2009 Living Traditions Local Perfomers

Anatolian Band
Turkish Music
Friday, May 15, 5:45-6:15 pm
North Stage
Anatolia is the geographic peninsula between the Black and Mediterranean Seas where the Republic of Turkey is located. The members of the Anatolian Band are all natives of Turkey who live in Utah and play traditional dance music and tunes they learned while growing up in Turkey.

Anton Family Band
Lebanese Music
Sunday, May 17, 4:00-4:30 pm
South Stage
The Lebanese community has had a presence in Utah since the turn of the 20th century. In 1996, John and Helen Anton received the Governor’s Folk Art Award for perpetuating Lebanese music and culture in Utah. They celebrate three generations of family members who play for community functions including weddings, parties and celebrations at St. Jude’s Maronite Church.

Ballet Folklorico Citlali & Sol de Jalisco Mariachi Band
Mexican Music & Dance
Saturday, May 16, 9:00-10:00 pm
South Stage
Under the direction of Martin Marquez, Ballet Folklorico Citlali performs dances from many Mexican states including some from native tribal traditions. Citlali performs with live accompaniment by the Sol de Jalisco Mariachi band.

Bazeen
Music of North Africa and the Middle East
Friday, May 15, 8:45-9:15 pm
South Stage
The Arabic-speaking people of North Africa share many traditions with the people of the Middle East. This is evident in the types of music which range from old traditional songs to more contemporary styles. Tarek Omar and Rajab Juma have been playing Middle Eastern music at private parties and public festivals in Utah for over twenty years.

The Best of Central African Dance
Dance of Congo & Burundi & Rwanda
Sunday, May 17, 2:00-2:30 pm
North Stage
Refugees from Rwanda, Burundi & Congo have created a community of people who gather together to celebrate their Central African heritage here in Utah. These dancers perform a mix of modern, popular dances, and dances of traditional tribal origin.

Chris Dokos Band
Greek Music
Friday, May 15, 6:00- 6:45 pm
South Stage
Utah’s vibrant Greek heritage dates back to the late 19th century, and music, dance and the importance of cultural traditions have reinforced Utah’s Greeks retain their ethnic identity. For over twenty years the Chris Dokos Band has supported the community by playing dance music for Greek celebrations across the Intermountain West, at festival settings, church gatherings, weddings or private parties.

Corcovado BAND (New In 2009)
Brazilian Music
Saturday, May 16, 1:00-1:45 pm
South Stage
Brazilian music is famous throughout the world for African-influenced styles of Samba and Bossa-Nova. Corcovado helps keep Brazilian culture vibrant in Utah by performing in local restaurants, at festivals, and for Brazilian community events.

Desert Wind
Jewish/Israeli
Sunday, May 17, 2:00-2:45 pm
South Stage
Musicians Alan and Andalin Bachman are members of Chabad of Utah and Congregation Kol Ami. Desert Wind plays music from Chassidic, Jewish mystical and Israeli traditions. The performance in announced with a blast from the Shofar, an ancient horn used at special occasions for thousands of years.

DionysiUs Greek Dancers
Greek Dance
Friday, May 15, 9:30-10:00 pm
South Stage
The Dionysius Greek Dancers attend either the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox or Prophet Elias Church and are all of Greek heritage. This group performs at community celebrations, including the annual Greek Festival, church functions, and cultural events throughout the region.

Fraternidad El Salvador
Salvadoran Dance
Saturday, May 16, 7:30-8:00 pm
South Stage
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America, famous for its rich volcanic soil and lush vegetation. Here in Utah there are several Salvadoran community organizations which join together to present their traditional folk dances.

German Chorus Harmonie and German-American Society (New In 2009)
German Music and Dance
Saturday, May 16, 12:00-12:45 pm
South Stage
In the mid-twentieth century, Utah had many organizations which helped German speaking immigrants feel at home in their new country. Some groups held social functions, some were fraternal organizations and businesses, and others celebrated the cultural aspects of German heritage.  Together, the German Chorus Harmonie and the German-American Society perpetuate Utah's German heritage through music and dance.

Hui O Hawaii O Utah
Hawaiian Music & Dance
Saturday, May 16, 2:00-2:30 pm
South Stage
Utah's Hawaiian Civic Club, Hui O Hawaii O Utah was organized in 1985 to preserve Hawaiian culture in Utah and to instill in future generations a knowledge of and respect for their cultural heritage. The dance forms and music are familiar to many and evocative of the island culture they represent.

