For the second year, Stephanie and I attended the much under-promoted and quite interesting La Crosse Mediterranean Festival. At the south-side Oktoberfest grounds, the event features tasty traditional food, a large middle-eastern bake sale, raffles, and of course the entertainment - highlighted by local belly-dance troupes. So while you enjoy your lamb kebobs and humus, you can be titillated by the gyrating hips and undulating torsos of a range of talented dancers.
The turnout this year was impressive; finding a place to sit and eat was a challenge, but our determination to get near the stage was worth it as several of Stephanie’s former dance-class participants performed. She says she wishes to return to belly-dancing lessons in the fall - I hope so, it would be great to see her make the troupe and perform next year.
During the festival, the normally invisible Middle Eastern population of La Crosse (ok, all 6 of them) come out, and one can hear a smattering of Arabic and other languages. It is a pleasent relief though to know there is something bigger then just Wisconsin present here.
Check out the rest of the pictures, and of course some video:
