Texas Folklife Festival

Workshops preserve, investigate folk traditions of Texas

The sizzle of steak, the music of flutes, acoustic guitars and Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” echoed through the Mexican American Cultural Center when local teachers and students presented stories of folk traditions.

Eleven local teachers and four high school students presented the radio journalism reports they made during a week-long workshop sponsored by Texas Folklife , a non-profit dedicated to preserving and publicizing Texas cultural traditions. The stories shared Friday evening chronicled renowned fajita maker Sonny Falcon; the use of native plants in indigenous cultures at the Festival de Las Plantas; Aaron Allan, a DJ Hall of Fame member who wrote songs for many people including Willie Nelson; and the Georgetown Palace Theater.

Cristina Ballí, associate director of Texas Folklife, said about 150 people in Austin and South Texas have participated in similar programs in the past three years, but this was the first time the organization offered a workshop during the summer. She said the workshops turn teachers and students into field researchers for Texas Folklife. “They live the culture day-in and day-out, so we give them the tools to document that culture and present it in a meaningful and engaging way,” Balli said. “They learn many new valuable skills they can apply in their jobs, and they have some experience to write on their college applications,” she said.

Elisabeth Perez-Luna, a lead instructor of the workshop and a radio producer, introduced the projects and showed two of her radio pieces.Perez-Luna said she was impressed by the effort workshop participants gave to their projects from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day.

“They push themselves and they’re always thinking how to use the material they learned here for their own students,” she said.

LBJ High School English teacher Ashley Robinson said working on the story about Aaron Allan was challenging, but rewarding.

“Hearing yourself in an interview and on the mic, you really hear all those little tiny things you don’t realize you do or say that you should never have anybody else hear either,” Robinson said.

Texas Folklife Festival »

With the approach of the 40th annual Texas Folklife Festival, the Institute of Texan Cultures will look back on the history of its signature event. The Texas Folklife Festival is an annual celebration of the ethnic strength, rich cultural heritage and dynamic pioneering spirit of Texas. The Texas Folklife Festival represents the cultural tapestry of Texas, woven from many diverse cultures and traditions. Held the second weekend in June, the festival manifests the museum’s mission to serve as a forum for the understanding and appreciation of Texas and Texans.

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