Nicholaas & Maki Hilferink Status:   Active Specialty:   Romanian Range:   Romanian, ballet	CLICK TO ENLARGE
Nicholaas "Nico" Hilferink is a Canadian citizen who was born and raised in Amsterdam, Holland, where he began folk dancing. In 1964, while working as a principal dancer with the Internationale Folkloristisch Danstheater, he met Theodor Vasilescu, choreographer for Rhapsodia Romana of Bucharest, Romania. Since then, Nico has worked regularly with Mr. Vasilescu and has also done his own research in Romania, having returned to that country every year for more than 30 years. Nico receives the full support of the Romanian Ministry of Culture and Education when he travels to Romania. In 1981, his study tour was funded by the Canada council. Nico has been dancing, teaching, and doing choreographies since 1977 for folk dance groups throughout Canada. In 1984, he was invited to teach at Mid-American Folk Dance Conference, and since then Nico, with his wife Maki Kabayama (a well-known dance instructor in her own right), has been invited to teach all around the North America and several foreign countries. On a recent trip to Romania, Nico met the people in the small Mureş village of Miheşu de Câmpie. The village is so poor that it cannot buy ovens for its bakery building, nor milking equipment for its dairy, nor science equipment for the school's science classroom, nor equipment for the elementary school's playground. Also, the ancient furnaces in each school classroom leak carbon monoxide and the classroom furniture is pre-WWII and falling apart. Nico has made it a life project of his own to assist the villagers in whatever way he can, and that means donations from folks like ourselves. Please take a look at the letter one girl wrote to Nico and the pictures he took when he delivered donations he has collected to the people of Miheşu de Câmpie and let's try to help however we can. Dances Nico has taught include Alunelul ca la Sadova, Aoleanul de la Fundu Paralui, Alunelul de la Fundu Paralui, Ardeleana de la Otelul Rosu, Balta, Balta de la Fundu Padui, Bătrîneasca din Vicov, Bordeiul Amestecat, Bugeacul ca pa Teleorman, Cadineasca, Carabasiu din Caras, Cioful de la Vatra Dornei, Cîntecul Iedului din Tighele (Das Lid Funem Tighele), Dado la Dado (Joc Bătrînesc), De Araduit, Dela din Oprişor, Draculeţii, Floricica de la Casimcea, Galaonul de la Ostroveni, Geamparelele, Geamparelele de la Vadul Oii, Hora a Doua de la Goicea, Horă Bănăeaţeană, Hora de la Chircani, Hora de la Însutăţei, Horă de la Medgidia, Hora de la Munte, Hora de Mînă, Hora din Podgoria Aradului, Hora Dreapte, Hora Inceput, Hora Mare, Hora Mare No. 2, Hora Mare de la Munte, Hora Miresii, Iedera, Ini Vitui ni Feata Moi, Îvîrtita de la Avrig, Joc Bătrînesc (Dado la Dado), Joc de Leagăne, Lea Musat Armina, Manastireanca, Mătura, Mătura de la Sînnicolaul Mare, Oltenia, Pe Loc de la Glimboca, Posovoica, Posovoica din Glimboca, Purtata, Româneşte de Puatat, Saltata de Mâna, Şi Corăbeasca, Sereghia, Sîrba de la Negru Voda, Sîrbuleţul de la Vulcana, Trei Pâzeste, Trilişesti de la Gura Humorului, Vlaşcencuţa, and Vlaşcencuţa de la Petrosan.

Previous Page    Home Page