Besides being the founder of Folktoria, Sonia Grewal also works with youth through her dance organization, Shan-e-Punjab Dance School.

They are practising PunjabB次元官网网址檚 traditional national dance, Bhangra, for VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 annual Folktoria festival celebrating cultural traditions within the community June 1-2 at Centennial Square.

Keeping cultural traditions alive is one of the main goals of Folktoria, giving stage to the many cultural institutions with strong roots in the community. This year, the Morris Dancers and Wong Shung Kung Fu Club celebrate 50 years in Victoria. ItB次元官网网址檚 BC Fiddle OrchestraB次元官网网址檚 30th. But one of the questions at the back of GrewalB次元官网网址檚 mind is how to keep todayB次元官网网址檚 youth engaged.

Grewal, who is Punjabi and immigrated to Victoria with her parents at six months old, said itB次元官网网址檚 the focus of her Bhangra dance school.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what my job is,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淸For] every group, thatB次元官网网址檚 the biggest thing: how do you keep this going? How do you get youth engaged? I take the youth that are going to perform to Folktoria so that connection builds, their curiosity builds, they learn about others.B次元官网网址�

Now in its seventh year, Folktoria is a rebirth of FolkFest, which the Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria produced for decades. The Greater Victoria Folk Festival Society (GVFFS) now puts on the event, which represents more than 65 groups.

Each performance B次元官网网址� whether that be Bollywood Beats, LiliaB次元官网网址檚 Polynesian Dance Co. or Flamenco Victoria, among many more B次元官网网址� gets 15 to 30 minutes on a main stage.

Groups are also represented through food, fashion and song.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 absolutely just beautiful. When youB次元官网网址檙e there, itB次元官网网址檚 just like music to your heart,B次元官网网址� Grewal said. B次元官网网址淚t builds that curiosity of otherB次元官网网址檚 cultural heritage.B次元官网网址�

Pam Rudy, on the board, first became involved in her late 20s when it was the FolkFest and later became a GVFFS director during its 2nd year. She participated in various dance groups B次元官网网址� Saanich International Folkdancers, Kariatis Folkdancers, and LB次元官网网址機hayim Israeli Dancers B次元官网网址� all of which werenB次元官网网址檛 connected to her upbringing but something she connected with.

B次元官网网址淢y parents played prairie-type fiddle and mandolin, so I was probably drawn to folk music in that respect. So finding places in Victoria that felt like they reminded me of home,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎fter that, I moved into other groups. I think it was the upbringing that was maybe a spark. And it may have been a bit dormant for a little while through university and then got me back involved again.B次元官网网址�

Daniel Low, a senior member and line dance instructor with the Wong Shung Kung Fu club, volunteered with the event since B次元官网网址�93 when it was FolkFest.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 really important that Victoria has a celebration of folk dancing and the communityB次元官网网址檚 historical and ethnic roots, because obviously Canada is a smorgasbord of ethnicity,B次元官网网址� he said.

Grewal has fond memories of personal growth that happened throughout the years thanks to FolkFest and Folktoria.

B次元官网网址淲hen I was part of the folk festival, I was very young and building my organization B次元官网网址� When I was there, I felt quite a sense of belonging. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what I remember,B次元官网网址� said Grewal. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a neat feeling to see that happen again. Seeing the different cultures come together and learning.B次元官网网址�

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