‘On the Grass’ festival celebrates world cultures

Thursday, May 2, 1996

International event launches WorldfestBy Cindy Liu

Daily Bruin Contributor

There’s more to Scottish culture than bagpipes and kilts. Take
Scottish country dancing for example.

"(It) is the social dance of Scotland and we’ve been doing it
for several hundred years," says Mary Brandon, a member of the Los
Angeles branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. "It’s
very much a living culture. It’s a living tradition."

This heritage, along with other music and dance performances
from over 20 different countries, will be highlighted in "Music and
Dance on the Grass," an annual folk festival, now in its 23rd year,
that will be held this Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at Sunset Canyon
Recreation Center. The event will also feature ethnic costumes,
arts, crafts and foods as well as activities for children, such as
face-painting and storytelling.

"We’re one of the oldest international folk festivals in Los
Angeles and it’s nice to have that reputation," says Nancy Rapp,
program director of UCLA’s Department of Cultural and Recreational
Affairs. "But it’s especially nice that we have been celebrating
world culture for all these years."

Additionally, this year "Music and Dance on the Grass" will
launch Worldfest, next week’s five-day smorgasbord of
multi-cultural events held throughout campus.

"It’s only appropriate we use music and dance to either kick off
the week or end the week," says Rapp. "We both have the same goal
of celebrating culture and diversity."

With that theme in mind, the festival has scheduled such music
groups as the Near East Ensemble, the UCLA Sankyoku Group and
Ka’rpa’tok, a Hungarian folk ensemble. Along with dance exhibitions
representing countries such as Egypt and India, the performances
will take place at three venues, two of which will be outdoors.

Brandon and her fellow country dancers will be among the many
performers. Accompanied by piano, violin, accordion, double bass
and drums, they have planned such numbers as "Dancing Master,"
"Let’s Have a Ceilidl" and "Farewell Auchperader."

The group will also perform "The Reel of the 51st Highland
Division," a dance created by World War II officers from that
division while they were interred in POW camps. It is "one of the
few modern dances which have become traditional," said Brandon.

Two dance classes from World Arts and Cultures will present some
of the traditions of Mexico. The classes, taught by Benjamin
Hernandez, will showcase chileanas, a dance style that originated
on the Pacific coast of Mexico near Acapulco.

Chileanas is a combination of dance styles from Chile and
Mexico. It was born during the 19th century when some Chileans
settled in Mexico en route to the United States during the gold
rush.

Hernandez said that he hopes the audience will sense the
cultural "spirit" from which these dances sprang.

"I would like people to take with them the friendly atmosphere
that exists in the coastal areas," Hernandez says. "I hope that the
people that see it would eventually have the desire to participate
in experiencing another culture other than what they are."

It is fitting then that the event underscores this very idea.
With the aid of such groups as the Alumni Association, the Center
for the Performing Arts and the UCLA Associates of Ethnic Arts, the
festival is an ideal forum for the exhibition of cultural
diversity.

"I think that it’s one of the best forms to share our tradition
with other people. Living in a multi-cultural society, it is
necessary to exhibit what we have among ourselves," says Hernandez.
"I believe that by sharing the culture among many people, we can
understand, we can respect better our fellow neighbor. I think the
arts play a very definite role in providing a good image of other
people’s cultures, whether it’s in music or in dance."

EVENT: "Music and Dance on the Grass" Sunday, May 5 at noon at
Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. Admission is free. For more info.,
call (310) 206-9658.

STEFANIE CHAO

World Arts and Cultures Professor Benjamin Hernandez conducts
rehearsal for his class’ performance at "Music and Dance on the
Grass" this Sunday at noon in the Sunset Canyon Recreation
Center.

… "Music and Dance on the Grass," an annual folk festival …
feature(s) ethnic costumes, arts, crafts and foods as well as
activities for children.