Along with their classmates, fourth-graders Zachary Thompson and Clara Bennett had the chance to demonstrate the mid-1800s “Alabama Gal” folk dance.

This Southern U.S. dance was one of many that were performed by students during Jordan Ridge’s cultural arts night. 

“It’s really fun and it took us one month to learn,” Zachary said. “We went through it until we got better and better.”

Clara caught her breath after the performance.

“I’ve gotten to learn about dancing in other parts of our country; it was fun to perform it for others so they could learn about it, too,” she said.

Parent Shelti Thompson appreciated students learning traditional dances.

“They got to learn about the dance and see other dances from around the world,” she said. “It broadens their understanding of others and their culture.”

Kindergartners kicked off the festivities with “Agadu” from Israel, followed by first-graders performing “Little Bird” from Germany. 

First-grader Sophia Parkin said “Little Bird” is “what we call the Chicken Dance. It was fun, but now I’m going to get to check out the booths before hanging out with friends and get snocones.”

Her mother, Kimber, was excited to see her daughter’s artwork on display as she entered into a student art contest, “Exploring New Cultures.” Festivalgoers could vote for artwork to be on display — one piece for next year and one permanently.

“She learned about the French culture and studied Monet’s ‘The Artist’s Garden at Giverny,’” she said, referring to the French artist’s painting of his garden filled with pink and purple flowering hues shaded by trees near his home. “Her entry was modeled after that.”

Second graders danced the Russian “Sasha” on the school lawn while third-graders had fun with “The Grumpy March” from the Eastern U.S. Fifth-grade students learned the Samoan “Sa Sa” and sixth-graders concluded the performances with the Irish “Sashay the Donut.” Students learned the dances from Beverley Taylor Sorenson teacher specialist Autumn Montgomery.

Sixth grader Theresa Vo liked learning her grade’s dance.

“I like to dance and learn new ones,” she said, while her classmate Charley Basile added, “It’s a fun dance to do together with friends.”

The second annual cultural festival, which also brought together several different countries’ displays, was coordinated by the school PTA President Nicole Kerr.

“We added the cultural event to unite the community and make them aware of other cultures,” she said. “We’ve continued with the cultural art on display, included the dances from different cultures, and reached out to our school community to share about their heritage. It’s a fun celebration which brings our community together.”

Several community members shared their cultures, allowing students to admire Dala horses at the Scandinavian table and play games at the Samoan booth. Bingham High Latinos in Action taught school children how to make tissue paper flowers and its People of the Pacific demonstrated traditional dances.

Students flocked to try an El Salvadoran candy from “Mr. G,” custodian Geovanni Perez, who dressed in his native country’s peasant clothing — white cotton shirt and pants, a straw hat and sandals.

“I’m hoping the kids learn there are more countries south of the border than Mexico,” Perez said. “El Salvadorans always are happy and helpful people.”

He recounts his country’s history from the indigenous people to when the El Salvadorians held off the Spaniards when they first tried to conquer.

“We’re mighty even though our country is the same size as Wisconsin,” Perez said. “In the early 1900s, when people heard about the United States and the opportunity there they started migrating. Not that many came until our Civil War; that’s when more people left.”

His family moved to the United States in 1980, during his country’s Civil War. They moved first to California, where he grew up as a teenager. Then he moved his family to Utah.

“People understand this country is made up of people from around the world. We come here because we all want a better opportunity,” he said. “It’s important kids realize that.”

Reading interventionalist Amie Summers shared her Dutch heritage with families with a warm “welkom.”

“My grandparents were from Holland, so I brought these trinkets to show and these stencils of a ‘klomp’ (wooden shoe) and tulips for students to paint art projects,” she said as she helped several students.

Summers was dressed in a traditional skirt and her pinned braids crossed her head.

“I appreciate students learning about other cultures,” she said. “Not all learning comes from books; they’re gaining understanding by learning the dances, doing art, hearing about other countries.”   λ