Editor: Congratulations to the town of Canmore and all the organizers and volunteers on a job well done at this year’s folk fest. It was the first year that my family and I attended and we all enjoyed ourselves.
I am not one to poo-poo an event, but I feel absolutely compelled to share my thoughts on one particular procedure that was put in place at the folk fest: designated dancing areas.
I was completely flabbergasted to see that there were separate areas taped off and posters around the event explaining the procedures for dancing. I have not experienced this type of rule at any other music festival before. I understand that the stage is not raised particularly high and that patrons want to see the artist(s) as they are performing, but limiting where audience members can dance and physically express themselves to the music is barbaric.
At this type of event the musicians totally feed off the energy emanating from the audience. Some of the musicians were working really hard to get the audience energized and involved as we were all constrained to our seats like school children. Not to mention the fact the designated dancing areas were way off to the sides of the stage and the area off of stage right was barely big enough for 10 stationary people. Some of the musicians even joked about this as they were performing.
I spoke to many people around the event (all ages) and asked their opinions on this matter. I did not meet one person who thought this practice was a good idea. Words and phrases that commonly came up in these conversations were “awkward,” “reserved” and “difficult for the artists.”
Regulating dancing at a music festival is completely contradictory. I can almost guarantee that all those amazing musicians would have much preferred to see and feel the audience expressing themselves freely.
After kicking up some serious dust at the CKUA broadcast on the Friday night, my young daughter (an experienced festival-goer) was disappointed by the restrictions on dancing. I can sympathize with the case of having good viewing opportunities for all ticket-holders but surely there is a better solution. Come on Canmore, we can do better than this.
Jill Danielson,
Canmore