Inter tribal Pow Wow Demonstration
Native American Dancers & Singers
Sunday, May 17, 3:00-5:00 PM
Southwest Lawn
Intertribal pow wows have become popular across North America because they are social gatherings that provide Native Americans the opportunity to gather and share music, dance and cultural traditions. Regardless of race or ethnicity, everyone is welcome at a pow wow, and respect for tradition and diversity is required. Many of Utah’s finest Native American singers, drummers and dancers come together to present elements of a traditional pow wow, and explain the background and importance of maintaining these traditions.

Ka Lama Mohala Foundation Dancers (New In 2009)
Hawaiian Music & Dance
Saturday, May 16, 4:30-5:15 pm
North Stage
The Ka Lama Mohala Foundation organizes the Hawaiian Cultural Center in Murray and is host to social functions and classes in Hawaiian language and arts. The Ka Lama Mohala Foundation Dancers perform ancient as well as modern hula styles.

Kanamu Productions
Tahitian Dance
Saturday, May 16, 8:15-8:45 pm
South Stage
Tahiti is one of the largest islands in French Polynesia, and its residents retain much of their traditional culture to this day. Although members of this dance troupe perform many other Polynesian styles of dance, they specialize in presenting the dances of their director’s native home, the island of Tahiti.

Karen Community of Utah (New In 2009)
Dances of Burma
Sunday, May 17, 1:15-1:45 pm
South Stage
The Karen people come from the Southeast Asian country of Burma. Fleeing persecution in their homeland, these refugees have been in Utah for just a year and have organized classes that teach their traditions and perpetuate their heritage through folk dance.

Kathak Dancers of Utah (New In 2009)
Dance of India
Sunday, May 17, 12:40-1:00 pm
North Stage
Kathak is a North Indian classical dance form dating back to 1250 BC. Kathak not only exhibits pure dance and technique, but also tells stories, sometimes of religious or historical significance. Master artist Bonnhi Chowdhury has been teaching Kathak in Utah for six years. She and her students perform for Indian cultural events and at university and community events across Utah.

Kenshin Taiko Group
Japanese Drumming
Sunday, May 17, 3:00-3:45 pm
South Stage
Taiko drumming requires the combined skills of musicianship and choreography and is a prominent symbol of Japanese culture in America. Sponsored by the Japanese Church of Christ in Salt Lake City, the Kenshin Taiko Group represents a centuries-old drumming tradition adapted for presentation to modern audiences.

Khemera Cambodian Dancers
Cambodian Dance
Sunday, May 17, 1:15-1:45 pm
North Stage
Cambodian classical dancers trace their choreography to carvings of celestial dancers on temples dating back one thousand years. Their earthly counterparts—dancers of the Kingdom of Cambodia—have for centuries been linked both to religious beliefs and the monarchy. People of Cambodian heritage have lived in Utah for nearly three decades.

KlezBros
Jewish Klezmer Music
Sunday, May 17, 5:15-6:00 pm
South Stage
Modern Klezmer music has its musical roots in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe and was brought to the United States by immigrants in the 1880s. The word Klezmer is said to mean “vessel of music,” and is often considered an invitation to dance, hence its popularity at weddings, bar mitzvahs and other community celebrations.

Kolo Bosnian Dancers
Bosnian Music & Dance
Sunday, May 17, 4:15-5:00 pm
North Stage
Recent Bosnian immigration has increased their presence in Utah to nearly 8,000 people. The American Bosnian & Herzegovinian Association meets monthly and presents an annual festival where the Kolo dancers and musicians are featured. Under the direction of Edin Curic, the Kolo dancers have toured Western communities from Las Vegas to Seattle.

Lac Viet Band
Vietnamese Music
Saturday, May 16, 2:45-3:15 pm
South Stage
This ensemble of Vietnamese musicians is under the direction of master musician, Lan Nguyen, who traveled extensively through her native Vietnam to collect traditional music and preserve it for future generations. She has adapted western-style music notation to each performance and presents the heritage of her Southeast Asian homeland to audiences in America.

Latin Dance Heritage
Latin American Dance
Friday, May 15, 7:45-8:30 pm
South Stage
With a cast of dancers native to various Latin American countries, Latin Dance Heritage presents a wide selection of traditional dance styles from a multitude of nations. Bolivian native Orlando Zurita directs the ensemble of experienced folkloric dancers who are well known performers of ethnic dance in Utah.

