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FEST GROUNDS :

11:30 Qeej Boys (Bamboo Boys): Along with cultural Hmong dance, this group will play the Qeej, an instrument employed at funerals, parties and festivals.

Noon Brisas del Peru

12:30 Sadira & the Riad Dance Company: Since 1984, Sadira and the Riad Dance company have been performing authentic Middle Eastern dance. They are the only women’s dance company to perform in the Cultural Village of Arab World Fest in Milwaukee. They perform annually at the International Festival and Willy St. Fair. Please visit http://www.madison.com/communities/sadira/index.php for more information.

1:00 Greenbush Reunion Dancers: Organized in May of 2004, this group has performed Argentine tango dancing and Italian folk dancing at Festa Italia and other ethnic festivals. Please visit http://www.madison.com/communities/GreenbushReunion/ for more information.

1:40 University of Wisconsin-Madison Breakdance Club: This group has been dancing for a couple of years, practicing on campus and participating in some battles in the Midwest. Please visit http://breakers.rso.wisc.edu/160903.php for more information.

1:55 Wilbur Thomas Scholarship Awards, presented by Maria Thomas

2:00 United Refugee of Southern Wisconsin’s Sunshine Dance Troupe : In their second year of performing, this group dances with a variety of props, including umbrellas, baskets (Kawj), fans, fabrics and flutes. These girls have come a long way to continue to represent the Hmong.

2:20 Tiawanaku: Performing traditional Bolivian Folk dance, this group seeks to promote Latin American Culture by sharing the music and folk dances of Latin America. Founded in 1987 from the desire of three Bolivian families living in Madison, their nostalgia for the country they left behind promoted them to preserve and share their Andean Heritage. In 1994, the group was chosen to represent Bolivia in the opening ceremonies of the World Cup Soccer Tournament in Chicago, Illinois. The group regularly performs in the Holiday Parade, Fiesta Hispana, Triangle Ethnic Fest, schools and businesses in Madison.

2:40 Meenakshi Ganesan & the Kalaanjali Dancers: This group will present traditional and ethnic Indian classical dance form called Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest, beautiful and purest classical dance forms in India. The Bharatanatyam dancers use facial expressions, various types of hand gestures and body postures, graceful and rhythmic body and foot movements, and melody to evoke Rasa (“emotion” or “sentiment”) in the audience. The colorful costumes, lively expressions, scultpturesque poses, dexterous footwork, rhythmic patterns, and the “story telling via dance” are the special features that appeal to audiences of all ages. Please visit http://www.kalaanjali.com for more information.

3:00 The Oak Street Ramblers: This bluegrass band is based out of Madison and performs every last Saturday of the month at Wonder’s Pub (Madison)—check them out Saturday, August 27, 2005.

3:40 The Folklore Village International Dancers: Dances from Northern Europe and costumes representative of the countries the dances originate from. Folklore Village is a rural folk arts center located east of Dodgeville whose goal is to give people the opportunity to celebrate and experience tradition.

4:00 Sergei Belkin Russian International Accordionist: Sergei Belkins a renowned Russian accordion player who will perform international music. When Reagan was President, Sergei was invited to participate in an artist exchange between Russia and Alaska.

4:40 Okinawan Taiko Drummers of Wisconsin: The Okinawan Taiko Drummers range in age from 14 to 20 years and are based at West High School in Madison. They perform a variety of authentic folk dances to modern and traditional Okinawan songs. They recently performed in Washing DC with other drummers from Okinawa.

5:00 Atimevu Drum & Dance: Music and dance from Ghana/West Africa

5:30 Mesoghios Greek Troupe: Greek folk dancers. Please visit http://www.madstage.com/Companies/mesoghios.html for more information.

 

SECOND STAGE

11:45 Argentine Tango Mini Lessons: Greenbush Reunion Dancers

1:00 Hot Steppers

1:30 Salsa Dance Lessons: Taught by Julia Blascoe

2:00 Julia Blascoe Salsa

3:00 Shaun Jackson Gospel

4:00 Txong Thao Hmong-American Dancing

 

FOOD VENDORS:

Val's Kitchen: Southern

Triangle Community Ministry: Ice cream and brownies (American)

Sukhothai: Thai

Po'Boys: American

Italian American Women's Club: Bakery and Booth-Italian sausages

Jamerica: Jamaican

Athenian Gardens: Greek

Loose Juice: Smoothies

JD Express: Chicago hotdogs and Mexican

Mango Man: Latin/Caribbean

Viet Foods to Go: Vietnamese

Cambodian

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