GRADINA: Gualala Arts Presents Balkan Folk Music and Dance Performance

On Sunday, October 15, at 4 p.m. Gradina will bring enduring traditions of village folk music and dance from the Balkans to The Gualala Arts Center. 

The Balkan music ensemble will sing songs both a cappella and also with instrumental accompaniment, leaning toward traditional songs and arrangements.  Tickets are $20 in advance, $5 more day of and available at Gualala Arts, the Dolphin Gallery and at Eventbrite.com.  This performance will also include Gradina’s “Crankie” – a visual illustrated storytelling scroll, wound onto two spools and hand-cranked in a viewing window, which will be used during a beloved Greek island song.

Folk traditions of the region have captured the interest of audiences both young and old for generations. In Sonoma County there is a vibrant dance community where anyone can learn the old dances, often to live music accompaniment. Gradina is one of the musical groups that helps to keep those traditions alive in northern California.

There may be some Balkan dancers in attendance, so many of the numbers can provide the music for line dancing, which often takes place on the side or in the back of the hall. We hope you can join us!

About Gradina
Gradina is a Balkan music ensemble, performing traditional Eastern European folk music in the North Bay area since 2001. The songs can either be a capella or with instrumental accompaniment, and there can be instrumentals included as well. They present “sit-down” concerts for choral listening or perform the music for Balkan dancing, and are also available to teach most of the dances they present. Every Gradina concert is unique, often with a different array of performers.