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Folk Dance Federation of California, South, Inc.
2004 Reunion |
THIS IS HISTORICAL INFORMATION ONLY
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No doubt there are many impressions of the spectacular Intersection Reunion event that took place in Hollywood on January 24, 2004. The gala affair was unanimously declared successful. Everyone was thrilled to be there despite the fact that it was not held at the Intersection's original location. But then, the "I" was always more than just a building or site, more than Rudy Dannes and me, more than the talented teachers who worked there; it was the people who celebrated together that made it such a special place. From the moment the doors opened at the reunion, an electrifying atmosphere created by those present made it feel as though we were all transported back in time through music and dance to the Intersection of the 1960s and 70s.
Some people have asked why we held this event. For many years, every time I bumped into anyone who had frequented the Intersection long ago, they would ask me if I had plans to repoen the club because they missed it so. Gathering and dancing there seemed to have played an important part in so may lives. Hearing this over and over was very flattering and eventually, the penetrating message got to me. The most important reason for this event was to celebrate the folk dancers who supported the Intersection from the very first day we opened on Alvarado Street and later moved onto Temple Street. The evening was dedicated to them.
We closed the doors of the club twenty years ago and apparently it still held a fond place in the hearts of many, so I began to speculate about the logistics of a reunion that would capture the essence of the Intersection. I knew that I couldn't tackle this project alone, so a dedicated committee was formed and their trememdous team effort helped to make the event memorable. Without up-to-date mailing lists it was impossible to send invitations but with the help of the Internet we were able to pass the word along primarily through e-mail and folk-dance websites. We were careful not to overdo the publicity because we were not interested in reaching out to the general public. In this way, almost 90 percent of those present were former patrons of the Intersection and this was exactly who we were aiming to reach. The response was far greater than anyone expected, drawing people from Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Oregon, Washington, and even as far away as Israel!
We planned for the doors to open with non-stop music and dancing. Speeches would be held to a bare minimum and reminiscing would be impromptu. Projected on a large screen, old movies and slides of patrons dancing at the Intersection provided a backdrop and reminder of the way things were. Old friends greeted one another with smiles, hugs, and high fives before extending hands for the next dance. The Mediterranean buffet featured many goodies and a wide range of vegetarian offerings since most folk dancers gravitate toward healthy diets. Wine livened the spirits and quickened the feet.
One of the main comments was how it might have been if we had live music instead of the disk jockey. We carefully considered this option but because the evening had to be balanced as an international folk dance event, we needed an wide range of music. Several musical groups started out at the Intersection and we had ample offers from many of them to come and play. Choosing only one would have been impossible as it might have been viewed as playing favorites towards a style or particular culture. Having several groups play might have turned into a "battle of the bands." We felt that the best way to ensure the widest variety of music was to use the vintage recordings popular at the Intersection more than twenty years ago. Despite a few remarks to the contrary, I think the music selection came off pretty good.
What impressed me most were all those familiar faces. After so many years, the energy, smiles, and joy were all just as I remembered it at the Intersection. it was as if the clock had stopped twenty yers ago. Nothing had changed. All were dancing their hearts out. Who said that folk dancing was dying? This night was proof positive that folk dancing is as much alive today as it ever was! The Intersection appears to have been a conduit for all of us who recognized the inherent wealth of cultural wisdom that we enjoy by learning this wonderful international "language" of movement whereby we can communicate. It is up to us to pass this on to the upcoming generations. We need to get all those young culturally savvy people who appreciate the wold and its rich heritage to make sure that these beautiful traditions carry on. Let us seek out ways to inspire and motivate our young people not only for the sake of tradition but primarily because, with the way our world is being reshaped, they will need it for their survival. In a world where we are all bonded together in the circle dance, let us find a stronger and richer identity than the one we have standing alone.
Thank you to all who attended and to everyone who worked to make the Intersection Reunion 2004 a dancing success. I am sure it is in the minds and hearts of many to repeat this, but in repeating it we should find a way for it to become a different experience, an expansive one, a richer one, and an inclusive one as well for the new generations.