November 23, 2011

Folklorama is excited to announce the selection of one of its member groups, Summer Bear Dance Troupe, to represent Canada at the fourth CIOFF World Folkloriada in Anseong, Korea from October 1 to 14, 2012. Folklorama has been involved with CIOFF for a number of years and an active participant since 2004. The selection of Summer Bear Dance Troupe to represent Canada was a decision made by CIOFF Canada. This is the first time a performing group from Manitoba has been selected to represent Canada at the World Folkloriada.

The International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Art (CIOFF) organizes the World Folkloriada – its flagship event – every four years bringing together more than 2,000 performers from over 60 countries to celebrate, share and preserve intangible cultural heritage through forms of artistic expression such as dance, music, games, rituals, customs and other performances. Each participating delegate country is invited to select one performing group to present at the World Folkloriada where one million visitors are expected to attend the two week festival in Anseong, Korea.

“It is an honour and privilege to represent Canada and carry the Canadian flag at the World Folkloriada next October. Having the opportunity to share the traditions of Aboriginal Peoples with a worldwide audience at the World Folkloriada is definitely an opportunity we embrace,” says Barbara Nepinak, President of Summer Bear Dance Troupe.

Summer Bear Dance Troupe represents Ojibway, Cree, Assiniboine and Sioux tribes under the direction of Barbara Nepinak. The Troupe focuses on educating and sharing aspects of the Aboriginal community, performing dances such as the Grass Dance, the Traditional, the Fancy Feather and Shawl Dance, the Hoop Dance and the Jingle Dress. The Troupe, whose members are as young as four years old, has previously traveled internationally to Australia, Brazil, United States, Sweden and Taiwan.

Find out more about Summer Bear Dance Troupe

Find out more about the 2012 CIOFF World Folkloriada

The Folklorama board of directors is pleased to announce Debra Zoerb as the new executive director for Folklorama effective today.

Debra brings with her many years of executive leadership from her previous role as Director of Operations for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School where she was responsible for maintaining superior standards of the school’s professional and recreational programming. She also takes with her valuable experience as the executive director for Dance Manitoba whose efforts included contributions in the development of all forms of dance in Manitoba.

“Folklorama is a huge contributor to the promotion of the ethnocultural diversity of Manitoba and I am excited to step into my new role as executive director,” says Debra.

Debra brings to this leadership role true commitment to the arts and culture scene in Winnipeg, complemented by expertise in strategic and business planning and the ability to build strong teams and solid relationships with community and government stakeholders. The board of directors wishes Debra every success in her new role.

Folklorama is, once again, in the process of seeking potential candidates for its board of directors.

“You are the voice of the community,” said Zaleena Salaam, the newest member of the Folklorama board of directors. Zaleena, who began her two-year term on March 31, 2011, said being a director has its challenges and rewards. She believes being on the board means being the voice of change that will drive Folklorama to become a better and stronger organization in the future.

Folklorama’s nominating committee is responsible for recommending people for election to the board of directors. The committee was formed in April and is chaired by Folklorama Past President Jim Court.

“A committed individual who is passionate about Folklorama, its mission and ideals,” is the key quality Jim and his committee will look for in an interested candidate.

If you are interested in running for the 2012-2013 board, you must be a member of Folklorama or a member of a member organization. Each candidate must submit a nomination form along with their résumé and two letters of reference from two different communities, not-for-profit organizations or Folklorama members by February 6, 2012 (date subject to change).

After all applications have been submitted, the nominating committee interviews applicants and then presents the slate of candidates 30 days prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM). At that point, members have up to three days before the AGM to challenge the slate. Other interested members not on the slate may still be nominated by three Folklorama members. Once the slate has been finalized, the election commences at the AGM.

Folklorama will be hosting an information evening for members interested in running for the board of directors in the second week of January 2012 (date to be determined). Please call the Folklorama office at 204.982.6210 for more details or contact your member organization president.

It was money well invested when six scholarly students received $7,500 worth of scholarship awards at the Folklorama Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on September 13, 2011.

The six were honoured with the Mark & Dorothy Danzker Scholarship of Excellence, a joint endeavour between Folklorama and the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. The awards were presented by Ashley Sharpe, Chair of Scholarship Committee at Folklorama. (Left, in photo above.)

Recipients were selected based on their direct and active involvement in preserving cultural heritage, done either through volunteer work or employment within Canada. These individuals also volunteered in a cultural activity in the Winnipeg community while performing well in their studies, keeping a grade point average of 3.0 or better. This year’s scholarship awardees were (from left to right in photo above): Eric Garcia, $2,500 award; Zoë Wreggitt, $1,000 award; Katherine Jantz, $1,000 award; Miguel Marchildon, $1,000 award; Kaitlin Vitt, $1,000 award and Lindsay Bristow, $1,000 award.

“It is important for students to preserve their cultural heritage because it personifies who we are as individuals and we should be proud of our cultural heritage all the time. When we preserve our cultural heritage, we ensure that it is going to be passed on from generation to generation,” said Eric Garcia, winner of the post-graduate studies scholarship award.

In order to be selected for one of the five $1,000 scholarships, the applicant must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a university, college or other recognized post-secondary institution within Canada. The student must be between the ages of 17 and 25 years old and a resident of Manitoba. A student pursuing post-graduate studies can be eligible for the $2,500 post-graduate scholarship award. The applicant must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a post-graduate institution. The student must also be a resident of Manitoba and plan to stay in Manitoba after completing his/her studies.