Summerfest

Bountiful is a small town. Everyone knows each other, it takes five minutes to drive from one side of town to the other, and it doesn't have a Walmart. But Bountiful does have Summerfest- an international dance festival with ethnic food and local artists. For four days, dance troupes from France, Nepal, Czech Republic, Paraguay, Spain, South Korea, and China perform their traditional dance and music for the entertainment and pleasure of Bountifulites. It was spectacular. Definitely one of the highlights of my summer in Bountiful. And why wouldn't it? It had all the things I love- music, dance, culture, and food!

First, the Food. They had a variety of international food ranging from USA Barbecue to Chilean Empanadas. For dinner, I had a Navajo Taco, which is basically fry bread covered with beans, meat, cheese, salsa, and jalapenos. Then for dessert, I had multiple treats: baklava, fried bananas, and peach nectar. The baklava was just okay; I've had better back at home at Cafe Mix. The fried bananas were a surprise. I was expecting South American styled fried bananas with is a banana covered with sugar and cinnamon and fried so the banana is covered with a carmelized coating. Instead, my fried banana looked like an egg roll. But it was still delicious, but I was sorely missing the cinnamon. So overall, the food was just okay. I'd still rather be with my dad in Santa Clara eating baklava icecream at a Mediterranean restaurant.

But lucky for me, the dancing and music far outshined the food. My favorite dance troupe would have to be the one from Mongolia. They are internationally acclaimed and it's easy to see why. First, the costumes were spectacular. The ladies wore cerulean (blue) deels that had gold and silver lining and sheer veils that flowed down their backs. The men had fur armor and fur hats on and looked as if they were warriors right off the steppes. Second, the music was astounding. For the first part of the performance, they had Mongolian opera singers sing some laments. It was so beautiful and yet so haunting. I loved it so much that I think I am going to buy some Chinese opera music on Itunes next week. Also, a man played an instrument that looked like it was a cello you placed on your hip. It was also beautiful. Third, the dancing was both graceful and modern. When the ladies entered the stage they didn't walk, but rather floated across the floor, similar to pointe ballerinas. Their movements were in sync and the women just glowed under the lights, almost ethereal. The men's dance, on the other hand, was very similar to hip hop. I was surprised, but delighted. I think I will put some of their moves in a guard routine someday. I was so grateful that these steppe children from Mongolia would grace us with their beautiful art.

Although the Mongolians were my favorite, there were several other noteworthy groups. One such group was a bunch of troubadours from Spain. They were very charismatic, and also very handsome (not to mention they were very talented). They performed songs from Italy, Mexico, Portugal, and, of course, Spain. They were such nice people, they were one of the few performers that would actually talk to you after the show. Another awesome group was from South Korea. This group consisted of 8-12 years old who played a percussion piece. It was intense. It was amazing to see these young kids be so precise and enthusiastic as they beat their drums. They were a crowd pleaser.

Overall, this was an amazing experience. So in conclusion, if you are in Salt Lake City around the beginning of August, take the five minute ride to Bountiful and enjoy the culture and beauty of Summerfest.