Waltzing into summer
Costumed dancers re-create the music of Vienna with the annual Strauss Festival
By Sandy Louey -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, July 21, 2005
Finishing touches are being made to the costumes. Dancers are practicing their steps over and over. All in preparation for this year's Strauss Festival, which will take place July 28 to 31 at Elk Grove Regional Park.
"Now we're putting on the final touches," said Stan Dunn, chairman of the festival's board of directors and a dancer and choreographer for the event.
Dunn said staging the festival takes about 200 volunteers, including the 34 performers who will waltz and polka to the music of Johann Strauss Jr. and his family performed by a 32-piece symphony orchestra.
The Strauss Festival began in 1987 after founders Iris and Arnie Zimbelman came back from a trip to Europe with the dream of bringing a little of Vienna to Elk Grove.
A $100,000 grant from Sacramento County and donations helped convert a three-quarter-acre plot in Elk Grove Regional Park into Strauss Island, where the festival has been held ever since.
"It was to bring joy and beauty to the area during the long hot summer," Iris Zimbelman said of the reason for starting the festival.
She said the festival has stayed true to its roots in that performances are free, and that dancers are not professionals.
"It's an energy and enthusiasm in their performances," Zimbelman said. "It provides an outlet for dancers who are not professionals to really shine."
This year's theme, "Happily Ever After," centers on a prince who searches for a maiden who loses her slipper at the ball. After attempts to find her, she appears, and the slipper fits. The new princess is presented to the king and queen and royal guests at a party.
Over the four days of the festival, a crowd of 40,000 is expected. The largest crowd is expected to come out for the Saturday performance, organizers said.
Watching the spectators enjoy the event is the culmination of all the time devoted to the festival, Dunn said.
"It all comes together at the end," he said.
STRAUSS FESTIVAL
When: July 28-31Where: Strauss Island in Elk Grove Park, Elk Grove
Cost: Free, but parking is $10 per car
Information: (916) 714-2527 or www.straussfestival.com
About the writer:
- The Bee's Sandy Louey can be reached at (916) 478-2654 or slouey@sacbee.com.
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Dancers rehearse for the July 28-31 Strauss Festival. A grant and donations helped create Strauss Island in Elk Grove Regional Park, where the festival is held. Sacramento Bee/Paul Kitagaki Jr.
