logo embroidery

HIFD is a recreational group that dances a wide variety of ethnic folk dances from
around the world. Come dance with us!


Special workshop Feb 15

workshop flyer (also at flyer.pdf)

printable flyer here


                                               MAURICE PEREZ BIO

-At the age of 18 taught in Paris, France, his first dance class while performing with the Israeli troupe GUILGAL, the Bulgarian/Yugoslavian Troupe "FOLJAN" and the international dance troupe NODESS.

-In 1980, Maurice immigrated to Canada, this was the beginning of his career as a professional dancer.

-He has choreographed more than 60 Israeli dances including Achat shaalti…Simchat Yerushalayim…Di Goldone Pave, Karavan ba”Midbar…etc. In the new dance competition, his dance Hora Gil was awarded No. 1 in Cesaré, Israel.\

-Between 1980 and 2023, Maurice gave many workshops and taught in many camps in Israel, Europe, and North America including at the Mainwoods International dance camp since 1999, at KEFF, Hillulim, Yad be Yad Boston…Hilulim …..etc

-He directed the dance troupe “Harimon Israeli Dancers” from 1982 to 1998, which performed in different TV shows and at the Boston and New York festivals.

-Maurice choreographed for different dance troupes, including Hamakor of Boston for the Carmiel festival in Israel, Nitzanim of Calgary for the 1988 Winter Olympics.

-Maurice has been seriously involved in International Dance in Quebec since 2019, with AMATP (Montreal Association of Popular and Traditions). He teaches and hosts year-round and in the summer at Beaver Lake in Montreal, in addition to opening his own international dance group two years ago.

-During his many dance workshops, Maurice had the privilege of working with talented choreographers such as Théodor Vasilescu, Cristian Florescu, Yves Moreau, Steve Kotanski, Yvonne Hunt, Iliana Bozanova, Alexandru David, Roberto Bagnoli ,Ahmet Luleĉi…etc.

-Since 1982, Maurice has led his big Israeli dance evening at the YM-YWHA where 35 to 50 people show up every Wednesday, and 3 years, he opened a new International Folk dancing class.

-You will appreciate Maurice’s personality, his talent, and his innumerable qualities as a dancer performer, and pedagogue. 





If you would like to join, the membership form is now online.  



Regular locations for in-person dancing

Friday Night Request Dancing
  7:30-9:45

First Lutheran Church at 1311 Holman. No partner needed. Admission is $5 (age 25 and under free). Park on the street or in the lot on the corner of Holman and Austin.

DEC 23rd   MNFD Holiday Party (bring food).   More dancing and less teaching than usual.   (Easy dances)

DEC 30th   no MNFD  (come to the NYE party on the 31st (see events below)

Monday Night Introductory Dancing
 approx 7:30-9:30

Oddfellows Hall, 115 E 14th St.
Beginning and intermediate level dances taught. Newcomers welcome, no partner needed. Admission is $5 donation.

Oddfellows Hall is a two-story brick building; entry is on right side of the building, dancing is on the second floor (may not be handicap accessible). Park on 14th St, Heights or Harvard.

HIFD Code of Conduct


Calendar of Folk Dance Events



Major Events

Afternoon Delight:  A Celebration of Roma and Sephardic Dances with Master Teacher /Choreographer Maurice Perez
February 15, 2025, from 3:00 to 9:30 at First Lutheran.    Admission $10 - including pizza.  Bring salad or desert to share if you can.

Other local dances


Bayou Bedlam contra dance weekend  Feb 21-23.   See https://bayoubedlam.org/BB25/

English Country Dances
first and third Sundays.   See details
Contra Dances
happening on the second and fourth Saturdays.  See https://hatds.org/


Secure online donations to HIFD can be made by clicking on the "icon" below.

 Donate

Contact HIFD: houstonfolkdance@yahoo.com
or write to Houston International Folk Dancers, P.O. Box 542322, Houston, TX 77254
Phone 832-866-1319

Related Items of Interest

Some interesting videos

 - List of YouTube videos

Special dances

 - Dance Notes

Other recreational dance groups:

Austin area contra dances

Austin International Folk Dancers (AIFD)

Hellenic Professional Society of Texas

Houston Area Traditional Dance Society
- Contra Dances every second and fourth Saturday
- English Country Dances on first and third Thursdays   JBE

Houston Swing Dance Society

San Antonio Folk Dancers

Scottish Country Dancing

Texas International Folk Dancers (TIFD)

Links for ethnic dance resources:

Romanian Costumes

Dance notes and links to videos

Featured HIFD Videos

Dance Potpourri

Vintage  American dance

Dance Workshop  Bulgarian

News Story featuring HIFD Monday Night dancing which aired on Houston Public Radio 88.7 FM

About HIFD

Founded in 1947, HIFD is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of ethnic dance from around the world. Primarily a recreational group that meets twice weekly, HIFD also stages folk dance performances for events and festivals throughout the calendar year. 

HIFD membership is open to all, and currently numbers about seventy-five, including a pool of approximately 20 dancers who are active in public performances. The group’s repertoire includes more than 300 dances from 39 countries, with emphasis on those of Europe, the Middle East, and Mediterranean areas. While some performances present a mixture of dances and costumes from various countries, others focus on a single ethnic theme.

Local folk dance teachers well-versed in many ethnic traditions provide teaching at the occasional HIFD folk dance workshops, in which participants can request what they would like to have taught or reviewed. In addition, our statewide counterpart, Texas International Folk Dancers, sponsors a four-day workshop each year during the Thanksgiving holidays, and the weekend-long San Antonio Folk Dance Festival in March at Spring Break. These give HIFD members even more exposure to internationally known folklorists, teachers and musicians. 

HIFD welcomes the opportunity to bring song, dance and music from other cultures to interested parties, and hopes that by so doing, we help preserve the uniqueness of the individual cultures as well as promote peace among all ethnicities.


Houston International Folk Dancers is affiliated
with Texas International Folk Dancers
TIFD logo