast network that includes both cafes and specialized groups (usually run by nonprofit organizations).

What keeps the dancers joining the circle or getting on the line? For Athan Karras, who ran Intersection folk-dance cafe for 20 years, it’s “the celebration of life.”

Trudy Israel, who danced with the Aman Folk Ensemble, says:”You’re connected with the traditions of other cultures.”

And to Edy Greenblatt, a young dancer and teacher, it’s a “joyous experience that’s as vital as breathing.”

To keep Southlanders informed as to what goes on in this world of ethnic dance, Folk Dance Scene magazine has a calendar of events and gives information on tours, conferences and workshops as well as festivals and other dance locations. For information, call (213) 306-7898.

If you’re looking for a place to learn and practice the art of your ancestors--or someone else’s--here’s a sampling of 10 cafes or other locations that offer folk dancing. Be sure to dress comfortably and check the schedule ahead of time.

Cafe Danssa--11533 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles, (213) 478-7866. Open six nights a week, closed Mondays. Although this dance cafe opened back in 1966, it is among the youngest in spirit. You can take a lesson first, then step to the melodies of Balkan, Israeli or Greek music. A phone call will give you the schedule for the week. Classes start at 7:30 p.m., dancing at 9:30 p.m. In between you can refresh yourself with beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, tea. The age group is varied. Admission $4.50; lesson 50 cents.

Folk Dance Cafe--2927 Meade Ave., San Diego, (619) 281-5656. Open Wednesday-Monday, 7:30 to 11 p.m. or midnight. Classes for beginners on Mondays and intermediate and advanced classes on Wednesdays. Minimal instruction on other nights, but none on Saturdays. Closed Tuesdays. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are international nights, Thursdays and Sundays are for Israeli dancing (with instruction), Fridays for Greek. The cafe is cozy, friendly; everyone is welcomed in the kolo (line) dancing. Every month, special workshops are held featuring teachers from the country of the dance. Fruit juices, soft drinks, ethnic foods are available. Regular admission $3.50; on class nights (Mondays and Wednesdays), $3.75.

Gypsy Camp--3265 Motor Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 558-0746. Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Greek dancing on Thursday nights, international on Fridays and Saturdays. Expect a good age mix, from 20s on up. The proprietor, Julie Nelson, worked at Intersection for 15 years and inherited the record collection from Athan Karras. Admission is $4; if you take the class, $5.

The Plaka Greek Restaurant--235 W. Montecito St., Santa Barbara, (805) 965-9622. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 7 p.m., closed Mondays. Yes, you can come here just to folk dance. Saturday is the big night. Among the dances are Greek, Yugoslavian, Romanian. A special nightly attraction is a feat performed by the proprietor, George: He picks up two tables with his teeth. He claims he’s the only one around who’s doing this these days. Admission just for dancing is $1.50; to see the show (George plus a bellydancer) and dance, $3.

Veselo Selo Folk Art Center--719 N. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, (213) 692-5320, (714) 635-7356. Open Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays. The high, beamed ceiling, tables in back for talking and snacking and the quaint atmosphere all enhance the dancing and sociability. Age group is 30-60. Beginners class in September on Thursdays; Tuesday classes for intermediates is 7:30-10:30 p.m. One Friday a month is Greek night (the next is Sept. 5). Saturdays are international nights with a lesson 8-9 p.m. and dancing until midnight. Admission is $3 except on Saturdays when it is $4. Soft drinks, coffee available. Special holiday parties.

Caltech International Folk Dances--Caltech Campus, Dabney Hall (ask directions at information kiosk, corner Wilson Street and California Boulevard), Pasadena, (213) 849-2095 or (714) 593-2645. Tuesdays, 8-11:55 p.m. The warm atmosphere of the hall and cushiony sofas and chairs make this a place where people can talk as well as dance and watch others dancing. Classes for beginners, 7:30-8 p.m., start in late September (call for exact date); intermediate classes available now, 8-9 p.m. Open dancing starts at 9 p.m. and is international with a Balkan focus. There is also some English, Irish and Japanese dancing as well as Mexican, Romanian, Turkish and Greek. Live music (usually) once a month. Age of crowd is 18 up to 60s. Donations accepted. The group plans a large Halloween party, with ethnic costumes encouraged.

Haverim Folk Dancers--Valley Cities Jewish Community Center, 13164 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys, (818) 786-6310. Mondays, 8-10:30 p.m. International dancing includes Greek, Israeli and Romanian plus some English and Scottish sets of four couples. Group is middle-aged but welcomes all ages. Haverim presents a spring festival and an October cabaret. Daytime classes for older adults are offered on Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon (Israeli) and 1-3 p.m. (Greek). Admission for Monday class and dancing: center members, $2.50; non-members, $3. Daytime classes: Israeli, $1 members, $2 non-members; Greek, $1.50 members, $2 non-members.

Kazaska--Japanese Institute, 2110 Corinth Ave., West Los Angeles, (213) 478-1228. Sponsored by YWCA. Sundays, 7-11:30 p.m. Beginners’ classes 7-8 p.m., intermediates 8-9 p.m. Then the dancing begins. International is the theme, with Balkan and Israeli dances featured. There’s mostly line and circle dancing. Age range is 16-75. Admission before 9 p.m. is $4.50 (includes instruction); after 9 p.m., $3.50.

Narodni Dancers of Long Beach--Hill Junior High School Gym, 1100 Iroquois Ave., Long Beach, (213) 421-9105 or (714) 892-9766. Thursdays, 7-10:30 p.m. This group originated more than 30 years ago and is still going strong. Age range 20-60. The program includes a lesson in dance for the evening. They do international dances as well as some from the Orient and Africa. Class starts at 7:15 p.m.; dancing 8:30-10:30 p.m. (During summer, group meets at Cal State Long Beach, during school year at Hill Junior High; call for specific dates.) Donations accepted.

Westwood Co-Op Folk Dancers--Emerson Junior High School Boys Gym, 1670 Selby Ave., West Los Angeles, (213) 655-8539 or (818) 343-7621. Thursdays, 8-10:45 p.m. This lively club, with a membership of about 200, recently celebrated its 41st anniversary. There are no age limitations. Lessons are offered from 8-9 p.m.; beginner’s lessons are 7:30-9 p.m. in an adjacent room. They concentrate on international dancing and hold an annual weekend outing in the Malibu area. Refreshments provided with admission of $1.50. If you wish to join the club, it’s $5 a year.