Liberian Culture Troupe
Liberian Dance
Sunday, May 17, 12:35-1:00 pm
South Stage
Among the newest residents in Utah are refugees from the West African country of Liberia. They have recently organized community celebrations including Liberian Independence Day, and have formed an ensemble which celebrates Liberian culture in dance and song and reinforces their heritage to their descendants born in Utah.

LIKHA
Philippine Dance
Saturday, May 16, 5:45-6:15 pm
South Stage
The Republic of the Philippines occupies over 7,000 islands in the south west Pacific Ocean, and with over 90 million people, the country has many distinct cultural groups. LIKHA-The Philippine American Cultural Ensemble of Utah- is an organization that promotes the art and culture of Philippine Americans in Utah.

Los del Sur
Music of South America
Saturday, May 16, 4:45-5:30 pm
South Stage
The music of Los del Sur comes from the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia, the jungles of Colombia and savannas of Venezuela. The members of this group hail from different countries and blend their folkloric traditions for a musical tour of South America.

Okinawa Kenjinkai
Okinawan Dance
Saturday, May 16, 4:00-4:30 pm
South Stage
Okinawa is the main island of the Ryuku archipelago located to the far south of Japan, about 800 miles from Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean. Remote from mainstream Japanese culture, these islands have their own distinct heritage and traditions.

New Zealand-American Society
Maori Dance
Friday, May 15, 7:15-8:00 pm
North Stage
The Maori are Polynesians who were the first people to live in what is now the island nation of New Zealand. The Maori dance traditions are both rhythmic and dramatic. Here in Utah, the New Zealand American Society represents the heritage of native New Zealanders and their families.

PAAU
Philippine Dance
Friday, May 15, 5:15-5:45 pm
South Stage
The Philippine Islands have been at the political and religious crossroads of Southeast Asia for centuries thus the folklore is rich and diverse. The Philippine-American Association of Utah (PAAU) is a social and cultural organization that works to perpetuate their Philippine heritage here in Utah.

Poleviyaoma Hopi Group
Hopi Dance
Saturday, May 16, 3:30-3:45 pm
South Stage
The Hopi people come from a group of small villages or pueblos in northeast Arizona. While their pottery and Kachina-making is world renowned, they also have a rich heritage of music and dance rarely seen outside their traditional homeland.

Rastko Serbian Dancers
Serbian Dance
Friday, May 15, 6:30-7:00 pm
North Stage
Utah’s Serbian population dates back to the late 19th century when immigration swelled with the abundance of employment opportunities in Utah’s booming industrial and mining economies. Another wave of immigration followed the breakup of the Yugoslav federation at the end of the 20th century and the Rastko Serbian Dancers bring a fresh resurgence to Utah’s Serbian community.

Rinceori Don Spraoi
Irish Dance
Saturday, May 16, 5:30-6:00 pm
North Stage
Rinceori Don Spraoi (pronounced “Rinkory don Spry”) is Gaelic for “dancing for fun.” This group is a non-competitive, nonprofit group that revels in promoting Irish culture in Utah.

Salt Lake Capoeira
Brazilian Music & Martial Art
Sunday, May 17, 4:40-5:00 pm
South Stage
Capoeira is a very physical art form that mixes martial art with music and dance. Originally practiced by Brazilian slaves to fight for freedom, today capoeira symbolizes Brazilian identity.

Salt Lake Russian Performing Group
Russian Music
Friday, May 15, 7:00-7:30 pm
South Stage
Salt Lake’s Russian community dates back to the 1980s when many arrived as refugees from the former Soviet Union. Today Utah has a vibrant Russian community that is religiously diverse and culturally active. The SLC Russian Performing Group keeps their ties to their homeland through the performance of folk songs and traditional Russian choral music.

Salt Lake Scots
Scottish Music
Saturday, May 16, 3:30-4:15 pm
North Stage
The Salt Lake Scots, founded in 1962, represent the Scottish bagpipe tradition with pride and flair. Over the years the band has appeared in numerous parades, programs and competitions in this country and abroad.

Scottish Country Dancers
Scottish Dance
Friday, May 15, 5:00-5:30 pm
North Stage
Scottish Country Dance originated in Scotland, and by the end of the 20th century evolved into a form of recreational dance popular around the world. With Utah’s strong Scottish heritage, it is not surprising that there is more than one Scottish country dance group, and today the Celtic Country Dancers and the Salt Lake Scottish Country Dancers perform together.

