Date: Fri 01-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

NOMAD-art-dance-music-festival

Full Text:

with cuts: A Celebration Of Traditional Art, Music, and Dance

Area residents gathered October 25 through 27 at Newtown Middle School to

celebrate the traditional music, art and dance of Connecticut and the

surrounding region at 9th annual NOMAD festival.

Each year, performers volunteer their time and talents for the annual

celebration of culture.

The NOMAD Festival included a full complement of activities during its

three-day run at the middle school. The event normally is held at Newtown High

School, but due to a construction project there, it was shifted to the middle

school.

Folk dancing made up a large part of the activities at NOMAD. Participatory

events included family folk dancing, Country-western line dancing, contra

dancing, Irish dancing, Morris dancing, fiddling, Native American dance, Cajun

dancing, Chelsea Country English dancing, Scottish dancing, reel dancing, and

folk dancing as practiced by the Appalachian, Macedonian, Portuguese,

Bulgarian, Balkan, Georgian, Scandinavian, Middle Eastern, and Filipino

communities, among others.

John Foley of Trumbull, vice president of the NOMAD board of directors,

displayed a variety of the intricate, animated wooden toys which he carves for

children.

Mr Foley is the proprietor of JF Woodworks which produces wooden toys and

crafts from hardwoods and softwoods.

Mr Foley stresses that the whimsical toys he makes are fashioned from the

natural materials that children appreciate.