Forty years and counting. What a party Sedenka had on Saturday 16 May to celebrate the group's ruby anniversary! Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre was packed with lines of enthusiastic dancers – some of whom had driven or flown long distances – coiling around a formidable line-up of distinguished and seemingly tireless musicians for close to five hours.
In 1969,after arriving from the USA in 1968, Wal (originally from Holland) & Mary van Heeckeren started the Sydney University Women's Sports Centre International Folk Dance Group, which thankfully soon changed its name to Sedenka. By the time the Shell National Folkloric Festival was launched at the Sydney Opera House a few years later, Sedenka had a polished ensemble that was chosen to perform in the festival. The performance group appeared in the folkloric each Queen's Birthday long weekend and at fetes, fairs, private parties, weddings and fundraising functions for decades. The repertoire expanded with visits from international teachers and costumes were collected overseas or painstakingly created in working bees.
It was wonderful to see a fine representation of foundation Sedenka dancers at the party. Many others scattered around the country (and the world, in fact) sent their best wishes, including Wal who is delighted that the project he started has continued for forty years – so far.
We were extremely lucky to have a truly marvellous array of entertainment. The Transylvaniacs opened the evening with a bracket of Hungarian numbers; Yorgo Kaporis led his beautifully costumed Ilinden dancers in a suite of Sop dances; Mara and Liew Kiek and some members of the Martenitsa choir sang a lovely collection of Balkan folk songs. Many thanks to them all for their very generous contribution to a great night.
The number of wonderful musicians who came from near and far was stunning. Their stamina was amazing. What impressed me most was the apparently effortless way these individuals – presumably without the opportunity of rehearsing together and with only a few words of consultation from time to time – produced a seamless program of music that kept us dancing all night. We sincerely thank Risto Todoroski, master village musician from Ohrid, Macedonia; Cory Dale, Slavae, Yusuf Nidai, Vasili Haralambous, Liew and Mara Kiek, Linda Marr, Linda Dawson and Gary Dawson.
Gary Dawson also acted as MC for the evening with his usual irrepressible humour, vigour and passion. Gary was an early artistic director of Sedenka, as were Lyn Beard Nicholas Doumani and Charlie Morris, all of whom joined us on Saturday.
Sedenka has survived a few near-death experiences when, for a variety of reasons, numbers have dwindled alarmingly. However, several members started other groups when they moved away from central Sydney. Just some examples are CIFDA founded in in Canberra in 1976 by Sue Miller (Chris Wild's sister and one of the very first group at Sydney University); Kaye Laurendet's Sutherland Shire Folk Dance Group; Lazarka, run by Sandra Bassetti in Taree, and Brisinta, founded by Lyn and Barry Beard in Brisbane. Most recently Liz and David Hull have started a group in the village where they are living in the south of France. We like to think of Sedenka's influence as widespread, even international.
A group of us continue to enjoy dancing every Friday night at Rozelle, due very largely to Chris Wild's enthusiasm and energy. Chris teaches and revises a wide repertoire, always taking into account the experience of the mix of participants present at the time. On the first Friday of each month we are privileged and grateful to have Yorgo Kaporis teaching dances, new to us, from Macedonia and elsewhere. Old and new friends are always welcome.
We look forward to the next decades of dancing at Sedenka.
Ann Long
Sedenka
Sydney
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