Bank-Ifc.Fund Tennis Club

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized WELCOME TO NEW STAFF-MARCH (Seated L to R): Elizabeth Tyler, Economics Department, from Melbourne, Australia; Margaret Koilpillari, IFC Department of Investments, Latin America, Europe and Middle East, from Poona, India; Olga Papazoglou, Projects Depart ment, from Athens, Greece; and Carol Schmedeman, Administration Depart ment, from Denver, Colorado. (Standing L to R): Dolores de las Casas, Economics Department, from Camaguey, Cuba; Marietta Pe Benito, Adminis tration Department, from Quezon City, Philippines; Nicole Larocque, Africa Department, from Montreal, Canada; and Rosalinda Dacumos, Economics Department, from Manila, Philippines. (Unable to be present): Dora Sharpe, Projects Department, from Washington, D.C. and Grace Kang, Economics Department, from Seoul, Korea. International Bank Notes Vol. 20 No.4 April 1966 Published monthly by the Personnel Division, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Washington 25, D.C. CONTENTS Page Folk Dancing - An International Hobby ................................... 3 Hail to the "Foreign" Washingtonians .................................... 6 New Professional Staff ....................................................... 10 2 ilLes Folkloristes du Quebec·' practicing in the school basement in traditional French Canadian costumes. FOLK DANCING AN INTERNATIONAL HOBBY By Mona Boucher After a year of peeking through the Lanciers, quadrilles and cotillions are windows of the school across the street easily recognized in the dances of from my home, I finally plucked up French origin though they were con enough nerve to ask if I might join siderably modified by the customs and the dancers who practiced regularly in ways of life in a new country. In a the school basement. I was thirteen at dance like the "danse de la jarretiere" the time and this was my first intro (garter dance) the influence of the duction to folk dancing. Scottish sword dance is obvious, bur "Les Folkloristes du Quebec," as this the dancers perform their intricate group of young people called them jig steps around and into the angles selves, were all interested in the same formed by crossed garters rather than goal-the preservation of the tradi swords because the early French set tional French Canadian dances. They tlers were not allowed weapons. worked very closely with the folklore I was the "baby" of the group for a long time before I discovered folk archives at Laval University. ,J distin guish French Canadian from other dancing was an international pastime, Canadian dances, not to create animos popular not only in canada and the ity among my fellow Canadians, bur United States, but all over the world. to point up the differences in the An "outsider" came to visit our group dances from the regions where the one day and invited me to a "folk French settled and those performed in moor." The expression on my face the rest of Canada. must have reflected my ignorance for he quickly explained that a "folkmoot" The origins of some of the first was a workshop with a guest teacher dances I learned could be traced back who specialized in particular regional directly to the earliest French settlers. dances. 3 A Croatian dance performed at an International Folk Dance Festival held in the Montreal Forum. Life after that "folkmoot" was never tenegro, where their Oriental tradition quite the same and after a very short still shows up, women stay in the back time I found myself dancing five ground with their eyes cast down. nights a week. I led a group at McGill Serbian dances are gay and vigorous University and, as time went on, I be and are generally led by the best came very interested in Balkan dances dancer in the group. They are accom which were a complete revelation to panied by a flute ("frula") and violin me. I discovered there was a Croatian and, more recently, by an accordian. colony in Montreal with a very active The people of Macedonia are par folk dance group. I asked to join. ticularly devoted to music and possess After a bit of questioning they ac an innate sense of time and rhythm, cepted me into the group though they which probably explains why it is never could understand why I wanted choreographically one of the most in to learn their dances. This turned out teresting parts of the world. Dances to be a most exciting experience. More such as the "lesnoto" and "teskoto" than three quarters of the group spoke are danced at wedding feasts which little or no English. We used to con often last for three or four days and verse by signs and smiles. It certainly nights. These dances begin with a proved to me tha't you don't have to slow and solemn rhythm and gradu understand the language