A festival for the folk who like to dance

Luis Pena

More than 200 men women and children celebrated the joy of dancing on

the final day of the 34th annual Laguna Folkdancers Festival at

Ensign Intermediate School.

The festival lasted three days, finishing Sunday with performance

groups. Friday’s festivities included workshops and an after party

that lasted until 1 a.m. Saturday’s festivities included workshops, a

Valentine dance party and another after party. The Laguna Folkdancers

meet in Laguna to enjoy music and dance from different cultures from

around the world, said Ted Martin, acting president.

The event had Finnish, Irish, Brazilian, Balkan, Mexican, Greek,

Scottish and other dances from throughout the world. Many of the

participants got into the spirit of things by wearing traditional

costumes or modern costumes from the countries whose dances they were

representing.

“One thing it’s not: American square dancing,” Martin said. “Many

of the dances are done in lines and circles. There are also dances

that are dances for couples, and there are dances in sets four to

eight couples or more, and there are individual dances where you’re

not dancing with anyone else.”

One of the dances that people participated in was Rustemul, a

dance from Romania. The dance is fast paced, and it’s done in a line

through exciting Romanian music.

Beverly Barr of West Los Angeles said she was very involved in

folk dancing and she brought a group of people to enjoy the event.

Folk dancing is like any other hobby, such as bowling, because

it’s a bond that is shared, Barr said.

Folk dancing brings people from different cultures together

because it’s a bond that is shared by many, said Lee Otterholt a

professional dance teacher formerly from Norway and now living in

Laguna.

Nancy Lee Ruyter, a professor of dance at UC Irvine, said she

didn’t come to the festival just for the physical pleasure that dance

provides but for the sense community among the attendees.

“Greek dances are great because there is a lot of improvisation

and you can express yourself, Otterholt said. “ Pretend you’re a

Greek and get emotional.”

Jodi Gerard of Corona didn’t realize how many different types of

folk dances companies there were in Southern California before she

attended the event.

“Its fun to see different types of dancing to see different

cultures,” said Katie Cunningham of Riverside.

The Faeron-O’Connor Irish Dance Company was one of the many groups

who performed a choreographed dance routine.

The Irish dance company had 20 children from 8 to 16 years old

performing at the festival, but these weren’t just any group of

children. They were championship dancers who wore custom-made dresses

from Ireland, said Becky Cunningham from Riverside, who has a

daughter in the dance company.

The group performed dances similar to what many have seen in

Riverdance, with most of the movements being done with their feet and

legs.

Meghan Matsukane, director of the Irish dance company, likes

having her dancers attend the festival because its not a competition,

which allows her performers to have more fun and to please the

audience.

“Everyone is having fun, and that’s what’s important to make a

festival to where people enjoy it,” said Michelle Sandler, festival

chairwoman.

* LUIS PENA is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at [email protected].