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Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival - Image ©Kent McCracken
An ode if you will, to the organizers, volunteers, musicians and participants of the Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival of Music and Dance.
“Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.” – Oprah Winfrey
“I don’t want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance.” – George Balanchine
“Life is short and there will always be dirty dishes, so let’s dance.” – James Howe, Totally Joe
“When you truly sing, you sing yourself free. When you truly dance, you dance yourself free.” – Jay Woodman, aka Julia Woodman
I was invited back. Now I had to clear my schedule, and put out word for a camera assistant and a sound person available four days in February, on short notice. A worthy task!
As a photojournalist, my Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival, a journalists perspective, endorses the wonder and awe of the commitment the musicians and organizers represent to bring such a festival together.
I met David Habeck with Ultimate Environments, through my West Virginia paddle bud, Jesse Raymond of Soultree Surf.
David is a benefactor of the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival. Among the many duties David volunteers for with the festival, he facilitates permits to help bring the festival to fruition.
Through him I was invited to photograph the festival in 2015, and again in 2016.
Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival - Image ©Kent McCracken
Virginia Key Grassroots Festival is an extension of the original Grass Roots which started in Upstate New York in 1991.
There are currently three venues, with multiple dates, celebrating a progressive genre of music, including jam band, Bluegrass, Cajun, Zydeco, African, Reggae, Country, Americana, Native American, old-time music, Irish music, Rock & Roll, Hip Hop, and Rockabilly. All of which share a common significance, great dance music, on the Beach!
Virginia Key is a tiny island (key) just east of downtown Miami in-route to Key Biscayne. Virginia Key Beach Park is managed by the City of Miami via the Historic Virginia Key Park & Trust, and is virtually untouched by development of any kind!
It’s no small wonder Virginia Key exists as it does – with two of the richest per capita zip codes in the country, Key Biscayne to the South and Fisher Island to the North – without having been developed.
The 2016 Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival marks its fifth year in Florida, and continues to attract a growing multi-cultural gathering of music and dance lovers.
Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival - Image ©Kent McCracken
As a music and dance lover, I can’t think of a better way to ply my trade documenting live music, meeting band members, interviewing staff, and dancing with a throng of beautifully inclined individuals gathered in celebration of the ancient ritual of music and dance.
“We encourage people to hold celebration as a core value, not something extra we take time to do. I feel that in America we tend to finish one job and never pause to congratulate ourselves, or our community, and just move on to the next thing.”
Hillary’s statement, to me, exemplifies the true nature of what a festival should be, a celebration of life’s accomplishment!
Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival - Image ©Kent McCracken
With this number of bands and divergent grass root musical genres, the cultural benefits alone are worthy of the price of admission – $100 for four days, plus camping, if required, from $60, $140, or $200 respectively, based on duration, tent, vehicle, or RV camping.
Including, of course, the world food court, artist, heart, body and soul booths, a kid's village, Zen village, sustainability fair and expo booths, biking initiatives, beer gardens, and a cornucopia of holistic minded contributors participating from near and far.
The depth of artists, performances, and community is mesmerizing. Grass Roots brings communities of multi-cultured backgrounds together through the magic of music, art, dance, education, wellness and sustainability.
"Community is a major cause for Grass Roots. Many of the buildings built by Grass Roots, become permanent structures for the venue sites after the festivities depart. At Virginia Key Grass Roots, organizers and volunteers build and donate sleeping cabins, gazebos and picnic shelters which the Park uses year-round as permanent amenities and attractions."
Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival - Image ©Kent McCracken
This is simply one example of how Grass Roots bequeaths to its partnerships and community venue sites.
The impact of Grass Roots Festivals expands far beyond that which occurs during these four-day festivals.
"For me, documenting this festival provides the means to be part of something larger than my work"
Image ©Kent McCracken
As a spoke in the wheel of the Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival I have become engrossed in its mission. I'm a convert.
In this journalist’s opinion, and I would imagine most who partake in the facilitation of Grass Roots philosophy, there is no better way to spread positive vibrations than through music and dance in developing economic largess and community spirit.
Everyone I met, interviewed and worked with are of different professions, backgrounds, religions and cultures, with a common belief and goal of sharing resources and interest in employing music, dance and celebration to strengthen health and wealth.
Image ©Kent McCracken
In writing this, Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival, a journalists perspective, I wanted to share my participation in applying community wealth and health through the benefits of joy, happiness, and expression through music and dance.
May you eternally dance to the light of the moon, to the love of expression, in health and happiness, with all of earth’s creatures.
Image ©Kent McCracken
In my six days reveling with the festival staff who generously give their time as volunteers, I find it hard to express in words how impressive it is what you do. But I try.
The magnitude of the undertaking to organize, construct, facilitate and operate this festival astounds me. Without its volunteers, musicians and revelers, Virginia Key Grass Roots Festival could not do what it does. I tip my hat to you all, and thank you for doing what you do.
(Long live music and dance and celebration!
Text and images © Kent McCracken
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