Japanese Bon Dance returns to the BG International Festival

Each of the dozen years I’ve been involved, one of the biggest crowd pleasers is when over 100 dancers from local Japanese companies invite festival goers to join them in the Japanese Bon Dance.  Thanks to SobalFilm for capturing this footage from last year!

HuDost brings Eastern & country fusion to rock the festival

HuDost has built a dedicated local following after multiple appearance showcasing live dancing and unique, atmospheric blend of “traditional Sufi music, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian and Balkan folk music, Farsi, Turkish, Arabic, Folk, Pop, Rock and Southern Gospel”.

In 2012 the group also added Bonnaroo to the long list of coveted venues in which they have performed.  Based in Montreal and New York, the band has traveled to Bowling Green for several years now, often bringing with them the talented Margurite from Knoxville who weaves a beautiful visual display during their performances with a diverse range of costumed dances.

What’s an international festival without Irish Pub tunes?

It’s hard to beat the playfulness of an Irish pub standard, and this year it’s a new local group that invites you to sing along and toast them.  Feckless Fear Dearg will perform multiple times on stage throughout the day as well as spend time in between jamming at the Celtic Nations area.  Get a preview below from a gig at Molly Shannon’s Irish Pub (who will also be present serving up some Irish stew and volunteering at the beer garden where all proceeds go to the festival.

“Woman of 1000 dances” to appear at 2012 festival

Cheryl Pan, dubbed the “woman of 1000 dances” will grace the stage again this year, along with her students.  Recognized in the Kentucky Performing Arts Directory as well as the Art Education Roster, she is the artistic director of the Kentucky Chinese American Association.

Traditional forms such as the Fan Dance, Ribbon Dance, Umbrella Dance, and Lantern Dance are brought to life by Ms. Pan and her students.

Watch part of their performance at the 2009 Bowling Green International Festival below.

Bosnian music & dance at the 2012 fest

We are proud to feature this year several performances of traditional Bosnian music and dance including Armin Hasanagic, Emsud Delkic, Sven Dugandzija and KUD Zumbuli.

Armin, a band teacher in the Warren County public school system, has volunteered as our stage manager for over a decade and performs a mixture of Bosnian traditional and pop music.  He invites guests each year to join him on stage including accordian player Emsud Delkic.  In the past Emsud traveled from St. Louis but he has recently relocated to Bowling Green.

Debuting this year is Sven Dugandzija.  Sven is a 16 year old, up and coming local musician who is a regular performer at the Kentucky Blues Society’s Teen Jams.  A guitar player and singer/songwriter he normally plays primarily acoustic classic rock, but  recently has begun exploring his heritage by learning several Bosnian folk songs which he will perform at the festival.  He will be featured both as a soloist and with Armin.
Following Armin’s set, Bosnian dance troupe KUD Zumbuli will perform.  Lead by artistic director Gina Dzelil, KUD Zumbuli consists of two performance groups who perform traditional dance, a youth (13-17) group and a children’s (4-12) group.

KUD Zumbuli can be seen here performing in 2009.  Their performance had been moved to the walkway due to the mud from rain most of the day.  The event takes place rain or shine.

For more information on these or other performers visit http://www.bginternationalfest.com/entertainment.

2012 Performance Schedule:

Diversity Stage: Manager/Host Molly Kerby

9:00AM – 9:25AM Opening Ceremony – Poster contest winners, President’s welcome. 9:30AM – 10:20AM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 10:30AM – 10:45AM Bhutanese/Nepalese Community – Traditional Dance of Nepal 10:50AM – 11:15AM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 11:20AM – 11:40 [FRONT] AraMaru Martial Arts – Korean Martial Arts demonstrations 11:45AM – 1:10PM The Great Barrier Reefs – Steel drum, world, funk, jazz 1:20PM – 1:45PM Linda Riyad – Belly Dance 1:50PM – 2:05PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 2:05PM – 2:15PM [FRONT] La Luz Del Mundo Dancers – Hispanic dance 2:15PM – 3:00PM HuDost – Alternative world & eastern / country fusion 3:05PM – 3:30PM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 3:35PM – 4:20PM HuDost – Alternative world & eastern / country fusion 4:25PM – 4:40PM Zingara – Belly Dance Troupe 4:50PM – 5:45PM Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic Fusion 5:50PM – 6:05PM WKU Chinese Music Club – Traditional Chinese music & folk songs 6:15PM – 7:00PM Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic Fusion

