Dance Revolution

Virginia Folklife AREA

“Dance Revolution” is the result of a year-long partnership between Virginia Folklife and five dance groups from the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay: Red Crook-ed Sky, Intertribal Native American dance, Hampton Roads; The Mustard Cutters, old time music, flatfooting and square dance from Southwest Virginia; Semilla Cultural, Puerto Rican bomba and plena dance, Fredericksburg; Positive Force Line Steppaz, Soul line dance, Buckingham County; and Thapasya School of Dance, Bharatanatyam, South Indian classical dance, Ashburn. Between April and September, each group worked with Virginia Folklife to produce a podcast episode exploring the cultural context of these living traditions, and are coming together for the first time at the Richmond Folk Festival. 

Special guests Lua Project will join for a Sunday afternoon exploration of Mexilachian y Appalachiano music and dance following a two-hour square dance, Richmond-style, presented by the Virginia Folklore Society. 

While most of the program will be happening in the Virginia Folklife Area, there are also three chances to see these artists, and dance with them, in the Allianz Amphitheater, Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage. 

“Dance Revolution” is presented by the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities and is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. 

Virginia Folklife Area Artists

STAGE AND DEMO Schedule

Unless otherwise noted all activities happen at the Virginia Folklife Area.

SATURDAY

• 12:00           Thapasya School of Dance (Bharatanatyam Classical Indian Dance)

• 1:00              The Mustard Cutters (Appalachian Flat Footing)

• 2:00              Positive Force Line Steppaz (Soul Line Dancing)

• 3:00              Red Crook-ed Sky (American Indian Dance)

• 4:00              Positive Force Line Steppaz (Soul Line Dancing) — patio at the Allianz Amphitheater

• 4:00              Discussion/Free Dance with Dance Revolution partners

• 5:00              Semilla Cultural (Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena)

• 6:00              Cakewalk

SUNDAY

• 12:00            Square Dancing, Richmond Style (presented by the Virginia Folklore Society)

• 12:30            Dance Revolution Showcase — Allianz Amphitheater

• 2:00              Lua Project (Mexilachian y Appalachiano Music and Dance)

• 3:00              Semilla Cultural (Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena)

• 4:00              Discussion/Free Dance with Dance Revolution partners

• 4:00              The Mustard Cutters (Old Time Square Dance) – patio at the Allianz Amphitheater

• 5:00              Thapasya School of Dance (Folk Dances of India)

• 6:00              Cakewalk

MEET THE DANCERS

Over the last year, Virginia Humanities has partnered with the five “Dance Revolution” community dance groups to produce five video podcast episodes for its new show, In Common. Watch the trailer, and watch the trailer and subscribe to Virginia Humanities’ YouTube channel to catch every Dance Revolution episode.

About the Virginia Folklife Program 

The Virginia Folklife Program works to document, sustain, present, and support cultural traditions across the Commonwealth. We offer Folklife Apprenticeship awards, we produce documentary media, support new cultural research, and we connect artists to audiences across the state. The Virginia Folklife Program was founded at Virginia Humanities in 1989 and receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Virginia Commission for the Arts. Learn more at virginiafolklife.org.

The Richmond Folk Festival Virginia Folklife Area is co-presented by the Virginia Folklife Program and the Center for Cultural Vibrancy.