THUNDER BAY – Wendy Taylor has learned a lot about cultures from all over the world in the decade she has performed at the city’s Folklore Festival.
At the same time as she shows off her heritage, the member of the Lakehead Chinese Folk dance and music groups sees what other nationalities and ethnic groups celebrate.
“To see your culture and your dance forms be recognized and appreciated by other people makes you feel good,” she said on Saturday during the opening day of the 42nd annual festival.
“It gives you a sense of pride in your culture and at the same time you see other performers and it opens your eyes.”
Through what she has seen at Folklore, Taylor has tried new dance styles including Ukrainian, Japanese and Flamenco.
When the Chinese groups first performed more than 10 years ago, their act was a new experience for many people in the city.
“People in Thunder Bay had never really seen that before and showed a curiosity about how it sounds and they were really pleased with our performance,” she said.
Jeanetty Jumah, chair of sponsorship and promotion, said thousands of people are expected to attend over the course of the weekend.
“We’re going to have a city and better country once we appreciate and value all people in our country and when you see where people came from,” she said.
“When you see all these people together blending we should be remembering our past because it is the rich heritages that people bring to Canada that makes Canada into the place it is today.”
Slav Falkowski, who has a European background, tries to attend the Folklore Festival every year.
Whenever he comes he always experiences something new.
“I like to see other countries and what they have to show Canadian people,” he said.
All continents and many different ethnic groups will be represented by performances on the main stage, as well as through the offerings available in the international food court.
“The stage starts in Bangladesh but you will go to China, World Dance is going to do some Bollywood so we’ll be in India, you’ll see Middle Eastern belly dancing, high-flying Ukrainian dancers,” Jumah said.
“Everyone is at Folklore.”
The Folklore Festival concluded on Sunday.