Heritage Stage: Manager/Host Armin Hasanagic, Asst. Manager Zlatko Dugandzija

9:30AM – 9:45AM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 9:50AM – 10:05AM Zingara – Belly Dance Troupe 10:15AM – 11:00AM Las Flamencas – Flamenco dance and live music 11:10AM – 12:00PM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 12:05PM – 12:20PM La Luz Del Mundo – Fashion show 12:25PM – 1:05PM Burma Performers – Traditional Burmese dance 1:10PM – 1:15PM Sven Dugandzija – Bosnian Folk 1:15PM – 2:10PM Armin Hasanagic & Emsud Delkic – Bosnian traditional & pop 2:10PM – 2:30PM KUD Zumbuli – Traditional Bosnian dance 2:35PM – 2:50PM Anna’s Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek dance 2:55PM – 3:05PM Burmese Community – Traditional Burmese dance 3:10PM – 3:25PM Linda Riyad – Belly Dance 3:35PM – 4:20PM Sabari Bengoma & TWAA Dance Co. – West Africa drums and dance 4:20PM – 4:30PM [FRONT] La Luz Del Mundo Dancers – Hispanic dance 4:30PM – 5:15PM Sudanese Rebaba Project – Sudanese 5:25PM – 6:00PM Roots of a Rebellion – Reggae, Rock, Dub 6:05PM – 6:10PM Filipino American Society – Traditional songs from the Philippines 6:15PM – 7:00PM Roots of a Rebellion – Reggae, Rock, Dub

World Stage: Manager/Host Donnie Moats, Ambush Sound

9:30AM – 10:30AM Watersprite – Celtic 10:35AM – 10:50AM AraMaru Martial Arts – Korean Martial Arts demonstrations 10:55AM – 11:25AM Burma Performers – Traditional Burmese dance 11:30AM – 11:45AM Anna’s Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek dance 11:50AM – 12:00PM Burmese Community – Traditional Burmese dance 12:10PM – 12:55PM Las Flamencas – Flamenco dance and live music 1:05PM – 1:50PM Cheryl Pan – Traditional Chinese Dance 2:00PM – 3:00PM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 3:10PM – 3:25PM H.O.P.E. – Latin dance 3:30PM – 3:45PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 3:50PM -4:20PM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 4:25PM – 4:55PM Midori Kai – Japanese Bon Dance 5:05PM – 6:05PM Desert Rose Collective – Iraqi pianists & bellydancers 6:15PM – 7:00PM Sabari Bengoma & TWAA Dance Co. – West African drums and dance

Shamrock & Thistle Ceili in Celtic Nations: Host Steve Haynes

9AM – 7:00 pm – Open mic, informal jam sessions for Celtic performances and drumming with the High Cross Society and other enthusiasts. Sets by Watersprite and Feckless Fear Dearg.

In the Park:

Chiseled Features Studio – Children are invited to bust a beautiful handmade pinata by Ronnie Jaggers every hour on the hour

Arabic music and bellydancing at the 2012 BG International Festival

New this year is the unique combination of American bellydancers performing to live music by seasoned Iraqi pianists, known as the Desert Rose Collective.

Raquia snd Fairoza from the belldance troupe troupe AlHamsa colloborate with brothers Haidar and Muhammad Ali to form Desert Rose.

