NewsSochietah Ung Named 2024 National Heritage Fellow
Sochietah Ung was named a National Heritage Fellow in recognition of his work in Cambodian costume making and dance.
Sights & SoundsKazem Davoudian & Alexander Sabet
Kazem Davoudian of Sterling, VA, is an experienced Ostad (master artist, in Farsi) of Iranian classical music. He is teaching Alexander Sabet of Washington, DC, how to play the tar, a traditional long-necked string instrument.
Sights & SoundsLemlem Gebray and Datta and Akeza Seyoum
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and Ethiopian beans are arguably some of the best in the world. As legend has it, coffee was first discovered by …
NewsFlame Keeper: Remembering Flory Jagoda
By Jon Lohman We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Flory Jagoda, master Sephardic Jewish singer, musician and composer, on January 29th, at the age of 97. …
Sights & SoundsLelis and Ken Garcia Olaes
Lelis and Ken Garcia Olaes keep Filipino flavors alive at Angie’s Bakery in Virginia Beach.
Sights & SoundsLuz Lopez and Princey Reyes
Luz Maria Lopez was born in the small town of Morocoy, in the state of Quintana Roo on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula after her parents moved there from Michoacán. Her mother …
Sights & SoundsRonald Dixon and William Hinkle
Stained glass master artist Ronald Dixon grew up viewing stained glass art from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in his native Northern Ireland, spending hours in local cathedrals while his …
Sights & SoundsMandkhai Erdembat and Ella and Emma Chuluunbat
Mongolian contortion has existed since the 12th century as a dance called Uran Nugaralt, which translates to artistic bending. This kind of dance was prominent in the royal palaces of …
Sights & SoundsNam Phuong Nguyen and Anh Dien Ky Nguyen
The đàn bầu is a monochord (one-stringed) instrument with a central role in Vietnamese folk music. Popular legend claims the đàn bầu was first played by a blind woman in a …
Sights & SoundsSondus Asad Moussa and Sanaa Abdul Jalil
Despite a population of just over 50,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in Virginia. Today, the Harrisonburg–Rockingham County community includes refugees and immigrants from …
NewsBolivian Traditions to Come Alive at the Richmond Folk Festival
Virginia is home to the largest Bolivian-born population in the country. In celebration of Bolivian cultural vitality in the Commonwealth, the Virginia Folklife Program will spotlight the traditions that connect …
Sights & SoundsAndrei Saveliev and Aaron Mott
The balalaika, a traditional Russian stringed instrument with a triangular wooden body, is often referred to as “the Russian three-string guitar.” It was considered a folk instrument in Russia and …
