Beneath sunny Lombard skies, the Cripple Creek Cloggers opened the International Festival of Cunardo,Italy this week with lively shows before enthusiastic audiences.  Since they are the first USA troupe to participate in the 28 year history of this festival, their shows have created a strong interest among the local populace.  

Sharing the stage with local folk groups and an athletic young troupe from the island of Madagascar, the Tennessee dancers from Rutherford, Dickson, Davidson, DeKalb, and Cannon counties demonstrated Appalachian style square dancing with a clogging step. Wearing traditional, handmade costumes representing Tennessee villagers and farmers of the early 1800s, especially designed by Estelle Ansley Worrell of Nashville, and accompanied by the Piedmont Brothers Band, the Tennessee troupe is celebrating the 46th anniversary of their founding in high style.  

Their itinerary includes festival shows in nearby towns and villages, a special mass in the local church and a reception hosted by the Mayor of Cunardo in the Town Hall, as well as tours to Switzerland, Lake Como, Turin, and other area sites. They are being provided excellent accommodations and the best of local cuisine, according to director and founder, Steve Cates, of Murfreesboro, who also calls the dances.  

Next week the tour continues with performances in the French border town of Mezzenile, Italy.  There they will perform at the annual Ciclamino Feast and also at other celebrations in that region.  They are particularly interested in meeting a folk troupe from Mezzenile, which is applying to be considered to participate in the 2014 International FolkFest in Murfreesboro.

Cripple Creek Cloggers will begin their fall season of teaching and rehearsing on August 4 at 7 p.m. at 220 E. Vine St., Murfreesboro 37130.  There is no charge for participating and all interested persons are invited.  Upcoming events for the troupe include not only planning for their 32nd International Folkfest, to be held during June 8 to 15, 2014, but preparing for tours where they will visit and represent the U.S. in international foklloric festivals in Puerto Rico and Austria, as well as for area shows and other events.

For more information about Cripple Creek Cloggers or International FolkFest, contact Steve Cates at appdancer@aol.com.  Visit the group website at www.cripplecreekcloggers.org.