Folkmoot USA

I've always been a fan of Folkmoot. For those who don't know, this is a traditional dance festival in western North Carolina (www.folkmootusa.org) that brings in dance groups from all over the world. My understanding is that they select groups from a pool that is part of CIOFF, an organization under the umbrella of UNESCO. Each year they send a few of those groups to perform in my small town and I always attend. It wasn't until the second year's performance that I hit on the idea of passing out magnets.

The first magnet I gave to the man behind the table selling crafts from Jordan. I'm not sure he knew what to think but he thanked me. Then he brought me a souvineer from Petra, a historic site in Jordan. The next thing I knew, he gave each of us behind the concession counter a CD of Jordanian music. This man was one of the lead dancers from that country and who did a shimmy move that really got the audience fired up. I also gave magnets to some of the Jordanian girls who wanted me to pose for photos with them.

I made sure to give them to at least one of each nationality, mostly to the girls. One of the performers from Portugal gave me a small rooster pin and another gave me a key ring, also with a rooster which is a symbol of Portugal. One recipient said, "We kiss on both cheeks!" as she did just that. 

At another performance, I gave a magnet to a girl from Latvia who performed a dance with red gloves. I told her I also had some of those Latvian gloves and bought them at the big market in Riga but mine are not red.

I asked one of my friends to give away a magnet at yet another performance. She chose the lead dancer from Burundi. Their group had several male dancers who danced with large drums on their heads that they beat rhythmically while dancing. That was really a feat because the largest drum weighed about 80 pounds and it took two guys to lift it on. I gave magnets to several other dancers on that team, also.

Other teams I gave magnets to over the years were from Serbia and Holland. There were others and I am ashamed to admit that I've forgotten which countries they were from. I only wish I had taken photos.