January 31, 1995
Scottish male dancers leaped across the stage as they performed a jig and their reddish, fringed skirt-like kilts blurred as they spun around. Egyptian belly dancers gyrated frantically as audience members yelled in unison to show their approval.
The 17th Annual Ethnic Dance Festival auditions were held this weekend in McKenna Theatre and was co-sponsored by the dance department of SF State. The event began Friday morning and continued throughout Sunday evening.
The three day event is a precursor to the June dance festival which will be held at the historic Palace of Fine Arts. More than 130 dance companies and soloists were represented at the auditions, with 1500 dancers and musicians participating.
The event was produced by World Arts West (WAW), a San Francisco organization whose mission is to promote world dance and music reflecting America's diversity.
"It was a good set of auditions and some good groups participated," said a pleased Jon Finck, publicist for WAW. "Every type of ethnicity that one can conceive of was represented."
Over 58 different ethnic backgrounds were represented including Cambodian, Sudanese, Hawaiian, Nubian and Persian.
Finck said WAW and the dance department at SF State have enjoyed a long relationship together and the department has hosted previous events.
Eager on-looker, Sherry Cartier, was thrilled to be able to attend the festivities.
"It's so wonderful to see such creativity and diversity under one roof," she said. "I even brought my kids."
The auditions were free to watch but people in attendance were encouraged to make $2 donations at the door.
As the Ballet Folklorico Ensambles de San Francisco took to the stage and the music began, Frank Mendez and several other people got up from their seats and began to clap. The female dancers wore red dresses with ruffles and layers in yellow, blue, green and white. As they spun around, their dresses became as fluid as their moves.
The dancers responded to the enthusiasm of the audience and Mendez by dancing even faster.
"I didn't want to come at first, but I'm glad I did," Mendez said. "I truly am enjoying myself and the dancers are great."