For more information on these and other performers visit http://www.BGInternationalFest.com/entertainment

2012 Performance Schedule:

Diversity Stage: Manager/Host Molly Kerby

9:00AM – 9:25AM Opening Ceremony – Poster contest winners, President’s welcome. 9:30AM – 10:20AM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 10:30AM – 10:45AM Bhutanese/Nepalese Community – Traditional Dance of Nepal 10:50AM – 11:15AM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 11:20AM – 11:40 [FRONT] AraMaru Martial Arts – Korean Martial Arts demonstrations 11:45AM – 1:10PM The Great Barrier Reefs – Steel drum, world, funk, jazz 1:20PM – 1:45PM Linda Riyad – Belly Dance 1:50PM – 2:05PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 2:05PM – 2:15PM [FRONT] La Luz Del Mundo Dancers – Hispanic dance 2:15PM – 3:00PM HuDost – Alternative world & eastern / country fusion 3:05PM – 3:30PM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 3:35PM – 4:20PM HuDost – Alternative world & eastern / country fusion 4:25PM – 4:40PM Zingara – Belly Dance Troupe 4:50PM – 5:45PM Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic Fusion 5:50PM – 6:05PM WKU Chinese Music Club – Traditional Chinese music & folk songs 6:15PM – 7:00PM Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic Fusion

Heritage Stage: Manager/Host Armin Hasanagic, Asst. Manager Zlatko Dugandzija

9:30AM – 9:45AM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 9:50AM – 10:05AM Zingara – Belly Dance Troupe 10:15AM – 11:00AM Las Flamencas – Flamenco dance and live music 11:10AM – 12:00PM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 12:05PM – 12:20PM La Luz Del Mundo – Fashion show 12:25PM – 1:05PM Burma Performers – Traditional Burmese dance 1:10PM – 1:15PM Sven Dugandzija – Bosnian Folk 1:15PM – 2:10PM Armin Hasanagic & Emsud Delkic – Bosnian traditional & pop 2:10PM – 2:30PM KUD Zumbuli – Traditional Bosnian dance 2:35PM – 2:50PM Anna’s Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek dance 2:55PM – 3:05PM Burmese Community – Traditional Burmese dance 3:10PM – 3:25PM Linda Riyad – Belly Dance 3:35PM – 4:20PM Sabari Bengoma & TWAA Dance Co. – West Africa drums and dance 4:20PM – 4:30PM [FRONT] La Luz Del Mundo Dancers – Hispanic dance 4:30PM – 5:15PM Sudanese Rebaba Project – Sudanese 5:25PM – 6:00PM Roots of a Rebellion – Reggae, Rock, Dub 6:05PM – 6:10PM Filipino American Society – Traditional songs from the Philippines 6:15PM – 7:00PM Roots of a Rebellion – Reggae, Rock, Dub

World Stage: Manager/Host Donnie Moats, Ambush Sound

9:30AM – 10:30AM Watersprite – Celtic 10:35AM – 10:50AM AraMaru Martial Arts – Korean Martial Arts demonstrations 10:55AM – 11:25AM Burma Performers – Traditional Burmese dance 11:30AM – 11:45AM Anna’s Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek dance 11:50AM – 12:00PM Burmese Community – Traditional Burmese dance 12:10PM – 12:55PM Las Flamencas – Flamenco dance and live music 1:05PM – 1:50PM Cheryl Pan – Traditional Chinese Dance 2:00PM – 3:00PM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 3:10PM – 3:25PM H.O.P.E. – Latin dance 3:30PM – 3:45PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 3:50PM -4:20PM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 4:25PM – 4:55PM Midori Kai – Japanese Bon Dance 5:05PM – 6:05PM Desert Rose Collective – Iraqi pianists & bellydancers 6:15PM – 7:00PM Sabari Bengoma & TWAA Dance Co. – West African drums and dance

Shamrock & Thistle Ceili in Celtic Nations: Host Steve Haynes

9AM – 7:00 pm – Open mic, informal jam sessions for Celtic performances and drumming with the High Cross Society and other enthusiasts. Sets by Watersprite and Feckless Fear Dearg.

In the Park:

Chiseled Features Studio – Children are invited to bust a beautiful handmade pinata by Ronnie Jaggers every hour on the hour

Related events: WKU International Reach Week

WKU’s 2nd Annual International Reach Week starts today!  Various lectures, art exhibits, presentations, films and fairs are featured, culminating with the Bowling Green International Festival on Saturday September 29!  Events open to the entire community can be found here – http://www.wku.edu/oip/irwcommunityevents.php

Fest band, Roots of a Rebellion releases 1st official video

Roots of a Rebellion, a Nashville based Reggae/rock/dub band that will perform Sept. 29 at the Bowling Green International Festival, recently released their first official video for the song “Giving Tree”.

