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Henry "Buzz" Glass was bitten by the folk dance bug in 1937 and began dancing with almost every known folk dance group in the San Francisco Bay area. He was a charter member of Changs and formed a dance club at San Francisco State College and in Lodi, California. He studied Russian dancing, then later, modern dance with José Limón and Katherine Dunham.
Buzz came up with the idea of forming the Folk Dance Federation of California as a natural outcome of his enjoyment of folk dancing and a desire to find a way to bring large groups together to folk dance. Nine groups (150+ dancers) responded to his invitation to go to Lodi, California, on May 3, 1942, to listen to Buzz's presentation.
Their enthusiasm prompted a second organizational meeting on May 16 in San Francisco and again on June 14 in golden Gate Park With its three elected officers (Buzz was elected as its first president for two terms) and the adoption of a single legal sheet of bylaws in August, the Federation was well on its way, with 23 folk dance groups joining by the end of 1942.
In December of 1942, Buzz married Frances Farnell, the Federation's first elected secretary. The couple moved to Oakland, where he promptly formed yet another group, the Castle Promenaders. For a short time, he taught for the Arthur Murray studios. Buz was, for a short time, the editor of the Federation's official publicaton, "Let's Dance" magazine, and helped Lucile Czaranowski produce the Federation's Folk Dances from Near and Far series, Volumes 1 through 5.
Buzz taught extension classes at the University of Califronia for eleven years. He received a Ford Foundation Fellowship to study the culture, history, and folk dance of Mexico, and studied under Alura Flores de Angeles at the University of Mexico. On retirement from the Oakland School District as Supervisor of Elementary Physical Education and Coordinator of Special Education, Buzz gave his full time to educational activities and materials. He created the material for 23 LP recordings used nationally for teaching activities to children.
Buzz and Frances's children, Terry and Linelle, carry on the family traditions in folk dance and music.
Among Buzz's publications are:
- Action Time Volume I, poetry, chants, and rhymes.
- Action Time Volume II, poetry, chants, and rhymes.
- The Rainy Day Survival Book, with Dr. Wayne Nelson.
- International Games and Dances, with Dr. Wayne Nelson.
Dances Buzz taught include
Adobe Schottis,
Aetana,
Alley Cat,
At the Green Mill,
Auntie Hessie (T'ant Hessie),
Baile Mexicano,
Baruray,
Beautiful Ohio Waltz,
Berlin Polka,
Blue Pacific,
Bossa Nova Mixer,
Buzz's Mixer,
Canadian Barn Dance,
Capistrano Waltz,
Cha Cha Con Polka,
Cha de Panchita,
Cha Vidrio,
Chili and Chaps,
Chotis,
Cissy in the Road,
Clog and Clap Mixer,
Cowboy's Waltz,
Dance a Catchy Tune,
El Baile de los Machetes,
El Barretero de Zacatecas,
El Bolonchón,
El Mar Caribe,
El Rascapetate,
English Polka,
Eskimo Hunting Song,
Fjäskern,
Flowers of Edinburgh,
Football Square Dance,
Hanodeid,
Head Shoulders,
Hello and Goodbye,
Hi-Lili Hi-Lo,
Hopak,
Huapango-La Bamba,
Hurry Skurry,
Israeli Style Mixer,
It's a Snappin Time,
Jarabe Coahuilense,
Jarabe de la Botella,
Java,
Jesusita,
Jibidi Jibida,
Jota Tapatía,
Karagouna,
Kentucky Babe,
La Chilena,
La Costilla,
La Fiesta,
La Mosca,
La Plena,
La Varsouvianna Mexicana,
Las Alteñitas,
Las Chiapanecas,
Linda Mujer,
Little Irish Dance,
Love is Blue,
Mexcali Rose,
Mis Amigos,
Missouri Waltz,
Misty Rain,
Numero Cinco,
Oklahoma Waltz,
On Parade,
Oregon Webfoot Schottische,
Pacific Breezes,
Polka Sala,
Rascapetate,
Round the Town,
Rumba Round,
Samba Simpatica,
Schottis del Norte,
Schottis Para Dos Parejas,
Seftenberger,
Simi Yadech,
Slide Away,
Spanish Schottisch,
Stamping Two Step,
Step Swing Polka,
Sunny,
Swinging Gate,
Touch of Spain,
Tramp Tramp Tramp,
Two Swing and the Outsite In,
Uptown and Downtown,
Webfoot Schottische,
Whirl and Step,
Wranglers' Stomp,
Wranglers' Two Step,
Yan Petit,
and
Zacatecas March.
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