The Peninsula International Dance Festival was in San Mateo for only two days, so “Splash Magazine” published a preview article in June to give you a chance to buy tickets for this year’s production. I hope you were able to attend one or both days. The program is different each day. On July 20th twelve Bay Area dance companies representing various cultures took to the stage to perform traditional dances from many parts of the world. Areas of the world represented that day included India, Japan, South America, Europe, China, and Mexico. People lucky enough to attend that day described the show as “amazing.”
I was fortunate to be in the audience for the July 21st performance. Amazing is the correct description for this show. It is wonderful to be reminded of the beautiful and meaningful traditions practiced by dancers around the world. Whether designed to express joy, accompany rituals, fulfill a purpose, or entertain, these dances brought a taste of the cultures they represented to those of us who know too little about them. This show provided a great way to learn about traditions in other parts of the world without leaving the Bay Area.
I watched the intergenerational audience for reactions. The 7-year-old beside me was enthralled. It appeared that she might have been envisioning herself as one of the dancers on stage in the future. Adults, both young and old, were obviously enjoying the energy level, costumes, and talent of the dancers, as well as the stories being told through dance. There was a lot of cheering and applause even within the dances, because the audience appreciated the solo performers within each dance number. It is no secret that the Bay Area is home to some extraordinary dancers, many of whom were on this stage.
The Dance Companies we were privileged to see July 21st were:
Calpulli Tonalehqueh (Native Mexican Aztec)
Feng Ye Dance (China)
ARAX Dance (Armenia)
Halau O Keikiali’i (Hawaii)
Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno (Mexico)
The Minoan Dancers (Greece)
Peninsula Ballet Theatre (USA)
Chitresh Das Dance (India)
Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco (Spain)
Ballet Nlolo Kongo (Congo)
Gurus of Dance (India)
These are Bay Area Dance companies that keep the cultures they represent alive for their members and their audiences. After the performance, the dancers were available for pictures and conversation with audience members who wanted to engage with the performers. It provided a great way to keep the festive atmosphere going for many of us on a personal level. I listed the dance companies’ names because you can research these organizations to see if they offer classes, have public performances, or are welcoming new dancers. These are some of the best and most unique dance companies, most well-known beyond the Bay Area.
A production comprised of first-class talent, meaningful dances, and traditional colorful costumes is guaranteed to entertain audiences of all ages. Learning about other cultures in this way is great fun. It will be on my calendar for next year. It’s a good idea to get tickets early, because this is a very popular festival. Peninsula Lively Arts can be counted on to deliver valuable and entertaining programs. The International Dance Festival is one of its best. For more information about Peninsula Lively Arts, refer to their website
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