Wednesday Folklorama

The 6:00 PM show and appetizer started at the Belgium Cultural Center Wednesday evening. we were served a bowl of tasty leek soup and had our choice of 2 different Belgium beers (including Stella) or a Passion drink or a Belgium Slammer.

When we arrive at the pavilions or cultural centers, people are waiting in line to get into the buildings for either the show or the show and food. Because we are on the VIP bus trip, we are dropped off at the front door. A representative of the culture we are visiting comes aboard the bus and welcomes us and then leads us into the building for front row seating. Our food is brought to us as well as our drinks. We get "royal" service.

Sometimes we have time to visit the cultural displays or talk to the people or purchase some of their specialty items. We purchased some extra Belgium chocolate. Very Good!


After being at several of these cultural venues, I most appreciate the ones where young children are participating. One guy is playing the accordion for the Belgium dancers. Mostly girls are dancing, preschool age through high school. The costumes are authentic, but are most likely sewn by mom or grandma. (Not the professional atmosphere of the Israeli center the night before.) But the important part to me, is the culture is being shared with the next generation. The kids are learning the dances, the food and the language. They are keeping their heritage alive.

The bus traveled a short distance to the Caribbean Cultural Center in the St. Boniface part of Winnipeg, the French area. This was a huge building supported by a large population base. I was busy buying a CD so did not get a picture of our dinner; spicy chicken in gravy sauce served with (what else???) rice and a lettuce salad with again, a choice of beer or piná colada.

I was excited about the show when I saw the steel drums on stage. An inter-generational group played the drums and accompanied some dancers.

The young lady on the left did not smile at all until she was done playing the first piece. This musical group was so awesome.

The dancers, all young ladies, were part of a dance troupe similar to our own Johnny Cavell Dancers here at home, only they are learning their cultural dances.

Our final stop for Wednesday evening was the Celtic Cultural Center. This group had its own building meaning we were not in a school or curling club or a "borrowed building" from another cultural group. Keep in mind it is 9:00 PM. Some of these programs started at 5:00 and will perform five or six times an evening!

The apple crisp dessert was waiting for us at our table when we arrived. I had some Canadian money to spend, so I added a Bailey's to my dessert.

The Celtic/Irish venue was a wee bit different than others we attended. The emcee was an adult performer and they had a well-known recording artist from Winnipeg as part of their program. The junior dancers did two numbers. This one was Cotton-eyed Joe. These are girls who are part of a dance program and are elementary age.

Although the picture is of rather poor quality, it does give you an idea of the elaborate costumes and hair of the senior dancers.

The 14 year old young man and his sister, 15, (fourth from the right) just returned from a world's competition in Ireland. He, especially, was phenomenal. But even more impressive than the dancing ability of this group was the cost to be a part of this level of dancers. We leaned from our evening tour guide that the shoes for hard dancing might cost $300. The dresses are ordered from Ireland and are all hand-made and come at a price of as much as $3000. Then there are the wigs. She, the tour guide said, there are two sports in this cultural community: hockey or dancing.


I was very impressed with Folklorama and the concept of sharing culture with other cultural groups. The number of volunteers needed to pull-off such a huge event is to be commended as some of the venues have been doing it for 40 years. Some are new like the Mexican program we attended. Very impressive, Winnipeg!