Autumn Leaves XXIX
November 2-4, 2012

Mihai David was born in 1946 in Bucuresti (Bucharest), Romania, and began dancing to his uncle's balalaika music. At age eight, Mihai attended the Pioneers Youth Palace where youth interested in dance were schooled. Two years later, he was selected to attend the School of Choreography in Bucharest and continued there for eight years, studying classical ballet, character dance, modern dance, and folk dance. While at the school, he danced with the UTM (The Young Communists) ensemble, directed by Theodor Vasilescu (the UTM considered to be the best amateur ensemble in Romania). Even before his graduation at the age of 17, he was dancing with the Romanian State Folk Ballet Ciocârlia, became one of their lead dancers, and continued touring with the troupe throughout Europe for two years. Mihai resigned from Ciocârlia and joined another professional group, The Music Hall Ensemble, with whom his brother, Alexandru David, was a lead dancer. Two weeks later, Mihai traveled to Paris (leaving his brother behind because Alexandru had associations in the West and the Romanian government was afraid that he would defect). Mihai later toured East Berlin, Germany, and Italy. It was in Italy, in June of 1966, the day before the ensemble's last performance, that he defected to the West.

Mihai immigrated to the United States in January of 1967, took various odd jobs to support himself, danced with the Boston Ballet Company, and had his own exhibition group within the Detroit, Michigan, Romanian community. He then moved to California and danced adagio in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was drafted into the U.S. Army from Nevada. While in the service, he danced with the Augusta Ballet Company in Georgia. In 1969, Mihai dropped into The Intersection, a folk dance coffeehouse, where Dick Oakes got him invited to teach Romanian dances and his folk dance teaching career was launched. In 1970, he opened and operated his Gypsy Camp Folk Dance Café in Hollywood, California until its closing in 1976. Mihai taught Romanian dance at the California Kolo Festival in San Francisco in 1972 and the Stockton Folk Dance Camp and Santa Barbara Folk Dance Conference in 1973. He was co-director of the Hawaii and Santa Barbara Folk Dance Symposiums and the Catalina International Dance Festival.

Mihai has devoted himself to teaching Romanian folk dance and has introduced many of the most popular Romanian dances being done in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Orient. His teaching tours have taken him throughout the western hemisphere, the Orient, and Australia. Mihai has conducted several tours throughout the Balkans and the Middle-East. When he is not dancing, he operates his own construction company in southern California. Mihai has a daughter, Aubrey, who also is a dancer, actress, and singer. He is soon to release and autobiographical account of his early days entitled Dancing to Freedom.

Some of the more than 150 dances Mihai has taught include: Alunelul de Brâu, Brâu Batrin, Brâul pe Opt, Ca la Mahala, Cimpoi, Ciuleandra, Craitele de la Plenita, Damul, Floricica Olteneasca, Gaselnita, Hora de la Putna, Hora Dreapta, Hora de la Voitenul, Hora de Mîna, Hora Fetelor, Hora Ploii, Itele, Jianul, Jocul de-a Lungul, Rogojina, Rustemul, Rustemul de Brîu, Sârba din Cimpoi, Sârba Pe Loc, Tintaroiul de la Laslovat, Tocul, and Trei Pazeste.

Although Mihai has visited Nashville and shared his dances with NIFD in the past, this is his first extended visit as an Autumn Leaves teacher. Mihai is an excellent dance teacher and engaging entertainer, with a wealth of great dances to share. A workshop not to be missed!

Balkan Bazaar (Suze Stentz, proprietor)

Suze Stentz and her husband, Richie Leonard, bring Balkan Bazaar, our favorite boutique, with its wonderful selection of authentic music, traditional dress and costume, books, accessories, house dressing, jewelry, gifts, and gently pre-owned clothing. This North Carolina based traveling bazaar has something for everyone--especially for Folk Dance enthusiasts. Stop and chat with Suze and Richie to fill your shopping bag and imagination with all things Balkan. Here is their website: http://www.balkanbazaar.com/home.html


Camp Widjiwagan

Autumn Leaves will once again retum to Camp Widjiwagan: comfortable, genteelly rustic, and situated on the shore of scenic Percy Priest Lake. The hall has a view of the lake from its wall of windows and is itself a beautiful wooden structure within the wooded camp. So please join us at Autumn Leaves XXV for a fabulous weekend of dance, music, fellowship, and FUN! Below is the address and map to the dance site:

Joe C Davis YMCA Outdoor Center, Camp Widjwagan
3088 Smith Springs Road, Antioch, Tennessee