Utah’s CLOG AMERICA will celebrate it’s 20^th International Festival Tour this year by appearing in three European International Folklore Festivals during July 2009.  The CLOG AMERICA dancers and musicians from throughout Utah and other intermountain states have been invited to represent the USA in the 21^st International Folklore Festival “FOLKART”, the folklore entity of Slovenia’s famous “Festival LENT” held in Maribor.  Expanded 15 years ago to include many different forms of performing arts such as classical, jazz, popular and ethno music, theatre presentations as well as folklore, the 2009 “Festival LENT”  will feature “Sting”,  “Circus” from China and “Cesaria Evora” as well as 8 international ensembles.  The entire event will be covered by the National Networks of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Germany and BBC London.

Clog America will then travel to Croatia to perform in the12^th International Folklore Festival Karlovac.  This year will be the first time the United States has had representation in this established Croatian festival

Ten years after performing in “Europaisches Folklore-Festival”, CLOG AMERICA will return to Bitburg, Germany for the festival’s 44^th anniversary. Because Spangdahlem Air Force Base is located just 15 KM from Bitburg, CLOG AMERICA has proven to be a festival favorite.  During this year’s festival,  CLOG AMERICA will join ensembles from Bulgaria, Ireland, Lithuania,  Poland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, South Korea and Germany.

ClogAmerica’s dancers and musicians believe in global warming — the kind that grows out of tapping toes, smiling faces and warm hearts.
Since the group’s founding in the early 1990s, members have mixed charity and entertainment all over the world.

Although not officially sponsored by either The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the United States, ClogAmerica has taken the standards of one and the melting-pot culture of the other while competing in more than 50 major dance festivals.

“We get two or three invitations per year,” said Shawnda Bishop, founder and director. “International organizations beg us to come.”

Folk dancing is not high on the list of America’s cultural exchange efforts. The United States is often not represented in the festivals because the comparatively young country does not have the same folklore emphasis that many other countries have, Bishop said. So ClogAmerica, which has 21 dancers and seven musicians, has borrowed from a number of homegrown dance traditions that have become embedded in America’s culture.

A special arrangement of the familiar LDS hymn “Love One Another” has become a signature piece for the group. Promotion of international friendship and harmony is the underlying purpose of the festivals, Bishop said. Invitations usually come through the Worldwide Association of Performing Artists.

Since its first performance in Biarritz, France, the group has appeared at festivals across Europe and in Canada, Mexico, Korea, China, Russia, Brazil and the United States, often as the only American entry. The members appeared during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City as special guest artists. This summer, they were in France and Spain.

The majority of the ClogAmerica entertainers are LDS, Bishop said. Some have continued the traditions they learned as part of Brigham Young University’s International Folk Dancers. They graduate without getting the urge to tap out of their toes, and ClogAmerica is a natural extension, Bishop said. She is one who fits that description.

So is Catherine Larsen, a guitarist who also initiated “Warming the Human Spirit,” a humanitarian project that has been part of the group’s agenda since 2005.

The idea was sparked when she learned about a humanitarian project by a BYU group that was raising $1,500 — enough money to feed the youngsters in an orphanage in Southeast Asia for six months.

“It was so inspirational to me that I sat in my car in the parking lot and cried,” Larsen said. “There are no millionaires in our group, but our needs are met. I envisioned that everyone could sacrifice a bit to share.”

So on the group’s next trip — to Moscow to be among entertainers for a celebration commemorating the end of World War II in Russia — each member of the U.S. troupe had extra baggage. Blankets, quilts, toys, shoes and a variety of items went into jammed suitcases, displacing the extra clothing the performers might have taken along.

Donations have multiplied. Larsen’s mother, a Relief Society president, spread the word among her ward members and a pile of pink blankets appeared.

“Nothing says ‘love’ like a blanket,” Larsen said.

Youth groups, Primary children and “just folks” have contributed hundreds of items to the effort.

Now the challenge is cramming the charity items into the luggage ClogAmerica performers can take along. Bishop has a real concern with the growing demand by airlines that fliers pay for luggage services. Members of the troupe pay their own airfare while other expenses are met by the host country. Paying luggage fees would increase the costs, Bishop said. What they’d like more than anything are more cash donations to help meet the greater costs the humanitarian effort has generated. Either way, the charity component is here to stay, she said.

Don Carpenter, a member of the ClogAmerica board and father of twins Amy and Emily, who are ClogAmerica dancers, said the troupe members have been good ambassadors for the church. Often, they have gone the extra mile to perform for local LDS groups. Leaders in the areas they have visited have used them as a missionary tool, he said.

