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The above photo is of James Runner's ITM dancers. James is the Head Football Coach at Lynn Tech. The ITM Step Squad & Dance Team are Lynn youth who brought to our Festival the power and precision of this nearly lost African dance form.
Stepping or step-dancing is a form of percussive dance. The entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps.
The Festival primarily features music and dance from peoples living on the North Shore. In the past five years, groups entertained us with 'folk' music from Haiti, Cambodia, Iraq, Scotland, Ireland, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Mali (whew...did I miss anyone?).
We also hosted music from ethnic and progressive activists: Yiddish (my family), cajun/zydeco, Appalacia, labor unions, US freedom songs.
This year, we honor the late great Pete Seeger (1919-2014). The Seeger Memorial Band (Julio Bare, Ralph Tufo and me) will have you singing some of his known songs like Precious Friend and Turn, Turn, Turn, as well as a few lesser known tunes like My Rainbow Race.
You can help by attending AND by:
A. donating - We have always paid the musicians, who are some of the
poorest people around.
poorest people around.
B. getting the word out to friends and family. The fest has been moved to
September to avoid the rain/heat of the past two years and to attract
school children.
September to avoid the rain/heat of the past two years and to attract
school children.
C. meeting with us once or twice before the Fest to plan & execute (non-
violently)
violently)
D. setting up the stage or parking cars, buying food from vendors
E. bringing something you made to sell. We rent tables to artists and
groups.
groups.
F. making (healthy) food for the semi-starved staffers.
Shalom / Salaam / peace
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