Cloggers heading to Russia

How could they not go to Russia?

At the time, said Shawnda Bishop, director of the West Valley-based folk dance ensemble Clog America, a better question might have been how could they possibly go?

In May, at a meeting of the International Council of Folklore Festivals and Folk Art, known as CIOFF, the Russian delegate, Youri Gourianov, told of plans for a special festival called "The International Folk Arts Festival dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War." All the Allied countries would be invited to send a representative to the festival. And then he asked Clog America to be the official representative of the United States.

The problem was that Clog America had already committed to represent the United States at the Festival Zacatecas 2005, held in Mexico in late July and early August (and the largest folklore festival in the Western Hemisphere). The Russian festival will be the first part of September.

To attend two major festivals that close together would stretch the resources of Clog America, which to a great degree must fund all its own travel, Bishop said.

But "Mr. Gourianov stressed the importance of each Allied country having a representative, and how this celebration of peace through music and dance would be viewed by thousands of Russians, since all performances would be open to the public free of charge. I think it is actually being spearheaded by President Putin," she said.

So, Clog America said yes — because they could not say no. And even though they've had to scramble for funding, "we just thought it was very, very important for us to be there to represent the USA and the thousands of American soldiers who fought in World War II. Now, more than ever, the world needs to see young people coming together in peaceful celebrations while sharing cultures and building friendships."

Some 12 dancers, six musicians and two coordinators will be leaving on Tuesday for Russia.

The group will participate in two festivals: the World War II remembrance in Moscow and a folklore festival in the city of Novocherkassk in the province of Rostov. In addition, there will be tours of museums and other important cultural centers.

The young dancers, many of whom will be missing two weeks of school, "will be getting a history lesson like no other. They will learn about the history and the culture and the Russian people," Bishop said.

They are also working in a humanitarian effort, taking fleece blankets to an orphanage in Moscow.