For instance, when the group was in Barcelona, Spain, this year, a gamut of church leaders was involved in arranging special appearances. They included Dan and Patricia Kirkham, Church Educational System missionaries; Elsa Zapata, public affairs director for L’Hospitalet de Llobregrat Stake in Barcelona; Enric Catala, Barcelona 2nd Ward mission leader; and Stake President Luis Rodriguez, who also is employed by CES in the area.

When the music ends, the clacking of cloggers’ taps dwindles into vague echoes and the performers return home. The hope is that love and giving will be a permanent ClogAmerica legacy.

“We can’t save the world, but we can do our bit,” Larsen said.

Originally posted on MormonTimes.com and accessed via the following lnik:  http://www.mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/news/?id=4743

32^nd Festival Internacional de Folclore “Cuidad de Burgos” in Spain

20^th Festival de Martigues in France

“If there is a way toward emotion, we would like to believe it’s the one we cross together… this 2008 Festival has been, once again, a great moment of brotherhood, communion, tolerance and recognition, as much for the world’s cultures than for this great adventure…”    Jean-François GUEGANNO, Festival President

During CLOG AMERICA’s 22^nd International Festival Tour, the energetic dancers and musicians from Utah joined  groups from 18 countries in Spain and France to share the magic of folklore and culture.  Appearing in parades, concerts and receptions during both festivals, Clog America also greeted the public in “Oh Susannah’s Ball” (a special anniversary event), “Cocktails of Culture” and “Festival de Enfants” during the Martigues Festival.  In Burgos, children and adults enjoyed meeting the young Americans during “Dance With Us Workshops” and “World Music and Song” featuring the musicians. It is estimated over 20,000 people saw, heard and felt the uniqueness of America’s culture as presented by CLOG AMERICA.

“We warmly thank you for having been a marvelous ambassador of the culture you represent. We express how much your presentation has been appreciated and how much we enjoyed discovering the richness and diversity of your culture,”  Festival de Martiques Organizing Committee.

This year’s  “WARMING THE HUMAN SPIRIT” Humanitarian Project included pediatric hospitals in Martigues and helping children in Chernobyl (Ukraine) and African refugee children in the Canary Islands through the Bomberso Humaniarios and ONG humanitarian organizations. 

CLOG AMERICA TO REPRESENT THE USA AT PRESTIGIOUS FESTIVALS IN FRANCE AND SPAIN

CLOG AMERICA has received an invitation to represent the USA in the 20th anniversary celebration of “LA FESTIVAL DE MARTIGUES” in Martigues, France in July, 2008. The festival has received unfailing support from the City of Martigues, the Provence Alpes Cotes d’Azure region and the Council of Bouches du Rhones Department.

In addition to CLOG AMERICA, this year’s anniversary festival will host from ARGENTINA- “Gran Ballet Argentino”, BURYALIA- “Baykal Waves”, CANADA- “Mackinaw”, CATALONIA-“Colla Castellera”, CUBA- “Maraguan”, FRANCE- “La Capouliero”, IRELAND- “Bastable Warren Irish Dancers”, ITALY- “Sbandieratori Dei Rioni Di Cori”, KAZAKHSTAN- “National Ensemble Naz”, SOUTH KOREA- “Jung Je Man Company”, SPAIN- “Ballet Flamenco Ursula Lopez” and ZIMBABWE- “Amawumbo”.

Raymond-Yves Martinez, Festival Vice-President of International Relations wrote, “Our FESTIVAL OF MARTIGUES wishes to invite the CLOG AMERICA ENSEMBLE, in order to celebrate the 20th edition of our Festival. We are waiting with great impatience the performances of your Ensemble “CLOG AMERICA” in particular for the great Evening “Gigues & Reels”. Your artists will be the splendid ambassadors of the American culture…..”

CLOG AMERICA will also represent the USA this coming summer at the XXXII FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE FOLCLORE in Burgos, Spain. This festival is one of Spain’s oldest and most prestigious festivals.

Because the USA rarely has representation at International Folklore Festivals abroad, CLOG AMERICA has been repeatedly thanked for bringing the folklore and energetic enthusiasm of the USA to the festivals thus continuing the group’s mission of “Building Bridges of Friendship and Peace Through Music and Dance”. After CLOG AMERICA’s performance which closed the final concert of the 39th Festival Internazionale del Folklore Aviano-Piancavallo in Italy, Brig. Gen. Craig A. Franklin, the Commander Aviano Air Base (who was in attendance) thanked the group for representing the USA with such enthusiasm and artistic excellence.

