Folk Story
June 22, 2007 - 9:00 pm
Putting on the Las Vegas International Folk Festival is a full-time job.
It takes up so much time and energy that Ixela Gutierrez's group, Mexico Vivo Dance Company, won't be able to perform during this year's festival, which is taking place through Sunday at Fremont Street, Reed Whipple Theater, Lied Discovery Children's Museum and the East Las Vegas Community Center.
Gutierrez founded Mexico Vivo in 1995 and created the Folk Festival four years ago.
"Right now I'm working on this festival and next year's, too," Gutierrez says. "We want to make next year's, the fifth annual, big. The festival is getting bigger and nicer. It's an opportunity for national and international folk performers to come to Las Vegas."
More than 500 groups will be at the event to celebrate dance, music, theater, workshops, food and traditions of cultures from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Canada, Africa, Asia and Europe.
Some 75,000 people are expected to attend this year's event.
Today, festivities start at 9 a.m. on the Third Street Stage on Fremont Street with ceremonial presentations by Tony Sacca, Willow Cree Dancers, Ballet Tlayacan, the Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Huichol Dance Group, Danielle Usiak, Mariachi Los Rebeldes New Mexico, Shri Ranjani Arts and Ollimpaxqui Ballet.
A children's and senior's concert will follow the opening ceremonies.
At 5 p.m. today, a Parade of Nations will take place downtown starting at the Plaza and ending at the stage in front of Fitzgeralds on Fremont Street. More than 300 performers will be wearing their traditional costumes.
Following that, concerts and vendors will be holding forth on Fremont Street until 10 p.m.
On Saturday at the Third Street Stage, there will be 50 food and craft vendors, music and dance shows from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
And on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. there will be entertainment and an awards ceremony.
Admission to all events on Fremont Street is free.
Outside of Fremont Street, activities include a dance concert at Reed Whipple Theater, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North, today from 7 to 9 p.m. with Ballet Folklorico Mixteco East Los Angeles. Tickets are $5 and $7.
On Saturday, a workshop and performance will take place at the Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Admission is $5.
And the East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., will host a dance concert from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults; children are admitted free.
Folk Festival performers
Academia de Ballet Folklorico "Nezahualcoyotl," Highlands Ranch, Colo.
"Ah Ya Helu Dancers," Las Vegas
Alberto Souza, Jalisco, Mexico
Alma y Corazon Dance Group, Salinas, Calif.
American Dance Company, Texas
Amira, Las Vegas
Alma Latina de Lynwood, California
Asociacion Cultural Peruana de Las Vegas
Association of Composers & Performers, Las Vegas
Ballet Folklorico Guerrerence, Las Vegas
Ballet Folklorico Juvenil de Pico Rivera, California
Ballet Folklorico Quetzales, El Paso, Texas
Ballet Folklorico Mestizo, Duarte, Calif.
Ballet Folklorico Mixteco, East Los Angeles, Calif.
Ballet Tlayacan from Ciudad Guzman, Jalisco, Mexico
Danielle Usiak, Las Vegas
Ecos de Chile, Nevada
Folklorico Huichol, Durango, Mexico
Grupo Folklorico: Espiritu Paraguayo, Nevada
Grupo Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano, Lakewood, Calif.
Grupo Folklorico Sabor de Mexico, California
Grupo Folklor de Danza Regional Zitlalquiahuitln "Lluvia de Estrellas," Downey, Calif.
Grupo Folklor Teocalli, Fresno, Calif.
Grupo Folklorico Tonatiuh, Hidalgo, Texas
Hand of Fatima, Africa
Huntington Park Dance Company, California
Hawaiian Legends Serenaders, Las Vegas
Itzel Rodriguez, Las Vegas
Jess Gartap, Las Vegas
Joy Brittan, Las Vegas
Kotobuki, Japan/Las Vegas
Latin Fashionn, Cuba
Las Vegas Dance & Theater Alliance
Las Vegas Salsa Kids, Las Vegas
Lohan School of Shaolin, Las Vegas
Lucia's Dance Studio & Ballet Internacional, California
Mariachi Los Rebeldes, Arizona
Matachines de Juarez, Las Vegas
Mi Tierra Nicaragua, Las Vegas
Ollimpaxqui Ballet, Texas
Panamenos Unidos, Las Vegas
Patzcuaro United, Michoacan, Mexico
S&A Dance Academy
Shri Ranjani Arts, Gujarat State, India
Sonora Mar y Mar, Las Vegas
Taller Coreografico de Javier Topete, Huntington Park, Calif.
Tequila y Ron, El Paso, Texas
Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Calgary, Canada
Thai Cultural Arts Association, Thailand
Tommy Forever, Nicaragua
University of Fresno Los Caminantes de Aztlan, California
Veronica Lopez Band, Las Vegas
Victor Manuel Rodriguez, Colima, Mexico
Willow Cree Dancers, Canada
West Side Academy, Las Vegas