EFIE DERKSEN — Bosnian

Efie is someone who undertakes many things. She follows her heart and finds ways to make art out of her passion.

Her main occupation is as a nurse at Buurtzorg. But she is also a folk dance teacher, with a speciality for Bosnian and Serbian dances. Besides that she made a documentary from her heart, without any experience in filmmaking. With the help of the right people, who believed in her dream, she could make this professional documentary called 'My Borrowed Heritage'.

At the moment she started a new project, together with Myrthe Kalma, called 'Zij aan Zij'. A theatrical performance that honors the feminine through traditional folkdances, music and songs. Ancient stories about rituals from across the world are brought to the stage, highlighting the role that women have played-in all their various phases and forms.

Introduction Bosnian dances:

Efie takes you on a journey through the countryside of Bosnia. Be surprised by the earthly dances and songs, and experience the atmosphere of this special part of Europe. In 2017 she danced with the ensemble 'Veselin Masleša' in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she not only collected new dance material from the locals, but also found a second home.

KONSTANTIN MARINOV — Bulgarian

Konstantin “Kotse” Marinov is from Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. From the age of 5 he performed with the Children’s and Youth Ensemble “Zagorche.” Kotse was born into a dancing family: he and his father, mother, and sister all have 100 percent dancing in their blood! His father is a choreographer, and is a long-time soloist of the Military Ensemble in Sofia; and his mother dances with the Zagore ensemble. In 1987, Konstantin entered the State Choreographic School, now the National School of Dance Arts in Sofia, graduating with a diploma as artist/ballet dancer and teacher of dance arts. After he graduated and completed his military service, he danced as a soloist with Zagore and the “Sunny Beach” Ensemble, and was assistant choreographer with the Zornitsa Ensemble, and he toured with both Sunny Beach and Zagore in Europe, Canada, and the US.

In 2000 he emigrated to the US and settled in the Chicagoland area, where he established several Bulgarian folklore clubs (Constantine’s Folk Clubs), in the spirit of Bulgarian “reading rooms (chitalishta),” local culture centers that have the aim to preserve and nurture Bulgarian folk dance and folklore in a dynamic way. Konstantin organizes annual festivals in Chicago, which feature multiple Bulgarian folk ensembles and cultural groups under the umbrella and name of his “Vereya” dance ensemble. Kotse also founded 101 Bagpipes Chicago, the Kracra Cookery Group; and has produced many other concerts and festivals in North America and Europe.

TOM PIXTON — Musician

Tom Pixton plays traditional music for International, Balkan, and Scottish dance events. He has worked with many of today's most accomplished dance teachers and musicians as accordionist, pianist, band leader, music arranger, singer, and CD producer.

Tom provides music and music leadership for dance camps, workshops, and special events in the US and Canada. He is band leader annually for June Camp (Illinois), Folk Arts Center Pinewoods (Massachusetts), Mainewoods (Maine), and Stockton Folkdance Camp (California). He has worked with Royal Scottish Country Dance Society branches in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New Haven, and New York, and has served as Music Director for the Boston Branch's Scottish Sessions at Pinewoods on five ocasions, most recently in 2022 ansd 2023. He regularly works with the Cambridge Revels, the Folk Arts Center of New England, and many organizations around the US and Canada.

Tom publishes the Pinewoods International Collection, a 400-page book of folk dance tunes and songs from around the world. The book has become widely known as a major source of dance music and as a reference volume.

Tom was a harpsichord player and maker between 1977 and 1984, and studied with Gustav Leonhardt and Louis Bagger. He performed throughout the US, made a variety of recordings, and built 18 harpsichords. In 1991, he decided that the accordion was way more fun.

Tom graduated from Brandeis University in 1976 with a degree in music. When not playing music, Tom works as a freelance web strategist in the higher education and non-profit space.

RALPH IVERSON — Musician

Engineer by day, musician by night, Ralph Iverson has performed for folk dancing since 1985, and has been a regular at the East Coast Balkan Music & Workshop. His main instruments are gadulka and violin. He also plays viola, flute, whistle, saxophone, tambura, kaval, brač, lijerica, kemenche, and other instruments. He plays classical and modern music in the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra, and in the New England Philharmonic. Starting in 2011, Ralph has submitted compositions six times to a competition “Bulgarian New Music in 7/8,” generally winning second or third place honors.

Ralph’s class is geared towards intermediate/advanced players, and will involve some sight reading and some teaching. Beginners are welcome to give this class a try, especially at the start.