Cloggers Win An Award at Polish Fest

By Carma Wadley Deseret Morning News

Clog America, Utah’s international folklore festival ensemble, has just finished participating in the 44th annual Beskidy Highlanders’ Week of Culture in Zywiec, Poland. At the festival, the group captured the award for “Expressive Presentation of Program in Music and Dance,” one of only six awards given out. In presenting the award, festival director Anna Stachowska noted that “every festival has a star, and the star of this festival is Clog America.” Also receiving recognition at the Week of Culture celebration was Mary Bee Jensen, former director of the Brigham Young University Folkdancers. Jensen was introduced to the audience at the closing performances as a “living legend of folkdancing.” The Beskidy is the third festival where Clog America has represented the United States this summer. The group also participated in folkdance fests in Quartu Sant’Elena and Ittiri, Sardinia, Italy, in July, and will be going on to the 39th International Festival of Folklore Aviano-Piancavallo, also held in Italy. The tour company consists of 27 dancers and nine musicians from Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. While in Poland, members of the troupe also delivered hundreds of blankets, winter hats, gloves, scarves and coats, and dozens of school kits, newborn kits and hygiene kits to a local children’s home, Dom Dziecka in Bielsko-Biala. That, too, was their third humanitarian visit this summer. Previous donations were made in Italy.

Cultural Society, Rec & Benefit Sao Joao Bosco Socrebe

Passo Fundo, Brazil

We would like to start by sending our cordial greetings. It is good to know that there are people that believe it is possible, one day, that we may live in the solidarity where people everywhere help each other, transforming dreams into reality. In the context in which we live, with many injustices and much social despair, it is very nice to walk with people like you to seek for a better world.

Your donation brought so much happiness to our attendants, not to mention the great usefulness of the kits in their homes. The children and adolescents adored your visit, the artistic presentation, the possibility to get to know a new culture and the donation of hygiene kits, quilts, baby clothes and school supplies, of which were taken to their homes with great satisfaction.

This activity was long awaited for with enthusiasm from the children, adolescents and community, other than seeing the beautiful presentation by the Clog America group, they showed diverse activities and artistic numbers of which they participated in in our entity.

Your noble gesture and the great human courage makes it possible for us to duplicate your efforts to continue on the path to a better world, guaranteeing the possibility of a honored for our attendees.

We are sending some photos of our time together on August 18, 2006 and of the deliverance of the donations to the children.

May the light of Jesus directly illuminate your hearts giving you the opportunity to practice good works and may the blessings of The Lord constantly be in your lives, and the lives of your families and friends.

Our most sincere THANK YOU.

With love

Maria Amabile Zambenedetti General Director

From the ’41st Beskidy Highlanders Week of Culture’ in Bielsko-Biala, Poland to the ‘29th Festival del Folklore’ in Aviano/Pordenone, Italy, CLOG AMERICA will represent the USA during the summer of 2007 in two of the largest and most established annual folklore festivals in Europe. The internationally-known folklore ensemble from Salt Lake City, will depart in July for its 20th International Folklore Festival tour.

CLOG AMERICA is comprised of award-winning dancers and musicians who have had the great honor of representing the United States in over 44 major festivals and events throughout Europe, Canada, Mexico, Korea, China, South America and the USA over the past 16 years. The ensemble has appeared on national television in Germany, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Hungary, Brazil and the USA.

In a joint resolution, the 2004 Utah State Legislature recognized the CLOG AMERICA INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL ENSEMBLE as a “Utah cultural treasure” and “Ambassadors of Peace and Friendship to the World.” Regarding the importance of CLOG AMERICA participating in the 2007 Aviano Festival, Dr. Piergiorgio Tomasini, Unione Folclorica Italiana, said: “The presence of an important U.S. Air Force Base in Aviano since 1954 with an American Community ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 people, has developed continuous good relations with the local authorities and the population. Our organization is sure the presence of CLOG AMERICA will undoubtedly strengthen the friendship between our peoples being it widely felt as a must in a period such as the present when mutual respect and understanding are the basis for development of peace all over the world.”

The opportunity to participate in the Aviano Festival will not only provide an opportunity to celebrate peace while sharing cultures with the Italian people and other international groups, it will provide an opportunity to uplift the spirits of American military personnel serving our country far from home.

In addition to the prestigious festivals in Poland and Italy, CLOG AMERICA will proudly carry the flag of the USA in the 25th Festival del Folklore “Sciampitta” and the 22nd Festival del Folklore Ittiri in Sardinia.

