Guest Artists Summer Camp 2025
In Person in Stockton California!

Edwin G. “Ed” Austin, Jr. served as the Artistic Director of the world-renowned BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble (IFDE) for 27 years, from 1985 to 2011, and now holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Dance at Brigham Young University.

A native of Laguna Beach, California, Ed’s introduction to folk dancing began in the 1960s when a high school teacher introduced him to a local international folk dance group. Raised in a home where music was always present, Ed’s passion for cultural dance grew alongside his love for the arts. As a university student, he performed with the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble, where he met his sweet wife, Vickie. Together, they have three sons and 11 grandchildren. Ed loves the ocean, lives in the mountains, speaks Samoan, and plays the bones.

In addition to his role as Artistic Director of the BYU IFDE, Ed taught various folk dance courses, including those in dance ethnology/ethnochoreology, until his retirement in 2018. His expertise spans the globe as a producer, director, choreographer, master teacher, and cultural dance specialist. His creative works have been shared with audiences in more than 40 countries. For over two decades, Ed and Vickie co-directed the BYU Cougar Clogging Classic, a popular BYU dance camp focused on Appalachian clogging and percussive dance.

Ed’s influence extends far beyond teaching and choreography. With more than 30 years of experience as a dance adjudicator, he has judged at both national and international dance competitions. He also served two terms as president of the National Folk Organization of the United States (NFO). His research has taken him to the Appalachian Mountains, Wales, and the Samoan Islands.

Most recently, Ed and Vickie served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Serbia (2019–2021) and France (2022–2024), where, in addition to their other assignments, they taught dance to people of all ages throughout Europe.

Sonia and Cristian are known for their vibrant energy, warmth and exciting choice of dances and music.

Cristian Florescu was born in Bucharest, Romania. He started dancing in 1982 with different Romanian folk ensembles and studied with various specialists, including Theodor Vasilescu. Cristian was principal dancer with the National Ensemble Cununa Carpatilor. In 1990-91, he received his certificate as a recognized solo dancer and choreographer in the field of folklore from the Romanian Ministry of Culture and the ACAFR. In 1993, he joined Les Sortilèges, a professional folk dance company based in Montreal Canada, where he has danced, taught and choreographed. During his time in Canada, Cristian has acquired multiple skills in various dance forms, including modern dance, ballroom, jazz and tap, as well as French-Canadian and Irish step dancing.

Sonia Dion was born in Quebec and has been a professional dancer for over 20 years. She was lead dancer, choreographer and artistic director, among other roles for Les Sortilèges dance company; Canada’s oldest professional folk dance ensemble, with whom she developed several new productions. Sonia has toured worldwide and has been exposed to a wide range of dance techniques, including Romanian folk dance, Scottish Highland dancing, French-Canadian step dance and ballroom dance.

It was at Les Sortilèges that the two met and formed a professional and personal partnership. They have taught at L’École supérieure de Danse du Québec, and have been part of the Artists in the Schools program sponsored by the Quebec Ministry of Education.

In recent years, Cristian and Sonia have developed a specific interest in working with recreational folk dance groups. They’ve been teaching in Brazil, Canada and the United States, Europe (Austria, Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands), Asia (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan) to share their love of Romanian folk traditions. They have taught workshops in Canada and the United States and choreographed Romanian suites for performing groups, including the world-renowned BYU Folk Dance Ensemble in Utah.

Gabriel Frontera , a renowned figure in the preservation and teaching of Mallorcan folk traditions, has spent a lifetime reviving and sharing the joy of Ball de Bot, the traditional dance of Mallorca. Originally from the small village of Ariany, Gabriel took up the mantle of leadership at the Escola de Música i Danses de Mallorca in 2012, following his retirement from a successful career in banking. Under his guidance, the school has become a vibrant hub for cultural preservation, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate the island’s unique heritage.

A passionate advocate for keeping folklore alive and relevant, Gabriel emphasizes that Ball de Bot is more than just a series of steps—it is an expression of joie de vivre and community. His work extends beyond teaching traditional movements; Gabriel has played a pivotal role in reviving nearly forgotten dances, such as the 18th-century Contradansa, through rigorous research and innovative choreography.

Central to his efforts are the Bolero and Jota, cornerstones of Mallorcan dance culture. The Bolero, characterized by its elegant, flowing movements, conveys grace and romance, while the Jota, with its lively footwork and spirited energy, captures the festive essence of the island. Gabriel’s deep understanding and ability to teach these dances have made them accessible to modern audiences while preserving their authenticity.

Gabriel’s influence reaches far beyond the classroom. As an organizer of international folklore festivals, he has shared Mallorcan traditions with audiences worldwide, fostering cultural exchange and mutual appreciation. His approach reflects his belief that folklore is a living, evolving expression of identity, not a relic of the past.

At camp, Gabriel will bring his decades of expertise and contagious enthusiasm to teaching Mallorca’s spirited couple dances, offering a rare and enriching opportunity to connect with the island’s cultural soul.

