Berea International Festival begins today, runs through Sunday
Berean Nashwa Cahill will be among the performers featured at the Berea International Festival, which begins today. The event will feature music, dance, demonstrations, food and fun through Sunday.
by Jennifer Boyle
BEREA - A little town in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky will soon be buzzing with the exotic airs of an international marketplace. The second annual Berea International Festival will gather a variety of cultures in one space to celebrate diversity with song, dance, art, cuisine, and crafts that exemplify the countries of the world.
The three-day festival begins Friday, May 9 and continues through Mother’s Day. Events are scheduled at the Russel Acton Folk Center, 212 Jefferson Street, and nearby Memorial Park.
See a complete schedule of events at the Berea International Festival Web site.
Visitors will enjoy a visual feast that includes more than 50 vendors offering handcrafted products, a continuous program of musical performances and demonstrations, interactive exhibits, tantalizing edibles, and good, wholesome international fun.
Everyone will have a chance to learn about countries far removed and to connect with cultures that were previously unknown to them. Admission to this exciting event is free.
Founder of the Berea International Festival, Sune Frederiksen, calls his creation “an American melting pot.”
He intends for the event to create a feeling of unity between people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds.
“We need to understand that we are part of a whole, and this festival is to be something that is holistic,” said Frederiksen.
Frederiksen’s international background was a major influence in the festival’s creation. Hailing from Denmark, he immigrated to America roughly a decade ago out of fascination with the “pioneer spirit” and the stories of Daniel Boone.
In his country of origin, diversity was an uncommon experience. “I grew up in a white society, 99.9% white and Lutheran,” he said. Frederiksen’s family, however, did not adhere to this ethnic uniformity. Instead, they married far and wide, his uncle to a girl from Monterey in Mexico, and his nephew to a Korean.
Frederiksen met his multilingual wife in America, but his son was born in Guatemala.
The festival’s entertainers and vendors were carefully chosen based on what they could contribute toward the international atmosphere. Diversity and character are must-haves.
“If people have a story to tell, if they can dance, [if they] have an instrument, or want to show off their dress from India,” said Frederiksen, then they qualify for an exhibit at this special event.
Spectators are encouraged to attend no matter their background. “You don’t have to be born somewhere to present the culture,” says Frederiksen.
A perfect example is the International Dance Competition that will be held on May 11 at the Russel Acton Folk Center from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Berea College students will have a chance to compete for cash prizes by performing to music from any country or region of their choosing. The best act will win $300; second and third prizes are $200 and $100, respectively.
On May 10 Berea Middle Eastern Dancers will perform on the folk center lawn from 5:30 to 6:00 PM.
The group is led by instructor Nashwa Cahill, who gives recreational classes to students on campus every Friday evening. One of the dancers, senior Elisa Riddell, says they will dance to a love song.
With so many activities, visitors may have difficulty choosing what to do or see first. On Friday, May 9 the action begins in Memorial Park at 3:30 PM with open vendors and continuous exhibits until 7:00 PM. The internationally inspired attractions will include jewelry making, flag painting, Viking Age reenactments, and a Native American village, among other things. A street dance from 7:00-10:30 PM on Short Street will round out the night.
That evening the festival’s Gala dinner will be held at the folk center from 7:00-9:00 PM. The performance features a sampler of 7 cultural backgrounds, including Indian, Egyptian, Cherokee, Viking, Danish, British, and Spanish. Admission is $15; for more information, contact: theresa_lowder@berea.edu.
Check the festival’s website at http://www.berea.com/interfest for a full list of the events and times.
Frederiksen hopes to see you there. “Come and join us, and let’s celebrate the world in Berea – together,” he says.
I know I wouldn't miss it for the world.
BEREA - A little town in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky will soon be buzzing with the exotic airs of an international marketplace. The second annual Berea International Festival will gather a variety of cultures in one space to celebrate diversity with song, dance, art, cuisine, and crafts that exemplify the countries of the world.
The three-day festival begins Friday, May 9 and continues through Mother’s Day. Events are scheduled at the Russel Acton Folk Center, 212 Jefferson Street, and nearby Memorial Park.
See a complete schedule of events at the Berea International Festival Web site.
Visitors will enjoy a visual feast that includes more than 50 vendors offering handcrafted products, a continuous program of musical performances and demonstrations, interactive exhibits, tantalizing edibles, and good, wholesome international fun.
Everyone will have a chance to learn about countries far removed and to connect with cultures that were previously unknown to them. Admission to this exciting event is free.
Founder of the Berea International Festival, Sune Frederiksen, calls his creation “an American melting pot.”
He intends for the event to create a feeling of unity between people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds.
“We need to understand that we are part of a whole, and this festival is to be something that is holistic,” said Frederiksen.
Frederiksen’s international background was a major influence in the festival’s creation. Hailing from Denmark, he immigrated to America roughly a decade ago out of fascination with the “pioneer spirit” and the stories of Daniel Boone.
In his country of origin, diversity was an uncommon experience. “I grew up in a white society, 99.9% white and Lutheran,” he said. Frederiksen’s family, however, did not adhere to this ethnic uniformity. Instead, they married far and wide, his uncle to a girl from Monterey in Mexico, and his nephew to a Korean.
Frederiksen met his multilingual wife in America, but his son was born in Guatemala.
The festival’s entertainers and vendors were carefully chosen based on what they could contribute toward the international atmosphere. Diversity and character are must-haves.
“If people have a story to tell, if they can dance, [if they] have an instrument, or want to show off their dress from India,” said Frederiksen, then they qualify for an exhibit at this special event.
Spectators are encouraged to attend no matter their background. “You don’t have to be born somewhere to present the culture,” says Frederiksen.
A perfect example is the International Dance Competition that will be held on May 11 at the Russel Acton Folk Center from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Berea College students will have a chance to compete for cash prizes by performing to music from any country or region of their choosing. The best act will win $300; second and third prizes are $200 and $100, respectively.
On May 10 Berea Middle Eastern Dancers will perform on the folk center lawn from 5:30 to 6:00 PM.
The group is led by instructor Nashwa Cahill, who gives recreational classes to students on campus every Friday evening. One of the dancers, senior Elisa Riddell, says they will dance to a love song.
With so many activities, visitors may have difficulty choosing what to do or see first. On Friday, May 9 the action begins in Memorial Park at 3:30 PM with open vendors and continuous exhibits until 7:00 PM. The internationally inspired attractions will include jewelry making, flag painting, Viking Age reenactments, and a Native American village, among other things. A street dance from 7:00-10:30 PM on Short Street will round out the night.
That evening the festival’s Gala dinner will be held at the folk center from 7:00-9:00 PM. The performance features a sampler of 7 cultural backgrounds, including Indian, Egyptian, Cherokee, Viking, Danish, British, and Spanish. Admission is $15; for more information, contact: theresa_lowder@berea.edu.
Check the festival’s website at http://www.berea.com/interfest for a full list of the events and times.
Frederiksen hopes to see you there. “Come and join us, and let’s celebrate the world in Berea – together,” he says.
I know I wouldn't miss it for the world.