Houston International Folk Dancers

Houston International Folk Dancers (HIFD) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1947 and dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of ethnic dance from around the world. It is primarily a recreational group meeting twice weekly: Monday evenings at Oddfellows Hall on E 14th Street for introductory sessions where beginning and intermediate dances are taught, and Friday nights at First Lutheran Church on Holman for request dancing. No partner is needed and admission is a $5 donation, free for those aged 25 and under. Membership is open to all and numbers about seventy-five, including roughly twenty dancers active in public performances at events and festivals through the year. The repertoire covers more than 300 dances from 39 countries, with emphasis on Europe, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. HIFD is affiliated with Texas International Folk Dancers and holds occasional workshops.