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The line up is subject to change. This is a rain or shine festival. Severe weather conditions can force some activities inside the Pavilion. Activities that cannot be relocated may need to be cancelled. We ask for your patience and understanding should the event need to move indoors.
Bian lian (lit: “face changing”) is a secret performance art rarely seen outside China. The face-changing technique was passed down within families and it is only within the last 30 years or so that it has started to spread more widely. Traditionally, only men performed bian lian, but that has also begun to change in recent years.
The Lion Dance is a traditional Chinese art that is passed down from generation to generation. It is usually performed by two people – one in front and one in back – and showcases some martial arts moves. The lion dance is considered to be an auspicious thing to drive away evil spirits, avoid harm and promote prosperity.
Chinese Kung Fu includes a wide variety of styles and techniques, such as Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Wing Chun, and many others. These styles may focus on hard power or soft power, fast movements or slow, internal energy (Qi) or external strength. Beyond combat, Kung Fu teaches discipline, respect, perseverance, and moral character. It is not only a way to train the body but also a path to cultivate the spirit.
The first dance is called “sakura” – “cherry blossom”. This is a traditional springtime song and includes movements that evoke the movement of the petals in the wind. The second dance is called “Uguisu” – “nightingale”. The chirp of the Japanese nightingale is a sign that spring is here. Spring is a season of new beginnings and of renewal, a time when people see the world differently. We hope that these dances and the multi-cultural festival will give you the feeling of coming into a new world.
The Shaun Booker Dammit Band is a hard hitting Rocking Blues band based in Columbus, Ohio. Shaun is an international recording artist. She has successfully toured Europe and South America numerous times. Inducted into The Columbus Blues Hall of Fame, winner of The Columbus Blues Challenge, crowned The Empress of Beale St., she is a BLUES force!
Entering their 21st year, "High Schools That Rock" is a free music program designed to teach students in grades 1-12 the skills of playing guitar and performing in public. Drawing from home schooled students and students in Washington and Wood Counties, HSTR teaches students music then places them on stage for performances throughout the calendar year. HSTR has performed at small and large venues, including the BJFMS Blues Festival, the Belpre and Parkersburg Homecoming, the Marietta Sweet Corn Festival and the Holiday Spectacular at the Peoples Bank Theater. HSTR practices during the summer at the Unitarian Church in Marietta and during the school year at Marietta Middle School.
Ilene Evans portrays Harriet Tubman. We’d like to thank Voices From the Earth for making it possible to bring Mrs. Tubman to our festival.
Mrs. Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland but escaped through the Underground Railroad in 1849. She became the most famous leader of that network, aiding slaves in their escape to free states and Canada. When the Civil War erupted her underground experiences and knowledge of covert operations made her an invaluable resource to Federal officers. She served as a spy, nurse, scout, and guide for Union troops and was present at the ill-fated assault of Fort Wagner by the 54th Massachusetts in South Carolina.
Harriet stood against the laws that would return slaves to their masters as common property. She was supported by those who practiced a belief that no one had the right to own another. Let us welcome Ms. Harriet Tubman to tell us how she got started on the road to freedom.
Folkloric Dance Ensemble is a group from the Upper Ohio Valley that performs international dances from a variety of cultures. They are specifically bringing Eastern European and Israeli dances to the stage.
Presenting traditional Irish music with a genuine passion and a sincere sense of purpose. They pour their hearts into playing lively jigs, spirited reels, and haunting airs with songs that reach deep into the moral and emotional part of man’s nature. Instruments such as the Irish uilleann pipes, tin whistle, and flute provide the brilliant melodies, while the guitar and traditional Irish bodhran provide intricate layering, heartbeat, and drive. Members of this outstanding band include Brian McCoy (flutes, whistles, pipes), Doug Rudy (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, vocals), Kim Rattan (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin, Bazouki), and Eddie Cotter (vocals, bodhrán).
Allegro Dance Company brings Italian heritage to life with Rinascita, a high-energy dance performance blending ancient tradition and modern movement. At its heart is a solo inspired by Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth, symbolizing cultural rebirth and resilience. Audiences will be swept into the vibrant rhythm of southern Italian Tarantellas and graceful circle dances—reimagined with fresh energy and emotion.
