Dit Olshan has been teaching international folk dance in the Chicago area for more than 40 years, at one time leading three separate groups a week. Currently Dit leads a Wednesday Night group at the Skokie Park District. While teaching math in the Chicago Public Schools, Dit implemented an extra-curricular program of international folk dance at the district level, conducting district teacher workshops while teaching classes at her own school. She has traveled, studying dance in Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria and Scotland.

For several years during the 1990’s, Dit taught international dance workshops in Israel to the Israeli Teachers Association and at various local dance groups. She has also taught workshops in San Diego, New Orleans, Springfield, IL and Racine, WI. She has been a regular member of the Lake Geneva/Oconomowoc Camp teaching staff for over 25 years, has served on the Regional June Camp committee for several years, chairing it for three of those years, and has been on the DCFF teaching staff for several years.

Dit has served as a docent at Lincoln Park Zoo and has done volunteer tax preparer work for the Center for Economic Progress. She is always in love with a dog (currently Emily), with whom she has been known to show up at Paul Collins' dance group (Ethnic Dance Chicago).

This May, Dit celebrated her 91st birthday. For Dit’s myriad years of teaching and promoting international folk dancing, DCFF will honor her with a brief “Thank You Dit” ceremony. Following the ceremony, Dit will take a turn as a DJ for the Friday Night Party, playing some of her favorite dances as well as playing your requests.

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