2015_NWFolklife

1 1 Find more information online at NWFolklife.org/festival Ask any group of people why they come to the Northwest Folklife Festival and chances are at least one of them will say, “because of the dancing.” Since Folklife’s inception, dancers have played a big part in shaping the festival. Many long-time supporters are dancers or dance musicians. Folklife is the largest community-powered arts and culture festival in the nation where people can merge to enjoy a huge variety of music, lessons and participatory dance. Dancers make deep bonds on the dance floor, pulling them back from all over the country. From Balkan to Bollywood and Swing to Salsa, Folklife offers instruction and open dancing to everyone.This year’s lineup is packed with beginning and advanced dance styles and lessons; Bollywood, Cajun/ Zydeco, Country Swing, High School Swing, Scandinavian, International, East andWest Coast Swing, Square and Salsa dancing,Tango,Waltz and more. This year welcomes Hip-Hop — rooted deep inAmerican culture and popular in Seattle — to the stage. A street dance typically danced in crews, Hip-Hop was first popularized in the 1970s on the television show Soul Train and in the films “Breakin’,” “Beat Street”and “Wild Style,” followed by its studio-based version, sometimes DANCING AT NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE TRY IT: CONTRA DANCING Contra Dance is a traditional American dance in which couples dance in two long lines or in groups of four.Affectionately referred to as an“entryway dance”by dancers,contra dance is by far the most accessible of all dances for beginners.Plus it is bodacious fun! Derived from English and French country dancing,it’s led by a caller who supports dancers with a practice dance before the actual dance begins. “Imagine being a kid on a merry- go-round with the lights spinning around and you’re just so happy! Multiply that by a million-gazillion times because your arms are wrapped around other people and they’re looking in your eyes with huge smiles on their faces,happy you’re there!”says Sherry Nevins, dance caller of contra dancing. “At a dance there’s a great cycle of energy; the musicians’music,the dancers responding to it and the caller right in the middle of it.” The music played at contra dances includes,but is not limited to,Irish, Scottish,Old-Time and French- Canadian folk tunes.Northwest Folklife attracts contra dance bands and callers from all over the country. So the quality of the bands is always high — and the callers easy to follow. Come to the Roadhouse for a balance-and-swing.Once you’ve tried this style of dancing,you’ll definitely be hooked! (Map #15) called“new style,”and hip-hop jazz dance,“jazz-funk.” In addition to participatory dances, demonstrations will be drawn from numerous world cultures. Danced in authentic costumes, these will be performed mostly in the Armory Court Stage and on the Exhibition Hall stage. Dancing is a wonderful way to “let go” and be completely in the moment — to fully immerse yourself in joy, movement, music and community. So, grab your best dancing shoes and give it a try! Chances are, like so many others, you’ll get hooked! Photos courtesy of Christopher Nelson