Photo Archives

The group was started in late 1971 in Evansville, Indiana. For several years we were a class offered by the YWCA. Gardner Weber, Dr. Lydia Hines and a young Yugoslav ballet dancer named Nada were the teachers.

In 1980 we stopped offering classes at the YWCA and began meeting as a recreational dance group. We have seen many people come and go through the decades and we feel privileged to have had the opportunity to learn about different cultures, ethnic customs, music - and most of all dance! We embrace diversity and feel that we have benefitted from gathering together and would like to extend an open invitation for you to come join us at our regular weekly meetings or other community activities.

We are not a professional dance troupe, but a group of like-minded people who enjoy other cultures, building friendships and fancy kicking our feet up to some very interesting music.

On occasion we perform in special events like:

Cultural Festivals
Fundraisers
School Exhibits and such

1970s

Late 1971
YWCA classes begin

Joyce Dixon, Sr. Nancy Brosnan, Ilean Kremer
Dancing Hashual

Barb Yancey, Cindy Wayland, Michael Schaeffer, Ilean Slaton, Diane Jones

St. Patrick's Day Party (1976) Russ Chong, Gardner Weber, Mary Mattingly, Nancy Brosnan, Mike Yancy, Harold Peters, Indira Fernando, Ilean Slaton, Ed Young, Kathy Loviscek and Ed Stevens

Walkway 1982 - Julie Brice, Phyllis Howard, Katie Dauby, Mary Toy, Kathy Loviscek, Suzy Davoust, Mary Kolle, Barb Elsner and Cindy Terry

Spring 1985 (Subhead reads) The Evansville International Folk Dancers is a friendly, easy organization to join.

Performing at the Walkway, 1986

Performing at the Walkway, 1986

Celebrating 25 year anniversary! 1996

Twelfth Night Celebrations 1998

Barb Gillespie and Suzy Davoust

Billy Twymon and Mary Engelland

French Workshop, 2005 — Suzy and Leon

Kate Ray and Erich Shelton, 2005

Carol Grimm

Eurekarama 2005 — Newburgh, IN
L-R: Amanda, Richard, Carol, Mona, Barb, Kristin, Erich and Julie

(left to right) Dr. Lydia Hines, Gardner Weber and Sharon Davis

(starting left) Gardner Weber, Cletus Hammer, Michael Schaeffer, Diane Jones, Cindy Terry, Paula Travers (outside of circle) Mary Mattingly, Julie Schmitt

1980s

Little Germany - Eastland Mall, 1981
Cindy Terry and Barb Elsner

(kneeling) Mary Kolle, Cindy Terry (standing) Julie Brice, Jeff Morrell, Suzy Davoust, Barb Elsner, Ken Miller, Kathy Loviscek, Sally Elsner and Bud Elsner

Richard Ogilvy, 1983 "New York, New York"

1990s

Twelfth Night Celebration 1996

Sally and Bud Elsner

2000s

Adrian and Billy

Mary Engelland

Jan 05, YMCA classes

French Workshop 2005, Jan Luebbehusen and Lila Mazkoori

Kristin Land - "They have no idea what they're doing!"

1975
Our First Walkway Performance

(Seated) Gardner Weber, Indira Fernando, Barb Grant, Sr. Nancy Brosnan, Julie Schmitt (Standing) Cindy Wayland, Diane Jones, Paula Travers, Michael Schaeffer, Ilean Slaton, Cletus Hammer and Mary Mattingly

Indira Fernando, Paula Travers, Julie Schmitt, Michael Schaeffer, Barb Grant, Cindy Wayland, Ilean Kremer, Diane Jones, Mary Mattingly and Gardner Weber

(July 1985 caption reads) Dancing is Universal - A group from the International Folk Dance entertained on the Walkway during the Heritage Fest. Linking hands were, from left Cindy Terry, Marla Iccard, Mary Kolle, Carol Grimm and Tari Langford.

1985- Going away party for Julie Schmitt

Walkway 1987 - Sally Elsner, Suzy Davoust, Joe Zimmer and Gardner Weber

Walkway 1987 - Kristy Elsner, Jim Elsner, Joe Zimmer, Suzy Davoust, Sally Elsner and Bud Elsner

Maeling-Wu and Gardner Weber

Greek Festival, Louisville, KY. 2005
Erich Shelton, Barb Gillespie, Kate Ray, Carol Grimm and Julie Schmitt

The YMCA class of 2006

Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances.
~Maya Angelou