10 Lively Spots : Folk Dancing Groups Celebrate a World of Tradition

Folk dancing, popular in the ‘60s along with coffeehouses and guitars, has survived the ‘80s and is marching boldly into the ‘90s.

Broadly defined, folk dancing is the traditional

dance form of a country or a particular ethnic group. The ever-faster hora danced at a bar mitzvah, the whirling polkas at a Polish wedding, the line dance in “Zorba the Greek”--all are folk dances.

Some dances are for couples only, others take all comers. In some the dancers are arranged in squares, in others they form circles or lines. The variations are as endless as the various peoples and cultures of the world.

Here are some folk dancing places in the Los Angeles area.

Westwood Co-Op Folk Dancers--Thursday nights. Emerson Junior High Gymnasium, 1650 N. Selby Ave., West Los Angeles. Beginners class in international dancing from 7:30 to 9 p.m., intermediate and advanced international dancing from 8 to 10:45 p.m. Cost $2. (213) 392-3452. Gypsy Camp--Friday nights. 3265 Motor Ave., West Los Angeles. Beginners class in Romanian dancing from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Open international dancing from 9:30 to midnight. Cost: $6 with class, $5 without class. (213) 558-0746.

Kypseli--Friday nights. 2031 Villa St., Pasadena. Class in Greek dancing from 8 to 9 p.m. Open dancing from 9 to midnight. Cost: $4 with class, $3 without class. (213) 660-1030 or (818) 248-2020. Crestwood Folk Dancers--Monday nights. Brockton School, 1309 Armacost Ave., West Los Angeles. Beginners class in international dancing from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Intermediate international dancing from 8:15 to 10:30 p.m. Call teacher Beverly Barr for class fees and locations of other classes. (213) 202-6166.

Cafe Danssa--Tuesday through Sunday nights. 11533 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles. International dancing Friday; Israeli dancing Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Open dancing 9:30 p.m. to midnight, often later. Lessons 8 to 9:30 p.m.; telephone for class schedule. Balkan dancing Wednesday, 7:30 to 11 p.m. Admission: $6; lessons 50 cents (buy one lesson, get the second free). (213) 478-7866, (213) 478-9960.

Caltech International Folk Dancers--Tuesday nights. Dabney Hall, Caltech Campus, 1201 E. California Blvd., Pasadena. Beginners class in international dancing from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Intermediate international dancing from 8 to 9 p.m. Open international dancing from 9 to midnight. Donations accepted. (213) 849-2095 or (213) 261-3292.

Folkdance with Mario Casetta--Wednesday nights. 3131 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Beginners class in international dancing from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Potluck party. Open international dancing from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Cost: $3.50. (213) 666-6393 or (213) 743-5252. Specializes in beginners.

Hollywood Peasants--Wednesday nights. Plummer Park, 1200 N. Vista St., West Hollywood. Intermediate and advanced international dancing from 7:30 to 10 p.m. $1.50 donation. (213) 836-3069 or (213) 397-8110.

Narodni Folk Dancers--Thursday nights. Long Beach Unitarian Church, 5450 Atherton St., Long Beach. Warm-up dancing from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Short beginner-intermediate class 8 p.m. Open international dancing, by request, from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Cost: $2. (714) 897-2356 or (213) 421-9105.

Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society--Friday nights. El Retiro Park, 126 Vista Del Parque, Torrance. Beginners class in Royal Scottish Country dancing from 7 to 8 p.m., intermediate and advanced Scottish dancing from 8 to 10 p.m. Cost: $3 per class. (213) 377-1675 or (213) 546-2005. Call for locations of other classes.

Tuesday Gypsies--Tuesday nights. Felicia Mahood Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, 7:30-10 p.m. Intermediate international dancing. Cost: $3. (213) 556-3791.

For information about other groups, call Beverly Barr, Folk Dance Federation of California South, (213) 202-6166.