Festival Schedule

EAST OF THE SUN & WEST OF THE MOON

In this magical version of the Norwegian fairy tale, a good king and his daughter rule a kingdom side by side until one day a devastating blight causes the crops to fail and their people to go hungry. A mysterious sorceress offers to heal the land in exchange for the king’s hand in marriage. The king agrees and marries her, only to discover her true identity to be the Queen of the Trolls, who spirits him away to her kingdom that lies east of the sun and west of the moon.

To save her father, the princess must embark on an arduous journey that will require both her courage and perseverance. In order to find and enter the land of the trolls, our heroine enlists the help of an aged sage and three dragons.

​Perfect for kids 5-11

Yeates Academy is Oregon and SW Washington’s longest running Traditional Irish Dance School. We teach beginners all the way up to championship levels, as well as adults and children. We teach cultural, competitive, and performance styles here at Yeates Academy, as well as Ceili dancing which is a form of team dancing. Yeates Academy is affiliated with the Irish Dancing Commission in Dublin, Ireland, which allows certified teachers’ students to compete under their name.

Seth, who lives in Camas, is a classically trained violinist (violist, actually) who fell off the wagon in his mid-20s when he was introduced to the world of bluegrass and playing music by ear. He’s since fiddled for contra dances, played electric fiddle in a rock band, and, since 2008, has been fiddling and singing with the Vancouver (USA)-based bluegrass band “Fadin’ by 9”. He got into live looping 10 years ago after being blown away at a live-looping concert in Portland, first starting small with a simple loop station that somehow, through no fault of his own, expanded to multiple pedal boards and multi-channel loop stations, each new pedal bringing new voices & new ideas for compositions. Some might say it’s too much gear, and Seth the human who hauls all the gear around would 100% agree with you. But as Fiddler on the Loop, he’s a firm believer that there is no such thing as too many guitar pedals.

The VSO, now in its 47th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington’s arts community, providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community.

Lovingly coined “The Nimble Rogue,” Seattle-based Clown and internationally acclaimed performer Mick Holsbeke has a ravenous appetite for the absurd and ridiculous. His unique perspective on clowning, exuberant physical acting, and circus expertise were developed at the prestigious École Nationale de Cirque de Montréal and, later, at the Hangar des Mines in France. As a Clown & Circus Artist, Mick performed with internationally renowned companies such as the Cirque du Soleil, Teatro Zinzanni, The Seven Fingers, Cirque Plume, and his own solo show Moby Mick, bringing hilarity and comic innovation to hundreds of thousands of spectators around the world. Watch Mick and his Clown Garage family bring their unique brand of unexpected playfulness to Esther Short Park throughout the festival—and when you least expect it.

+Presented in collaboration with Clark College Foundation

Established in 1992, The Vietnamese Community of Clark County was created to promote cultural awareness and empower the Vietnamese community. Travel to Vietnam through performances of traditional dance and storytelling.

Parent’s Choice Award winning kindie band Ants Ants Ants bring their signature harmonies and Beatles-inspired melodic charm to every song in their collection. Songwriters Johnny Clay (The Dimes), Dave Gulick and Nat Johnson (Derby), give stylistic nods to 1970’s era Sesame Street and School House Rock that’s not only for the kids in our lives, but the kids in all of us.

Vancouver Ballet Folklórico is a local non-profit dance group dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich heritage of Mexico through traditional dance. With more than 10 years of history, this group has grown from a dream into a strong and visible part of our community, overcoming challenges, evolving with purpose, and staying true to its mission: to inspire and empower children of Hispanic descent by connecting them to their roots through music, discipline, creativity, and dance. More than just movement, Vancouver Ballet Folklórico offers a meaningful space for learning, growing, and celebrating identity.

Sarada Kala Nilayam (SKN) (Shaa-ruh-dah Ku-laa nih-lu-yum) is a performing arts organization dedicated to the South Indian classical art forms of Bharatanatyam (bha-ruh-tuh-nattiyam) and Nattuvangam (nut-two-vaan-gum) based out of Beaverton, OR. Under the artistic direction of its founder, Sweta Ravisankar (shh-way-tah ru-vee-sun-ker), SKN has been a returning presence at the Vancouver Arts and Music Festival in both 2023 and 2024. For this year’s festival, SKN has curated a performance specifically designed to engage VAMF’s dynamic and diverse audience.

