Celtic, tribal, Gypsy rock with an Appalachian steampunk edge. Their rhythmic groove and interaction naturally inspires audience participation, a staple of their performances. They mesh the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland with their own bold blend of mainstream rock, mountain drumming and Appalachian blues to produce a truly unique sound with universal appeal!
AfricaNashville is an innovative organization that connects African and American artistic communities through music, dance, and cultural education. The YELI Ensemble is named after the word ‘Yeli’, also called a griot in French. A Yeli is a ‘living archive’ of West African people’s traditions. It is someone who has learned their art from the youngest age, initially from their parents and then from their community and different masters of the art form. We are a collective of artists who rotate bringing in new musician-dancers in order to represent the wealth of art forms on the African continent. A few words about our principle musician : Ibrahima Dioubate was born into the Yeli tradition. He is a master of his craft and is celebrated internationally for sharing the rich and amazing culture of Guinea Conakry, a culture that dates back as far as the Mali Empire. Ibrahima is a djembefola, specializing in the solo instrument the djembe, the ‘star’ of West African percussions.
Kuchipudi is a dance-drama performance from India, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra. It developed as a religious art linked to traveling bards, temples and spiritual beliefs, like all major classical dances of India. Evidence of Kuchipudi’s existence in an older version are found in copper inscriptions of the 10th century, and by the 15th century in texts such as the Machupalli Kaifat.Kuchipudi tradition holds that Tirtha Narayana Yati – a sanyassin of Advaita Vedanta persuasion, and his disciple, an orphan named Siddhendra Yogi, founded and systematized the modern version of Kuchipudi in the 17th century. Kuchipudi largely developed as a Hindu god Krishna-oriented Vaishnavism tradition, and it is known by the name of Bhagavata Mela in Thanjavur. The traditional Kuchipudi was performed by all males troupe. A dancer in a male role would be in Agnivastra, also known as Bagalbandi, wear a dhoti (a single pleated piece of cloth hanging down from the waist). A dancer in a female role would wear a Sari with light makeup.
A mix of traditional Bosnian sevdah songs as well as gypsy and folk music from the Balkan region. Instruments include guitar, prim, veillette and gryphone.
Samoan dancing and singing with a ukulele.
Zo, Cho, Karen, Shan ethnic groups from Burma will perform their traditional dance and songs in their languages.
Roux du Bayou Cajun Band plays authentic cajun, zydeco, swamp pop, mardi gras accordion and fiddle music.
Academy of Flamenco Arts is a dance organization located in Louisville (KY) that offers flamenco classes for different levels to all ages. The Academy of Flamenco Arts prides itself in its vast diversity, with expertise from Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba, Peru and other parts of the world bringing authentic flamenco style to the academy from each respective country. In addition to classes, it also provides opportunities to perform in the community with events and festivals like Bowling Green to more intimate settings including restaurants and cafes.
Pandanggo sa Ilaw, which translates as Dance of Lights, is a waltz-style, playful folk dance that showcases a unique fusion of local and western indigenous dance forms. PAYPAY DE MANILA (Manila Folding Fan) is a dance of Spanish influence. It displays the young ladies with scented fans or paypay and flirt with young men with canes and straw hats. The dance music is a mixture of a slow habanera alternated with a very fast polka accentuated with heavy stamping of the men’s heel-clicks. Igorot of dance can be seen in their original form in the remote mountainous regions of Luzon. SINGKILAN This particular dance was originated during the royal era in Lake Lanao which located on the southern island of Mindanao. The Maranao prince and princess originally performed Singkil as a ritual for festivals and ceremonial rites of passage to establish their courtship.
The Red River Fiddlers perform a Celtic show of upbeat acoustic music featuring student performers of all ages from Essential Music in Alvaton, KY. Julianna Waller-Martinez is the founder and director of the Red River Fiddlers since 2006. She is a Grammy Award-winning violinist, National Champion Fiddler, and has a B.M. from Arizona State University and M.M. from the University of Kentucky. The RRF are dedicated to the heritage of old-time fiddling and world styles.
ZO Cultural dance and song with traditional customs and instruments.
Members of both the African & Afghan Bowling Green communities working together to coordinate dances to each other’s music.