The Boulder Balkan Bash is an epic, all-evening event at the Avalon Ballroom that combines live traditional music from SIX local bands specializing in Balkan styes with dancing, food and a fabulous feeling of community. Local folk dance group Gaitani will perform two short sets of Bulgarian dances. Dozens of musicians will perform live music for dancing in genres ranging from village-style Bulgarian and Macedonian to scintillating Serbian and Romani brass band, from exuberant vocals on Croatian and Romanian tunes to Greek taverna-style music and Turkish rhythms. Many of the dances are done in a line and are easy to learn. Not a dancer? Not a problem; the Avalon ballroom has plenty of room to sit, watch and listen. Grab a table with friends and enjoy the evening!
BALKAN MUSIC FROM SIX LOCAL BANDS
DANCING, FOOD, AND COMMUNITY!
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 4:30 (music @ 5:00) PM – 11:00 PM
at the Avalon Ballroom in Boulder
Six local musical ensembles play for your dancing pleasure—many dances are easy to follow, or just sit, listen, and enjoy the community! Folk dance performance! Bring a potluck dish! Questions: Mary Ann @ 720-936-5055.
Barbelfish * The Bitovniks * Gaitani * Gora Gora Orkestar * Mishmish * Planina * Sherefe
- Visit the Planina website for the latest details of the Boulder Balkan Bash.
- Volunteers needed! Contact info at the Planina website
- Tickets
- Buy online for $30 in advance, $40 at the door
- Students over 12: $20 advance, $30 at the door
- Children 6-12: $15
- Children under 6: Free
FOOD
In Eastern Europe, live music and dancing are always accompanied by food . . . and with six hours of dancing, we will need refueling! So roll up your sleeves, make a great dish to contribute to the hors d’oeuvres and dessert potluck and come celebrate! All guests and performers are kindly asked to bring a dish to share. Don’t know what to bring or don’t like to cook? Contact Mary Ann at for ideas. Bottles of wine will be available in exchange for a donation.
PROGRAM
The dance music program will feature tunes from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and Roma (Gypsy) traditions.
Doors open at 4:30 pm. Live music starts at 5 pm. After the last band’s performance, all musicians who are still standing will return to play and sing a few numbers together for the final dances. Everyone is welcome to sing along, with lyrics provided.
THE PERFORMERS
- The Bitovniks 5:00-5:45
- James Hoskins (gadulka) Mary Ann Sausette and Steve Mullins (tamburas), Varol Saatcioglu (gajda), Amy Self (kaval), Jesse Manno (tapan)
- Sweet Bulgarian village dance music: pravo, daichovo, ruchenitsa, Chichovata, pajdushko, Buchimish, Sandansko, chetvorno, Yambolskata, kopanitsa
- Yes, you can eat while they are playing, but you will want to dance too! Work up an appetite!
- Planina 5:50-6:35
- If you’ve never seen them don’t miss this chance! They are a group of singers and instrumentalists from the Denver-Boulder area specializing in traditional and contemporary folk music from Eastern Europe. They sing songs from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Georgia, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Lithuania, Turkey and Ukraine, and Jewish and Rom (Gypsy) traditions from some of those areas. Their Bash set will be curated from their danceable repertoire.
- Gaitani (dance performance) 6:40-6:55 and 8:45-9:00
- This is an energetic, precise and expressive traditional Bulgarian dance troupe from Denver. Amazing to watch! And a good time to catch your breath and a bite to eat.
- Barbelfish 7:00-7:45
- Julie Lancaster (accordian, tambura and vocals), Loren Uecker (vocals, riq), James Hoskins (gadulka, cello, bouzouki, vocals) , Steve Mullins (tambura, guitar, mandolin), Amy Self (kaval, vocals), Jesse Manno (tapan and doumbek, vocals), and special guest Paul Brown (bass).
- Mishmish 7:55-8:40
- MishMish brings an electrifying Balkan-Arab fusion to Colorado. Their members bring together musical backgrounds in Klezmer, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Samba. So fun!
- Annie Aqua (fiddle), Florin Alexandrescu (accordion), Corey Garretson (bass), Rose Fuller (vox), Adam Loudermilk (tapan/percussion), Eric Alterman-percussion (darbuka, riq, snare)
- Gaitani (dance performance) 8:45-9:00
- Sherefe 9:05-9:50
- Traditional Greek and Turkish music for dancing. My heart is here.
- Julie Lancaster (accordian, vocals), James Hoskins (gadulka, cello, bouzouki, zurna, vocals) , Dexter Payne (clarinet, sax, ney), Jesse Manno (bouzouki, laouto, saz, vocals), and guests Paul Brown (bass) and Jonathan Kipp (doumbek and tapan).
- Some choreographed (but easy) dances: Mavilim, Kalenin Dibinde and Sofka (ok, a little advanced), plus village dances: halay, karsilamas, zonaradhikos (pravo), tsifitelli and zebekiko (both freeform), tsamiko, rumba (Misirlou/kritiko sytro), kalamatiano (syrto).
- Gora Gora Orkestar 9:55-10:45
- Gora Gora Orkestar brings the sounds of the Old World to the Rocky Mountains performing high-energy Balkan and Klezmer music. Formed in 2009, this 11-piece brass band is dedicated to making the audience dance with driving rhythms and innovative approaches to the traditional music of Eastern Europe. Since its formation, Gora Gora has focused on learning this music with attention and authenticity, and its members have had the chance to learn from experts in the field at events such as Balkan Camp and KlezKanada.
- After Gora Gora all musicians who are still standing will return to play and sing a few numbers together for the final dances. Everyone is welcome to sing along, with lyrics provided.
SMALL CHILDREN
Please be responsible for any small children attending with you. Children are welcome to dance, partake of the potluck and participate in the event. We need your help in assuring that they refrain from running in the building, crossing the dance floor during dances, and disrupting the activities of the other guests. It’s a good idea to bring something for them to do when they’re not dancing. Please make sure your youngsters are safe and under your guidance at all times.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
If you’d like to exchange a couple of hours of work for free admission, we have a number of volunteer work-exchange positions, such as shifts doing setup, tear-down, box office, kitchen/potluck, and more. Please contact Mary Ann Saussotte, 720-936-5055 or to volunteer.
JOIN US!
Join us in celebrating Eastern European traditions of live music, dancing, and food. This is one of Boulder’s most exciting music and dance events and, for Balkan music and dance aficionados, THE event of the year — and it doesn’t happen every year! Your buying tickets in advance really helps us plan. Hope to see you there!
