We are a community international folk dance group in Arcata, California. All are welcome. We meet weekly for instruction and request dancing. Every month, we have a live music dance party.

Our Mission is to educate the general public in folk dancing and other folk art forms.

We meet Sundays from 4-6 p.m. at the Redwood Raks World Dance Studio, 824 L Street in Arcata. EXCEPTION: The Sunday following a First Friday live music party.

Our next live music dance party will be Friday, May 1.

 May and June will have many great events! On May 9, the Redwood Raks will have a sale of their Donation Depot, fuil of great clothes and shoes. All the proceeds go to scholarships for dancers and musicians to attend workshops and camps where they can learn and bring back new material to our community. On that same day, the Redwood Raks will have a showcase of dance class demos. Go to Redwood Raks Collective for details.

June will have a First Friday on June 1 and also a Balkan Camp Sendoff Party at Synapsis in Eureka.

We had a great time in March with guest musicians Yabulka. We apologize for misnaming them as “Zaedno.”

We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss to our dance community.
Lesa Coleman suffered an aneurysm and passed away February 10, 2026. Lesa was a healthy, fit, active dance lover. We are all still reeling from this sudden and devastating loss. Lesa also especially enjoyed walking in nature, so during the next few days, her friends and community members are taking group and individual walks in her memory in places she loved such as the Arcata marsh and the Hammond Trail.

The Humboldt Folk Dancers recognize that we are on unceded ancestral lands of the Wiyot people, and that the land is known as Goudi’ni in the Wiyot language. We also acknowledges the Wiyot community, past and present elders, and future generations.

This site is maintained by Craig Kurumada. If you have any questions about the Humboldt Folk Dancers, please email kurumada@humboldt.edu.