Way, way back in the 70’s, there were several folks in Albuquerque starting folk dance groups, and generating interest in the sport in various locations in the city. The group that ultimately became the current AIFDF was started by Gary Diggs in 1979, who bicycled down to the old Albuquerque High School building on Central Ave, with a sound system, including amplifier and speakers, and suitcases of cassette tapes strapped onto his bicycle. (Now, already, you know we have here an interesting and unique personality!!)
When the old high school building was condemned, the group moved to the University of New Mexico, and continued to grow. It was during this time that Gary’s “easy, mixer, medium line, couple, harder line” programming cycle was developed, which we think is a nice way to incorporate newer dancers as well as keep challenging ourselves. During summers, the group would move outside onto the campus brick mall area, enjoying sunsets and showers, and enduring the occasional downpour by dancing under the wide roofs of the Humanities building. Long Israeli and Bulgarian line dances and contras worked well in than environment! So many people enjoyed the outdoor summer evenings that we 
would occasionally have over a hundred dancers in a big circle doing Circle Waltz Mixer.
As technology advanced, so did the group’s sound system, moving from tapes to mini-discs, to CD’s, to a 300-disc “jukebox”, and finally to computer. Jane Diggs was responsible for many, many hours of transferring music from one form to another.
The folk dance group has bounced around a bit – from the University of New Mexico (UNM), to the Harwood Methodist Church, then to Sandia Prep School, and back to UNM. When the University built a stage floor in ½ of Carlisle gym, we made the permanent move to Lloyd Shaw Dance Center, and have been there happily ever since.
The group publishes a newsletter that comes out about every 2 months, originally named“The Maple Leaf Rag,” but renamed “Aijde” when the group incorporated as anon-profit, and became the Albuquerque International Folk Dance Foundation(AIFDF). An 8-week Beginners’ Class isoffered by the group twice each year, in fall and spring. However, the group prides itself on its reputation as a friendly group, and opens its arms to whoever is willing to walk in the door and give folk dancing a try! 
No partners necessary! It’s good exercise and a cultural activity! Come check it out!