Roo Lester began folk dancing as part of rainy-day phys ed at school and hasn’t stopped since. A college folk dance class subsequently inspired her to pursue and complete a Master of Arts in Dance Ethnology from UCLA; she later turned toward a specialty in Scandinavian dance after taking a class in Norwegian folk dancing from Ingvar and Jofrid Sodal.

Since 1983, Roo has traveled extensively in Norway and Sweden, studying dance and participating in dance and music festivals, competitions and other events. Known in Scandinavia for her keen interest and knowledge of music, dance and cultural traditions, she has served as the American coordinator for several dance and music camps in Sweden and Norway. As a dance educator and ethnologist, Roo has taught Scandinavian dancing throughout the U.S. and beyond for many years and has published a number of articles on Norwegian dances, as well as a guide to Scandinavian Dance Basics.

Roo’s life work in dance has taken many interesting twists and turns, from teaching folk dance in the Los Angeles area public schools, to a 3-month research trip to Spain to study Basque dance. Roo was a director of Barátság Hungarian Music and Dance Camp, and for over 20 years has served as a director of Scandia Camp Mendocino. She had a stint in the television industry working on an episode of M*A*S*H called “Inga.” During the pandemic, Roo has worked with dance in a variety of ways over Zoom, both as a teacher and assisting other dance programs to reach widespread, house-bound audiences.

When she is not traveling, Roo lives in the southwestern suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area with her husband and frequent dance partner, Larry Harding.

Miroslav “Bata” Marćetić was a leading performer, soloist and choreographer, with the Serbian National Folk Ensemble “Kolo” in Belgrade, Serbia for seventeen years and is the recipient of numerous awards for his artistic work

Miroslav created a great number of choreographies, which have won either first or second prizes in competitions, both in Former Yugoslavia and in Canada. Under his artistic direction, many ensembles have won artistic awards.

In 2004 in Toronto, ON, Miroslav established his own dance school, “Academy of Serbian Folk Dancing Association” which consists of more than 450 dancers of all ages and a folk band. He simultaneously works with the international folk dance community where he teaches Serbian and East-European dances. He has presented workshops in former Yugoslavia, Japan, Israel, Brazil and Taiwan in addition to the US and Canada.

Miroslav Bata Marcetic has devoted his entire professional career to the preservation and perpetuation of folklore and dance. His contribution to the Canadian Serbian folklore community is immeasurable.

Stacy Rose, a long time SFDC camper, is a dedicated folk dance instructor based in Coos Bay, Oregon, with a rich background in traditional dance and music. Since 2009, she has been teaching international folk dance classes at Southwestern Oregon Community College, celebrating over 15 years of instruction.

Beyond her teaching, Stacy is an active member of the South Coast Folk Society, where she organizes events that promote traditional American music and contra dancing. Her efforts to unite communities through dance were highlighted in the documentary film “Take Hands,” which follows her work in organizing a week-long celebration of these traditions in Coos Bay.

In addition to her dance endeavors, Stacy is recognized as a traditional Jewish cook, baker, and musician, reflecting her diverse cultural heritage and commitment to preserving traditional arts.

Stacy’s passion for dance and community building continues to inspire many, fostering a deeper appreciation for folk traditions in the Coos Bay area and beyond.

Stacy will be calling contras at camp.

Richard Schmidt was introduced to folk dancing at the age of four when his father enrolled him in a local amateur Polish dance group in Montréal, Québec, Canada. His first teacher came from the theatre in Poland and she quickly taught him the discipline and entertainment value needed to be a performer. His next instructor had been a dancer with the Polish State Ballet Company Mazowsze. He recognized Richard’s talent, even at that age, took him under his wing, and taught him many tricks of the trade. Richard later joined the children’s group of the Podhale Folk Dance Company, in Montréal, and became the principal dancer.

At the age of seventeen, Richard took on the role of assistant choreographer and began learning the intricacies of teaching folk dancing, which he has been doing ever since. He traveled regularly to Poland to study under many of that country’s top folk dance specialists. He continued to dance and participate in numerous festivals and competitions in North America and Europe. As his reputation grew, he was soon invited to teach and choreograph for numerous folk ensembles in Canada and the United States, as well as at international dance camps.

He has choreographed for and taught folk ensembles in Europe and North America since his teens and he is much sought after on the international folk camp circuit both in the Americas and Asia. In 2010, Richard began work with the world-renowned Lechowia Polish Dance Company of Mississauga, Ontario. With over 300 dancers, the ensemble is by far one of Canada’s largest and strongest representatives of Polish and Canadian culture.

Richard Schmidt received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Polish government for his dedication in promoting Polish culture abroad. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of “The White Eagle Folk Dance Academy” in his hometown of Montreal, Canada, as well as, the Artistic Director for The Lechowia Polish Folk Dance Company of Toronto.

This will be Richard’s fifth appearance on the Stockton teaching staff.