The group, which will close the Heritage Stage, beginning at 5:25  is described on its Facebook page as: “Combining elements of reggae, soul, rock, dub, and mixed with a tight horn section and melodic vocal lines, Roots of a Rebellion has created a sound that is wholeheartedly unique. Hailing from various corners of the United States, each member brings something special to the table. Austin Smith, Alec Newnam, Troy Wiggins, Marco Martinez, Jeremyck Smith, Justin Smith, and Paul Violante all have relocated to Nashville to blend unique musical styles and passion into the souls of the southeast. Fueled by conscious lyrics and a groove that won’t let you sit still, Roots of a Rebellion wants you to become a part of something original and positive.”

Their new album will be available Oct. 4  at various online outlets.  www.rootsofarebellion.com

2012 Performance Schedule:

Diversity Stage: Manager/Host Molly Kerby

9:00AM – 9:25AM Opening Ceremony – Poster contest winners, President’s welcome. 9:30AM – 10:20AM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 10:30AM – 10:45AM Bhutanese/Nepalese Community – Traditional Dance of Nepal 10:50AM – 11:15AM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 11:20AM – 11:40 [FRONT] AraMaru Martial Arts – Korean Martial Arts demonstrations 11:45AM – 1:10PM The Great Barrier Reefs – Steel drum, world, funk, jazz 1:20PM – 1:45PM Linda Riyad – Belly Dance 1:50PM – 2:05PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 2:05PM – 2:15PM [FRONT] La Luz Del Mundo Dancers – Hispanic dance 2:15PM – 3:00PM HuDost – Alternative world & eastern / country fusion 3:05PM – 3:30PM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 3:35PM – 4:20PM HuDost – Alternative world & eastern / country fusion 4:25PM – 4:40PM Zingara – Belly Dance Troupe 4:50PM – 5:45PM Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic Fusion 5:50PM – 6:05PM WKU Chinese Music Club – Traditional Chinese music & folk songs 6:15PM – 7:00PM Tuatha Dea – Tribal Celtic Fusion

Heritage Stage: Manager/Host Armin Hasanagic, Asst. Manager Zlatko Dugandzija

9:30AM – 9:45AM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 9:50AM – 10:05AM Zingara – Belly Dance Troupe 10:15AM – 11:00AM Las Flamencas – Flamenco dance and live music 11:10AM – 12:00PM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 12:05PM – 12:20PM La Luz Del Mundo – Fashion show 12:25PM – 1:05PM Burma Performers – Traditional Burmese dance 1:10PM – 1:15PM Sven Duandzija 1:15PM – 2:10PM Armin Hasanagic & Emsud Delkic – Bosnian traditional & pop 2:10PM – 2:30PM KUD Zumbuli – Traditional Bosnian dance 2:35PM – 2:50PM Anna’s Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek dance 2:55PM – 3:05PM Burmese Community – Traditional Burmese dance 3:10PM – 3:25PM Linda Riyad – Belly Dance 3:35PM – 4:20PM Sabari Bengoma & TWAA Dance Co. – West Africa drums and dance 4:20PM – 4:30PM [FRONT] La Luz Del Mundo Dancers – Hispanic dance 4:30PM – 5:15PM Sudanese Rebaba Project – Sudanese 5:25PM – 6:00PM Roots of a Rebellion – Reggae, Rock, Dub 6:05PM – 6:10PM Filipino American Society – Traditional songs from the Philippines 6:15PM – 7:00PM Roots of a Rebellion – Reggae, Rock, Dub