Folk art, which comes from the ground up, unites people and defines culture in ways few other things can. “Immigrants from many lands brought to America their own cultural heritage and together wove a tapestry of culture unique in all the world,” says Shawnda Bishop, founder and director of one of America’s premier folk-art groups, Clog America, based in West Valley City. “Generations of Americans have expressed their hearts and minds through the music, dance and other folk art that make up this cultural tapestry,” Bishop says. “But this tapestry is beginning to unravel. Young Americans are growing up without knowing or experiencing our traditional American folk art.” To counteract that trend, Clog America has launched a couple of initiatives. For one, Clog America is spearheading a campaign to build an American Cultural Heritage Institute. “ACHI” will be dedicated to the preservation and cultivation of such American folk arts as dance, music, craftsmanship art and poetry. The facility will be a center for classes and workshops and will have dance studios, music rooms, office space, costume-storage space and a Preservation Hall for community performances. Among programs on the agenda will be a free monthly Kids Culture Club that will help expose children to American folk arts. Read More at DeseretNews.com

From performing in USO shows as a child for wounded World War II veterans to currently producing “Salute to American Country Music” in the Czech Republic, Rex Burdette has devoted a lifetime of work to preserving and promoting American Folk Art. On March 11, CLOG AMERICA and the Utah Cultural Celebration Center will honor Rex Burdett’s life-time achievements by presenting ‘The Preservation of American Folk Art Award’ at CLOG AMERICA’S “Culture Fest 2006”.

Presently serving as President and United States Delegate for CIOFF-USA (Council International Organization of Festivals and Folk Art), Rex is also an inductee into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. He has been in the Entertainment business since the age of 5 and performed all forms of American dance for minstrel shows through the 50’s as well as performing jig/clog on the nationally televised show, Ozark Jubilee starring Red Foley, for seven years.

After establishing his family which includes four children, The Burdett Family Dancers performed ‘The History of Dance’ for schools across the Midwest in 1970 and 1971, then joined the Bob-O-Links Country Music Show in Branson Missouri for eleven years. Rex began Producing, Directing and Entertainment Management in Silver Dollar City in 1983 where he produced and directed the Echo Hollow Amphitheater for nine years and the Great American Music Festival for nineteen years.

Rex created ‘World-Fest’, the largest International Festival in the USA in 1990 and still produces and directs this festival. He also assists in the development of Dollywood’s Festival of Nations. In addition, he is presently the President of World Music Events, USA and World Music Events Bulgaria, LTD.

In August 2005, Rex was recognized internationally as he was awarded the Silver Medal of Honor symbolizing the Golden Age of Bulgaria and an Honorary Diploma by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. He will be accompanied by Helen, his wife of 43 years, as he travels to Salt Lake City from Branson, Missouri to accept ‘The Preservation of America Folk Award’ sponsored by CLOG AMERICA and the Utah Cultural Celebration Center on March 11, 2006.

PRESERVE AMERICAN FOLK ART

Introducing the “AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTE”

Generations of Americans have expressed their hearts and minds through music, dance and other folk art. Immigrants from many lands brought to America their own cultural heritage and together wove a tapestry of culture unique in all the world. However this beautiful tapestry is beginning to unravel. Young Americans in this modern age are growing up without knowing or experiencing our traditional American Folk Art and believing there is nothing special about being an American!

Folk art conquers time and space. Embodying the collective wisdom and experience of a people, it expresses that which matters most to the common man. Through neglect, America is in danger of losing its folk art, creating a condition similar to developing amnesia…losing one’s memory. At risk is a vital link connecting the hearts of our children to us and to our American ancestors.

In the crossroads of the American West, the urgency of preserving our precious American Folk Arts is felt intensely. American folk musicians, dancers, poets, artists and craftsmen are coming together to establish a central location where American Folk Art can be preserved, taught, experienced and celebrated.

CLOG AMERICA, the internationally known American Folk Ensemble, is spearheading the campaign to build the “AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTE” in the Salt Lake Valley. ACHI will be dedicated to the preservation and cultivation of American Folk Arts including dance, music, craftsmanship, art and poetry. Through its diverse programming, ACHI will reach out to people of all ages, backgrounds and community.

The “AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUE” will offer experiences and instruction in:

• Dance including clogging, square dance, contra, reels, and pioneer dances
• Music including guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and harmonica.
• American folk crafts such as leather tooling, wood carving and quilting

ACHI will feature a Kids’ Culture Club , a free monthly program providing children an opportunity to learn about, experience and enjoy American Folk Arts. ACHI will also be a venue for community social events and mini-concerts featuring local American Folk Artists.

Become a force in preserving our country’s tapestry of culture. Help us strengthen the cultural link between past and future generations. Join CLOG AMERICA’s non-profit organization in building the “AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTE”

For further information contact Shawnda Bishop at 254-6947.