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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula June 9, 2005 Text and photos © 2005 Michele Anderson.

Local artists, musicians, runners celebrate spring

A Photo Essay by Michele Anderson

HOUGHTON -- Houghton's Fourth Annual Art and Music Festival offered a great excuse to get out and enjoy sunny spring weather on Saturday, May 28. Mattila Square and the waterfront area near the UPPCO building were again transformed into a scene of music, merriment and community celebration. 

Artists' booths offered a variety of creations while both adults and kids kicked off the morning events with the Striding for Strings competitive running races for all ages and a fun walk/run -- to raise money for the Copper Country Suzuki Association. Local musicians and dancers entertained under and near the music tent, set up especially for the festival, with picnic tables for visitors enjoying Keweenaw Joe's smoky barbecue sandwiches, sold to benefit community arts activities.

Ken Thiemann -- singer, guitarist and originator of the festival, which began in 2002, said he thought this year's music was the strongest it's ever been. 

Ken Thiemann, who initiated the annual Art and Music Festival, works on sound for the band Zen Lunatic. Tuning up at right is Mike Irish, Michigan Tech Director of Jazz Studies. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

In a recent email thanking all who supported the festival, Thiemann wrote, "The last four years have been a true learning experience and a great opportunity for the community. I never thought four years ago that it would have the success that it has. The music and arts are very important to keeping people sane during our long winters and truly strengthen our community, making this place a wonderful home. We are a true oasis for people up here."

A variety of bands played music all day under the music tent set up for the occasion in Mattila Square. Nearby The Dalwhinnie Scottish Country Dancers presented Highland dancing by Lisa McKenzie, mayor pro tem of Hancock. Her husband Doug McKenzie accompanied her on pipes. 

Just outside the Art and Music Festival tent, Lisa McKenzie, Hancock's mayor pro tem,  does a Highland dance, accompanied by her husband Doug McKenzie, M.D., on pipes. The McKenzies are members of the Dalwhinnie Scottish Country Dancers who meet in the E. L. Wright Building in Hancock from Sept. to June.

After Lisa's successful demonstration of skill at the Highland sword dance, the McKenzies joined other members of the group in a demonstration of Scottish Country Dancing.

Lisa McKenzie performs a challenging Scottish Highland sword dance. Traditionally, the dancer who manages to complete the dance without touching the swords will be victorious in battle. Go, Lisa! Doug McKenzie offers accompaniment on the pipes.

Jane and Sergei Casper of Hancock are also members of the Dalwhinnie Scottish Country Dancers.

"Scottish Country Dancing, Scotland's traditional ballroom dancing, has been aptly described as 'controlled abandon,'" said Jane Casper. "Unlike Highland dancing, which is done individually and involves considerable athletic ability, Scottish Country Dancing is done in sets of three or four couples. With its jigs, reels and quintessentially Scottish strathspeys, this graceful and sprightly forerunner of square dancing has been done for 250 years."

A Scottish strathspey, she explained, is a slower, elegant and very sexy and flirtatious type of dance that developed in Scotland and is done nowhere else (unlike reels and jigs). It takes its name from a river in Scotland, the Spey.

Sergei Casper, left, and Doug McKenzie, right, dance around their partners, Ann Pace and Lisa McKenzie, doing a right-hand turn in the center, while Jane Casper (in red plaid skirt) gives some cues. Phyllis and Jay Green (background) are the third couple in the set for this Scottish country dance.

The Dalwhinnie Scottish Country Dancers were organized here in 2004 and meet the first and third Fridays of each month from September to June in Hancock. They welcome all who want to learn Scottish Country Dancing and to find out just what "controlled abandon" means! For more information, call Jane at 296-9456.

Phyllis Green, Isle Royale National Park superintendent (second from right, foreground) and her husband Jay (center) join the Caspers, the McKenzies and Ann Pace in a lively Scottish country dance.

From the traditional folk and Latin beats of Finn Street to the rocking Zen Lunatic, music groups entertained visitors in the festival music tent throughout the day.

Finn Street, with songs in both Spanish and English, offers a repertoire of traditional American and international folk tunes and rhythms during the May 28, 2005, Art and Music Festival near the Houghton waterfront.

Singer Melissa Davis rocks the tent with Zen Lunatic.

Continued on Page 2: More photos of the 2005 Art and Music Festival and the Striding for Strings competitive running races.