World Stage: Manager/Host Donnie Moats, Ambush Sound

9:30AM – 10:30AM Watersprite – Celtic 10:35AM – 10:50AM AraMaru Martial Arts – Korean Martial Arts demonstrations 10:55AM – 11:25AM Burma Performers – Traditional Burmese dance 11:30AM – 11:45AM Anna’s Greek Dancers – Traditional Greek dance 11:50AM – 12:00PM Burmese Community – Traditional Burmese dance 12:10PM – 12:55PM Las Flamencas – Flamenco dance and live music 1:05PM – 1:50PM Cheryl Pan – Traditional Chinese Dance 2:00PM – 3:00PM Feckless Fear Dearg – Celtic 3:10PM – 3:25PM H.O.P.E. – Latin dance 3:30PM – 3:45PM Rachana Pasupuleti – Bharatanatyam, classical Indian dance form 3:50PM -4:20PM Maurice Moro - Likembe, African classical thumb piano 4:25PM – 4:55PM Midori Kai – Japanese Bon Dance 5:05PM – 6:05PM Desert Rose Collective – Iraqi pianists & bellydancers 6:15PM – 7:00PM Sabari Bengoma & TWAA Dance Co. – West African drums and dance

Shamrock & Thistle Ceili in Celtic Nations: Host Steve Haynes

9AM – 7:00 pm – Open mic, informal jam sessions for Celtic performances and drumming with the High Cross Society and other enthusiasts. Sets by Watersprite and Feckless Fear Dearg.

In the Park:

Chiseled Features Studio – Children are invited to bust a beautiful handmade pinata by Ronnie Jaggers every hour on the hour

Pinata lady completes festival pinatas

Ronnie Jaggers in her studio with newly created pinatas

Ronnie Jaggers of Chiseled Features Studio, “The Pinata Lady”, has completed all the pinatas for the 2012 Bowling Green International Festival Saturday September 29 at Circus Square Park.  Kids are invited to try their hand a breaking the pinatas every hour on the hour beginning at 10 a.m.

Jaggers who has been creating pinatas for the event for more than a decade, said “I have watched the children come back year after year, seeing them grow up.  Some now just watch as they are too old to participate.  I love this Festival and it gives me a sense of giving back to provide this happy entertainment to the children.”

Ronnie Jaggers also creates jewelry, figurines, paintings, piñatas, miniature game pieces, models, graphic arts, screen printing, originals for concrete statues, fountains, stained glass and more.  She says, “The joy of creating is like breath, it is my God given gift and I must do it.

Presently holding Painting for Fun classes in my Chiseled Features Studio in Bowling Green where the walls are full of work done myself and some of my students paintings. I also have a modest collection of South Central Kentucky’s artists works displayed in the Studio.”

Related event: Alfombro exhibit at SKyPAC

Celebrate exhibit at SKyPAC

Visit the SKyPAC children’s gallery through the end of September to see the exhibit Celebrate! in support of the BG International Festival. The exhibit was organized by Gallery Director Andee Rudloff who worked in conjunction with the BG International Center, the City of Bowling Green’s International Liaison and Festival Board member, Leyda Becker, SKyPAC intern Alana Thomas, Greg Erickson and Chiseled Features Studio artist Ronnie Jaggers.

Alfombras are a Guatemalan tradition which began as creating carpets of flowers for kings to walk on and was later altered by the Catholic Church to carpets made of colored sawdust for Holy Week.  For Celebrate!, children from the International Center were asked to make a pattern for their own Alfombro to represent their life.

According to Gallery Director Andee Rudloff, “We are excited to collaborate with The International Center of Bowling Green, one of SKyPAC’s Community Partner organizations, on the exhibition Celebrate!  Through art-making on our individual alfombra ideas, the sharing of culture and stories became a unifying force of conversation.”

SKyPAC Intern Alana Thomas leading kids at the International Center in the alfombra activity featured in the exhibition at SKyPAC’s Children’s gallery.

According to SKyPAC’s website (www.theskypac.com): “These children were given the opportunity to take the idea of an alfombra made from sawdust representing Holy Week and make one of their own. However, these alfombras represent the lives of the children and the things that they’ve taken away from their cultures. They are full of thoughtfulness, joy, remembrance, and life. These alfombras are more than a representation of the children’s lives, but a celebration of being able to create.

According to Leyda Becker, “We hosted an art workshop at the International Center where many refugee children created the alfombras that will be displayed in the gallery.  This is a fabulous outreach opportunity to get our international community involved in the arts and connected to opportunities they may not otherwise have.”

The exhibit runs through September 30 at SKyPAC.