Date: Fri 14-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

NOMAD-Mazza-musicians

Full Text:

(NOMAD) A Festival With An International Flavor

(with photos)

BY SHANNON HICKS

The rain came down in buckets, but organizers of the tenth annual Northeast

Music, Art and Dance Festival (NOMAD) did not let that dampen their spirits,

nor the spirits of the estimated 1,000 attendees of last weekend's three-day

annual event.

Held at Newtown Middle School for the second consecutive year, the decade-old

festival enjoyed buoyant music, revelry, and activities -- including a

birthday party for the festival itself on Sunday afternoon -- without much

regard for the lousy weather outdoors.

NOMAD is a festival of folk dance and music from around the world, collected

and brought to Newtown for one weekend in November since 1988. Concerts, dance

performances, participatory dance and music activities and workshops are

offered for two full days (Saturday and Sunday), with the Friday opening night

of the festival slotted for participatory dance activities only. Events are

carefully planned to include interests for all ages, along with family events.

For its first eight years, the NOMAD Festival was held at Newtown High School.

With a full renovations/expansion project still underway, however, the

festival moved to the middle school last year, and continued its run at the

Queen Street school this year on November 7-9.

Carol and John Mazza are two of the festival's main organizers. Mrs Mazza

became the overseer of all events this year when Fran Hendrickson, the

festival's president, had a family illness which caused her to focus her

energies elsewhere. Mr Mazza has been the festival's publicity chairman the

last nine years.

"It was quite a milestone [for us to celebrate this tenth festival]," Mr Mazza

said earlier this week. The Mazzas, both of whom are members of the Mianus

River Morris, an English Morris dance team, because involved with NOMAD almost

by accident. The first year of the festival, one of the Mazza's teammates on

the Mianus River team was the contact for NOMAD Morris dancers. When the

teammate was unable to continue as a contact for the second NOMAD, in 1989,

Mrs Mazza stepped in, and became secretary for the event. She continued in

that role for eight years.

Mr Mazza was taking classes during the first year of planning the

internationally-flavored festival, but by the second festival, he had taken

over the publicity chair.

Morris teams from across New England were invited to attend this year's

festival. Thirteen participated this year.

"I think it is one of our bigger attractions," Mr Mazza said. "It's very

colorful, with its ribbons and costumes. It's also very athletic."

Along with Morris dancing, popular events during the weekend were the contra

dance workshops and English country dancing. Beverly Francis, an English dance

caller and full-time librarian from New Jersey, presented a workshop called

"Meet Jane Austen," which was a favorite. Based on the popularity and

resurgence of the author Jane Austen, Mrs Francis appeared in full costume,

and read from some of Ms Austen's letters and other writings. She then led

participants in some of the various dances referred to in Austen's works.

"It was made appropriate for all levels," Mrs Mazza said. "She had a full

gymnasium of people who thoroughly enjoyed this event." The dancing segment

was accompanied by live music on the concertina and fiddle.

A change in this year's festival planning saw the cafeteria of the school used

primarily as a cafe area. In the past musicians were allowed, even encouraged,

to use the space for rehearsals. But that left festivalgoers with nowhere to

turn to hold quieter conversations while relaxing between events. This year,

the cafeteria was turned into a quiet zone, with musicians allowed in, but

asked to stay unplugged while jamming.

The set-up worked well for musicians and guests. Musicians were able to get

together to play, and cafe visitors were still able to enjoy relative peace

and quiet. Vendors, who had set up in the cafeteria, were also able to speak

with customers much easier this year, something they had been unable to do in

the past.

"Musicians had told us that's why they come to festivals -- to meet other

musicians and to play," Mrs Mazza said. "So it was important to us that they

still had somewhere to play."

In total, nearly 1,000 people paid to attend some part of the three-day event

this year. The NOMAD is a completely volunteer-run event, staffed by 60 to 70

volunteers, say the Mazzas. There are usually at least 500Á performers, as

well.

"It's hard to believe we've made it ten years already," Mrs Mazza said Monday

afternoon. "This festival has gotten so well-known.

"The festival was one big, beautiful party. Right from Friday night, you could

feel a happy spirit, which lasted all weekend. There were a lot of smiles all

three days."