Springville World Folkfest is one way to fight against war, dancer says

SPRINGVILLE — Dance is a universal language, and over 250 people from all over the world are coming to Springville next week to prove that statement is true.

The Springville World Folkfest, which is the longest-running folk dance festival in the western United States, is returning this year after a two-year hiatus. And according to international director Emily Wilkinson, not only is the festival about celebrating the art of dance, it's about cultural preservation.

"There are so few folk festivals in the United States, and we are internationally recognized and tasked with the specific purpose to promote and preserve our world's cultural heritages," Wilkinson said.

Estonian dancer Ivika Priidel agreed, adding that without festivals like these, her heritage could be erased.

"We are a tiny European country, with only about 1.3 million people. And for us, it's important to preserve our heritage because there are not many of us to remember our history, if we do not dedicate ourselves to teaching others the way of our family," Priidel said. "If we do not take the time to share and teach others, especially within the U.S. who are far away from us, then we risk that our heritage may be lost.

"One war, it could all be erased and gone."

'When you fight for culture, you fight against the war'

French dancer Robert De Marchi said events like the Springville World Folkest are ways to fight against war because dancing is a way to show how similar people really are.

"It is important to show our audiences around the world the differences but also the similarities that can exist between cultures ... to show that we can be closer to each other than we think," De Marchi said. "When you fight for culture, you fight against the war. This is so important for people to understand.

"Folk dance, folk music is our way to fight against the wars. It really is that simple. When people see culture and experience culture they do not fear, they understand. We do not fight what we understand."

De Marchi said that coming to the Springville World Folkfest this year has a special meaning because of the war in Ukraine. He spoke about the many dancers who have been lost in the recent war.

"We have Ukrainian friends in the world of traditional dance that we will never see again," De Marchi said. "Our hearts are heavy, as are all in this world. Through folklore, you meet friends from all countries and all places. We love with them, we suffer with them, we cry with them because we are them. We are all humans asking and dancing for peace and the space to celebrate with peace the stories of our cultures. Folklore can bring peace if only people could hear and know each other."

Priidel said that along with bringing peace, the Springville World Folkfest is something she and so many others look forward to participating in.

"The World Folkfest in our minds is one of the biggest and most important folk stages to be on," Priidel said. "This is a goal we have been working toward for many years."

'Bridging a connection'

Working toward participating in the World Folkfest not only includes countless hours of practice, but also fundraising, as each dancer has to pay for their own way to travel to Utah.

"These dancers are not local groups, these dancers are not from local universities," Wilkinson said. "They are all traveling from their respective countries and earning money to pay their own way to America to dance on our World Folkfest stage."

Wilkinson explained that while the dancers do need to pay for airfare, once here, they are placed with local host families. As a second-generation volunteer for the festival, Wilkinson expressed how wonderful it is to be able to host dancers and build those relationships.

Romanian dancer Camelia Motoc agreed with Wilkinson, adding that staying in a home rather than a hotel is a way to "bridge a connection."

"It is important to us to stay with host families because it is not just a hotel or hostel, it is the hearts of the real people of a country," Motoc said. "World Folkfest offers us a real bridge of connection because we stay with families and in the community. Some festivals keep us in hotels, which is fine, but to show Romania and to learn about America, we must meet and learn of each other."

Wilkinson said that they are currently looking for host families to house dancers, and encouraged those who are willing to reach out.

This Folkfest goes from Monday, July 25, through Friday, July 29, and will have dancers from Estonia, Romania, Poland, Indonesia, France and Hawaii.

For more information, go to worldfolkfest.org.

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