Garfield Park Arts Center; April 13
The rafters surely are still zinging and the floors still reverberating with the zesty interpretive folk music and dance from Spain, Argentina, the Middle East, Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, Colombia and shades of New Orleans. The indefatigable Faten Ali Munger is the epitome of interpretive dancing and her troupe follows suit with both character and belly dancing. The Tinikling All-Star Children amaze with their agility in split-second stick dancing. Ensamble Folklorico energized the overflow audience with adult and young troupe members as walking puppets and stock characters of Carnivale. BEMBE equally invites audience participation with their heartbeat drumming and engaging dancing. Throughout, the indigenous clothing dazzled and intrigued as an extension of the dancing, be it the swishing of skirts, fluttering of scarves, twirling of hats. The walls were bright, too, with an exhibit by the Indiana Photographic Society. —Rita Kohn