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The Kivajat Folk Dancers (ages 8-17) from the Finnish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University will present a program of music and dance, Footwork and Fiddles to Finland, on Saturday, May 18, at 2:30 pm in the Community Room of the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.
The Marquette Folk Dancers, led by Bob Railey, will join them on stage for a portion of the show.
This program is a fundraiser for the Kivajat and their upcoming trip to Finland in June for a children’s international folk dance festival in Turku, Finland. There is no charge for attending the program, but the Kivajat are looking to raise money for the trip. Some 20 children plus parents and leaders will be flying to Turku for the seven-day event.
Kay Seppala, founder and leader of the Kivajat, says, “This is a great group of dancers. They are wonderful representatives of our UP culture. We have danced at the Turku festival before, and always, the kids return with stories of new friendships and a better understanding of the world.”
Bring your donation to the program on May 18. If you cannot attend, but wish to support the group, you may send your check written to the “Kivajat Dancers”, c/o Kay Seppala, 2001 Spruce Lane, Houghton, MI 49931.
Donations from this event will be matched by a generous $5000 grant from the FinnFest 2013 committee.
The Finlandia Foundation National, Lake Superior Chapter, formerly the League of Finnish-American Societies UP Chapter Finlandia Foundation Affiliate, is sponsoring this event.
For more information call 906-228-8035 or check out the group’s Facebook page, which is still at “League of Finnish American Societies UP Chapter“.