of a country ally accelerate to a wild finish. Monte to enjoy its music and dancing. • negrin dances are generally executed Many guest teachers came to Mon by couples and include a number of treal over the years from Macedonia, enormous leaps by the man towards Greece, Serbia, Croatia and other his partner. Slovenian dances, on the Balkan countries and the dances of other hand, usually have a three quar these countries are among my favor ter beat and are very similar to the ites. In the Serbian and Croatian dances Austrian-Bavarian "landler." women have an equal role with men, Let me answer a question now that but in those of Macedonia and Mon- I am often asked in Washington-is A guest teacher (second from left) instructing a local Washington dance group in the more intricate steps of a Macedonian dance. Costumes are borrowed from embassies or from other dancers who happen to own them. 4 square dancing the same as folk danc to-intermediate group meets every ing? I quote from the encyclopedia: Thursday. 'This group is open to any "Folk dance-primitive, tribal or racial one with two feet and a determination form of the dance, sometimes the sur to have fun. I was soon swept up in vival of some ancient ceremony or their activities. festival. The term is used also to in If I have told you enough to arouse clude characteristic national dances, your curiosity and make your feet country dances and figure dances in itch, you may be interested in attend costume to folk tunes. Many children's ing part of the International Folk Fes games, such as 'London Bridge' and tival sponsored by the D. C. Recrea 'The Farmer in the Dell' are tradi tion Department under the direction tional folk dances. Good examples are of David Rosenberg. It will be held on the Spanish alemana and fandango, May 13 and 14 in the Roosevelt High the Bohemian polka, the Hungarian, School Auditorium and is open to the czardas, the Irish jig, the Highland public. (Tickets will be available from fling and the English Morris dance, the author.) Or you may prefer a more sword dance and Maypole dance. active role. Newcomers are always wel American folk dances, such as the come in any of the groups dancing in Virginia reel and 'Pop goes the weasel' Washington. Besides the Thursday eve are largely derived from European ning group mentioned above, there is sources." Square dancing is just a small a more advanced group that meets at fragment of folk dancing. All Souls Unitarian Church on Satur day evenings. "More advanced" is not Folk dancing can be very helpful when you travel. Generally people who strictly accurate. This group seems to attract more energetic dancers, and enjoy it are friendly and eager to make the emphasis is on Polish, Israeli and a newcomer feel at home. When I first Balkan dances. Drop in some evening, came to Washington I looked up a if only to watch the more athletic men dancer I had met on a previous visit when "les Folkloristes" took part in perform their acrobatic leaps and twirls. a festival here. He took me to Roose velt High School where a beginner The author (R) and three of her dance associates in French Canadian costume. HAil TO THE t~FOREIGNu WASHINGTONIANS by Gloria Hunt How many times have we stopped In order to speed her training, she to wonder about the plight of our was first given a "floating" position. Washington co-workers who, as if by Her initial assignment was in the Ag magic, upon crossing the doors of 1818 riculture Division of the Projects De H Street, find themselves in a com partment. Agriculture! She had always pletely foreign land? The shock must, thought a bank dealt with money, not no doubt, be even greater when they seeds. Overnight she painstakingly try to figure out how such a thing practiced how she would answer the could happen only two blocks from telephone for her new boss: Mr. the White House. Khlaumpsteshnarbyll's office. Luckily, Let us consider the case of Miss or unluckily, the first person to call Alexandria Potomac, a native Wash that day was his wife who, with a ingtonian, who accepted a secretarial heavy accent, informed Miss Potomac job at our Bank. Just reviewing some that she was using her husband's first of the events that filled her first days name. She should address him as Mr. at work will give us a pretty clear Becquarantsunpyl. Miss Potomac gath picture. ered together the remains of her self As she entered the building on her confidence, strength and goodwill. She first day at work, Alexandria was im wanted to do a good job and she was mediately uneasy. Was she properly going to prove that she could. dressed? Some of the girls she passed Her first dictation referred to an ap seemed to favor very short skirts.

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