Mosaic Festival 2024

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Imagine the Arabian desert, a land of endless burning sands and the mythical Arabian Nights, where intrepid camel caravans climb immense dunes to look upon an unforgiving sea of sand shimmering in the heat. Now consider San Jose in unseasonably hot weather for October, so hot and still that crossing the asphalt between air-conditioned buildings seemed unforgiving. With mid-day temperatures over 100 F dancing outside in the direct sun would be our intrepid undertaking. Nevertheless, this was the setting at the forth annual Mosaic Festival held at San Jose History Park on October 6, where Loui Tucker and friends would gather many fun-seeking festival goers into a circle at the festival stage and lead some simple folk dances on the grass.

Festival stage program 10am-4pm.

The Mosaic Festival is the creation of Mosaic America, a Bay Area organization that seeks to unite the ethnic and creative awareness of the many types and heritage of people that live here. It is a nonprofit “that strengthens communities, cultivates belonging, and catalyzes inclusion through inter-cultural and co-created art.” It is often known for frequently offering and organizing events to showcase dance, music, and art among local ethnic communities and performing groups. Many of the ethnic ensembles that perform in their free events represent India, Iran and Central Asia, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, China, the Aztec, the Confederation of Ohlone People, Guinea, Venezuela, Vietnam, Georgia, and many more. Artists that represent different ideologies are also included. As Mosiac America likes to say, they gather to celebrate our mosaic of American cultures.

Loui Tucker leads a line of folk dancers at the Mosaic Festival.

Fostering world community and understanding through dance has long been an outgrowth of the folk dance movement. Dance is a universal language among cultures and brings understanding and peace. Realizing this, starting with the second annual Mosaic Festival the Folk Dance Federation joined to offer an international folk dance workshop as Armen Gabrielianpart of the Mosaic program. For the third annual festival when we were given a slot of two hours for a workshop and a dance studio we organized a live music dance party with Da! Mozhem. Dances were lead by Loui Tucker, Denise Heenan, and occasionally by band members. This year the festival was shortened from two days to one but also moved from the Mexican Heritage Plaza to the San Jose History Park for more green space and parking amidst the historic setting of the park. With the shorter festival the Federation was provided up to two non-consecutive half hour slots in the schedule of performances at the stage, perfect for a few beginner dances taught and lead among the audience.

For her credit, as a seasoned dance instructor and organizer Loui doesn’t need much preparation to create a workshop for beginners or lead a dance. Once the music and sound system is arranged she seems to be ready to start the party. We discussed the program and what was provided and she agreed to be there. Mosaic organizers recommended choosing a Greek and/or Ukranian dance because these groups were underrepresented at the festival but the emphasis regardless was on ease of participation. Late morning when the first workshop was announced and Loui was introduced, a circle of eager participants assembled in no time. In spite of high temperatures and sweaty palms, no complaints were heard from the line of dancers, just short remarks through smiles and giggles, and an occasional caution not to step into a shallow hole. Laura Richardson and Armen Gabrielian attended volunteering to lead a couple dances helping as folk dance “angels” for the beginners. Featured dances included Savila se Bela Losa and Ersko Kolo (Serbia), Zemir Atik (Israel), Damat Halayı (Turkey), and a Hasapaserviko (Greece) among others. Once the first half hour session completed with applause many of the participants languished under the cover of pop-up tents sipping cool water and watching the scheduled dance performances on stage until the next dance workshop was called an hour later and they returned to the dance circle for all new dances. A few of the new dancers lingered after the session excitedly asking questions about the dances, cultures, and probing our own dance experience.

Later in the afternoon as shadows lengthened to cover the stage and audience seating more people came to enjoy the multicultural performances. For our part in the program, Mosaic America made a $150 donation to the Folk Dance Federation and our dance leaders each could receive a $10 food truck coupon to help get them something cold to drink and delicious to eat afterward.

The fourth annual Mosaic Festival had over 40 cultures represented, over 40 workshops and resource tables, over 250 performers, and nearly 2000 festival visitors, numbers that mean success for a small community festival. Vigilant and cheerful volunteers maintained strategically placed cooling stations about the festival that included chilled bottled water with paper cups and an industrial sized electric fan blowing. In addition to performances and activities, vendors of ethnic food and crafts, and organization information booths, a Healing Garden at the festival provided space to release from one’s everyday stresses through accessible and welcoming classes, meditation, and movement. There was truly something for everyone to enjoy and find community.