Swiss Chorus Edelweiss
Swiss Music
Saturday, May 16, 2:30-3:15 pm
North Stage
The Swiss Chorus has been singing in Utah for over seventy years and received the Governor’s Cultural Heritage Award in 1988 for their contribution to the maintenance of Swiss culture in Utah. They perform songs in all the national languages of Switzerland, and are accompanied by traditional instruments including accordions and a full ensemble of ten-foot long alphorns.

TOCCATA
Chinese Dance
Sunday, May 17, 12:00-12:30 pm
North Stage
Utah has a large and active Chinese community. Under the leadership of Fay Fay Ye, Teens of Creative, Classical and Traditional Arts (or TOCCATA) present Chinese dance at the Chinese New Year, and festivals and celebrations year round.

Tongan Singers of Utah
Tongan Music & Dance
Saturday, May 16, 12:45-1:15 pm
North Stage
These singers serve Utah’s Tongan community by performing at important community functions including festivals, weddings and funerals. They present old-style Tongan songs and often incorporate traditional dance into their performances.

Utah Hispanic Dance Alliance
Latino Dance
Saturday, May 16, 6:15-7:00 pm
North Stage
Under the direction of Jessica Salazar, this group is composed of dancers, teachers, and choreographers from local Hispanic folkdance groups representing many ethnic dance traditions of Latin America. Dancers who participate in this group share their own performance traditions while learning those of other Latin American countries.

Utah `Ko Triskalariak
Basque Dance
Sunday, May 17, 3:30-4:00
North Stage
After the turn of the 20th century, Basques immigrated to Utah to work as sheepherders. Today, the Intermountain West has one of the largest concentrations of Basque people found anywhere in the world. All the dancers in Utah ‘Ko Triskalariak are of Basque descent.

Utah Tibetan Association
Tibetan Music & Dance
Sunday, May 17, 2:45-3:15 pm
North Stage
Tibetan settlement in Utah dates to the early 1990s when a small group of Tibetans relocated to Salt Lake. They have since brought their families and friends, and opened numerous restaurants and businesses. The perpetuation of Tibetan music and dance traditions helps local Tibetans keep their culture alive and reinforce their heritage with their children.

Venezuela Cantando
Venezuelan Music
Sunday, May 17, 6:15-7:00 pm
South Stage
Accompanied by friends, the Garcia family is at the heart of this performing group that plays traditional Venezuelan music. Originally from Barquisimeto in Venezuela, the Garcias program a diverse performance including Caribbean-style drumming from the Lake Maracaibo region, Andean music from the western mountain regions, and music from the plains and savannas where the “plains harp” (harpa llanera) originated.

Vientos del Sur
Dances of Southern South America
Saturday, May 16, 6:30-7:15 pm
South Stage
Dancers in Vientos del Sur, “Winds from the South,” come from the southernmost countries of the Americas including Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. As these immigrant communities grow in Utah, the children learn the traditions of their homelands and are an important part of the performing ensemble.

Viva Chile (New In 2009)
Chilean Dance
Saturday, May 16, 12:00-12:30 pm
North Stage
Like a thin ribbon of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific coast, the country of Chile stretches over 2,500 miles across several geographic and cultural regions. There is a wealth of Chilean music and dance, but the cueca is danced all over the country and represents in many ways the essence of the Chilean character. Viva Chile was founded in May 2008 under the direction of the Utah Chilean Community, a non profit organization designed to share the beauty and unique culture of Chile with the people of Utah.

Wat Dhammagunaran Dancers (NEw IN 2009)
Thai Dance
Sunday, May 17, 12:00-12:25 pm
South Stage
The cultural activities of the Thai community in Utah center around religious services and functions of the Thai Buddhist Temple (Wat Dhammagunaran) in Layton. Although cultural celebrations sometimes include social dancing to live rock music performed in the Thai language, there is a special place for presentations of traditional Thai folk and classical dances that have been treasured cultural symbols for centuries.

Wesleyan Tongan Church of America in Utah Brass Band
Tongan Music and Dance
Saturday, May 16, 1:30-2:15 pm
North Stage
European and American colonizers introduced brass band music to Polynesians in the 18th and 19th centuries. The resulting music performed by the Wesleyan Tongan Church of America in Utah Brass Band is a fascinating mix of traditional Tongan tunes and melodies with European influence.