Director and founder Anna Harsh, an Italian-American who has studied and researched Italian dances in Italy for over three decades brings a fresh perspective and urgency to preserving the dances for the next generation. Allegro has performed across the U.S. and Italy, honoring tradition while igniting future generations to connect with their roots. Their performances celebrate storytelling through movement, inviting all to experience Italy’s spirit—one powerful step at a time.
Josh Donaway is the grandson of the late Gene Donaway, MOVMCF co-founder, and son of the late Jay Donaway. He is performing in honor of his father and grandfather. He and his band cover country, classic oldies, and radio hits.
Reaching into the soul and unleashing vitality, Jensuya & Bob effortlessly fuse the foreign with the familiar to emerge with a passionate performance that redefines belly dance in America today. With roots in West Virginia and spirit in the Middle East, the couple throws down the gauntlet to stereotypes in their show, Amerikesh Express. You'll behold classic belly dance, participate in quintessential Mid East rhythm, learn to shake your hips raqs sharqi style, and dance the debke Mediterranean folk dance. Bring your kids. Bring your parents. Got a hip scarf or drum? Bring it. Jensuya and Bob performed at MOVMCF in 2022, and in 2012 and 2013 with their family band, TarabRaqs. They have been featured by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the American Turkish Association, and the U.S. Government-funded Middle east Broadcast Network broadcasting to over 24 million viewers in the Middle East. Learn more about them at Jensuya.com.
Since its fiery inception in 1999, Grupo Fuego has blazed a trail as a pillar of passion, consistency, and electrifying Latin rhythms. With a lineup that has remained unshaken for over 25 years, the band’s chemistry and powerhouse sound have become legendary, mirroring the explosive rise of Latin music itself. From intimate local gigs to headlining iconic festivals, Grupo Fuego has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, uniting generations and audiences of all backgrounds with their high-octane performances and irresistible energy.
Wayward Dancers (sponsored by the Parkersburg YMCA) is a belly dance troupe on a mission to keep the MOV moving to the music while supporting local charities. Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-8pm at the YMCA.
MojoFlo is a powerhouse Neo-Funk band, known for their infectious rhythms, soulful vocals, and high-power live sets. The band’s vivacious vocalist Amber Knicole leads the charge onstage while singing the house down. From aerial performances and Soul Train lines, to hula hoop choreography and leaps off the drum riser in 6-inch heels, this lady has a knack for leaving audiences enthralled. By combining hard hitting horns, seductive melodies, and a thrilling stage show MojoFlo has built a transcendental-funky musical experience.
Steve Free’s music is drawn from his Native American Shawnee/Cherokee and Appalachian roots. His latest cd “Ship of Dreams” was named one of the Top 50 Albums of 2015 and received a Grammy nomination in 2016. He has had 3 Americana Music Award nominations.
This drum performance is led by Lawrence Greene. He is the founder of Ugata, a cultural education and social services organization based in Southeast Ohio. He is an Artsbridge catalog artist and teaches percussion in southern Ohio and West Virginia. He has been performing and teaching West African drum traditions for 15 years. He uses movement and sound to develop spiritual clarity and inspiration for his students and self. Ugata is a cultural education and social services organization based in the intentions of their ancestors. All of their programs are based in the concept of bio-regional identity, which means you are where you live.
Volcano Choy founded HulaDancers in 2003 with the mission to produce authentic Hawaiian Luau experience for events not only in Hawaii, but nationwide and abroad. They base our business model on the fact that authentic, native performers from the Islands translates into a truly Hawaiian experience not only in the performance aspect of it, but also in bringing the true warmth of the "Aloha Spirit" from the Islands for Event guests nationwide. They have established bases of operations in Hawaii (Oahu and Hawaii Island) and also in the mainland USA.
From dimly lit barrooms to the footlights of festival stages, Oyo weaves together threads of folk, honky-tonk, bluegrass, and rock into a sound that feels both familiar and entirely their own. They’ve shared the stage with roots music heavyweights including Sierra Ferrell, Town Mountain, and Larry Keel, and keep carving out their place in the tradition of stringband music—with songs that nod to good times, wrong turns, and the long road home.
Oyo trades off lead vocals between Aaron Martin (fiddle, mandolin), Cole Adair (guitar) and Michael Bond (guitar, keys, harmonica, spoons), with Bobby Rosenstock (banjo), Drew Tanner (bass), and Joe Ryckebosch (drums, washboard) joining in.