By Sarah Opdahl

For the second year, New Fairfield High School’s (NFHS) Festival of Cultures, held on Saturday, March 28, was purely joyful. Talented performers created smiles all around, and visitors could pick up oodles  of geographical and cultural information about a host of countries at the many booths that filled the school’s Dining Commons.

Special performances included the vibrant Wuza Wuza African Drumming duo, who visited the school from the Bronx, though both are originally from Ghana. Typically part of a sixteen-person group, the musicians possessed remarkably impressive drumming skills. They also kept the audience rapt with fascinating stories about each song and Ghana’s traditions.  They performed charming dances and encouraged audience interaction. Gamely singing and clapping along when prompted, audience members were  certainly charmed by the entire performance and the performers. At one point, one drummer casually mentioned their schedule as having just played in New York City for the United Nations and for the president of Ghana at a special gathering in Philadelphia. Amazingly, there they were in the NFHS auditorium the day after.

The performances continued with lively Irish reels, jigs, and more that were played by a trio that is part of the Andy McGann Branch of Comhaltas. The session featured a number of instruments, including flutes and the bodhran drum. Rancho Portugal Canta e Danca, a dance club that hails from Danbury’s Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Portuguese Cultural Center, added flair with a large number of performers who were outfitted in gorgeous costumes. Ranging in age from toddler to teen, children in the group impressed audience members with intricate dance steps while adults played them on and off the stage to a one-two-three rhythm of the accordion, tambourine, snare drum, and more. There was also a mesmerizing performance by the extraordinarily artful Phoenix Dancing Art Group.

The booths in the Dining Commons provided loads of information about countries, with some  laden with treats, including a number of crafts to complete and games to play. The NFHS language clubs were in attendance as well, including members of the Spanish Club who had whipped up delicious traditional snacks for festival goers.

This festival was fundamentally a day full of goodness. Organizer and NFHS teacher Ernest Fabrizio-Garcia said, “I’m grateful to the community for coming out and supporting the hard work our students put into this event.”