Anavai O Te Ora is Southwest Washington’s only pupu ori or Tahitian dance group. Our name means “The River of Life.” Rooted in tradition and flowing with purpose, Anavai O Te Ora is dedicated to nourishing our future by perpetuating our heritage. Through ‘Ori Tahiti classes and Polynesian performances, we share the richness of Tahitian culture with communities across the Pacific Northwest.

From the group’s foundation until today, the international road taken by Dina y los rumberos has been paved with success in both the United States as well as abroad. With a repertoire that journeys through the best of Cuban and international music such as Cuban son, salsa, guaracha, bolero, merengue and cumbia, among other genres, this talented group possesses such a wide range of interpretative possibilities that they are able to satisfy the most eclectic array of fans. In Cuba, Mexico, and now a large portion of the Great Northwest, fans have swayed to the music and danced to the grooves of their music. All musicians of Dina y los Rumberos are professional musicians graduated from the Music Conservatory in La Habana, Cuba. Led by their musical director Andy Martinez, Dina y los Rumberos win over their crowds with their versatile performances and innovative interpretations. You can’t listen to this group and be indifferent. Instead, you sway, dance and become infected by their hip-moving Caribbean flavor.

Lovingly coined “The Nimble Rogue,” Seattle-based Clown and internationally acclaimed performer Mick Holsbeke has a ravenous appetite for the absurd and ridiculous. His unique perspective on clowning, exuberant physical acting, and circus expertise were developed at the prestigious École Nationale de Cirque de Montréal and, later, at the Hangar des Mines in France. As a Clown & Circus Artist, Mick performed with internationally renowned companies such as the Cirque du Soleil, Teatro Zinzanni, The Seven Fingers, Cirque Plume, and his own solo show Moby Mick, bringing hilarity and comic innovation to hundreds of thousands of spectators around the world. Watch Mick and his Clown Garage family bring their unique brand of unexpected playfulness to Esther Short Park throughout the festival—and when you least expect it.

+Presented in collaboration with Clark College Foundation

The VSO Youth Virtuosi, USA is made up of 62 all-star student musicians selected from 11 different schools across Southwest Washington school districts. These students will perform alongside acclaimed cellist Julian Schwarz under the batons of award-winning maestros Gerard Schwarz and Ken Selden.

The VSO, now in its 47th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington’s arts community, providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community.

Lovingly coined “The Nimble Rogue,” Seattle-based Clown and internationally acclaimed performer Mick Holsbeke has a ravenous appetite for the absurd and ridiculous. His unique perspective on clowning, exuberant physical acting, and circus expertise were developed at the prestigious École Nationale de Cirque de Montréal and, later, at the Hangar des Mines in France. As a Clown & Circus Artist, Mick performed with internationally renowned companies such as the Cirque du Soleil, Teatro Zinzanni, The Seven Fingers, Cirque Plume, and his own solo show Moby Mick, bringing hilarity and comic innovation to hundreds of thousands of spectators around the world. Watch Mick and his Clown Garage family bring their unique brand of unexpected playfulness to Esther Short Park throughout the festival—and when you least expect it.

+Presented in collaboration with Clark College Foundation

Columbia Dance is a non-profit dance school offering classes for ages 3 to adult.  Their mission is to present dance as a life-enhancing experience for their students and their community by setting high artistic standards in classical ballet education and performance, while creating a positive, nurturing, and challenging environment where dance appreciation thrives.  Their focus is on mentoring youth.  They believe wholeheartedly in the positive impact dance has on their students’ lives, both inside and outside of the dance studio.

Bang Bang Experience is a brass and drums ensemble that plays the music of trumpet player Sam Dechenne. Inspired by the sounds of international brass bands and Jazz ensembles, Funk and Reggae horn sections, West African and Latin American drumming, and Western chamber music, their sound is truly their own.

Dr. Sherrie Davis is a world-renowned, award-winning, Hall of Fame Native American flute recording artist & descendant of the Navajo, Apache and Mexican Aztec people.

Teva Oriata is Oregon’s first pupu ori or Tahitian dance school. As a school, they meticulously teach technique and emphasize the meaning behind each dance move. There are classes for men, women, teens, and kids, as well as many occasions for them to dance all together. While currently offering classes in Tahitian, Hula, Poi, and Siva. Teva Oriata is always seeking out opportunities to not only educate the community, but also to learn from and partner with other leaders in the Polynesian community. Through music and dance, Teva Oriata educates the community about the many cultures of Polynesia and shares their stories, legends, and traditions.

The VSO, now in its 47th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington’s arts community, providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community.