Rolf Kaufman has been a fixture on the Folkmoot scene since before it even began, bringing people from foreign lands together and welcoming them to Western North Carolina much as he himself was welcomed here from a foreign land 70 years ago.

Dillon Ingle will only be the third music director in Folkmoot’s 33-year history.

Everyone in Western North Carolina knows that once the Smokies shed their winterwear and the trees begin to bud, summer’s coming. They also know that when the dog days hit, the most refreshing thing going is Folkmoot USA’s International Folk Festival.

Ongoing coverage of the 33rd year of Folkmoot — an international folk dance festival based in Waynesville. 

• Folkmoot 2016 looks at more than just the tip of the iceberg
• New music director takes over at Folkmoot
• Meet ‘Mr. Folkmoot’
• Meet this year’s performing groups
• Schedule
• GALLERY: "Wanderlust" Gala
• Ugandan group changes lives through performance
• Folkmoot dance party at Asheville’s Orange Peel gives a peek below the cultural waterline
• Sam Love Queen and the values of Folkmoot
• Folkmoot moments

Shining Rock Classical Academy’s continued hunt for somewhere to temporarily house the fledgling charter school come Jan. 1 has inevitably landed on the doorstep of the Folkmoot Friendship Center, a seemingly natural choice since the Folkmoot Center was originally an elementary school. 

Standing in the back of The Stompin’ Ground in Maggie Valley last week, several languages could be heard in every direction. To the right, Spanish and Estonian. To the left, French and Cherokee. All present for the “Opening Gala” of Folkmoot USA, all versed in the universal language of performance.

There’s a secret ingredient behind the bright lights, splashy costumes and glossy programs of Folkmoot: for every two parts planning, there’s one part improv.

Each year international groups from all over the world travel abroad to share their traditional folk dances and songs with other cultures. 

They spend hundreds of hours researching, learning and rehearsing these songs and dances. They spend a lot of money on authentic costumes to accurately represent their heritage and they spend even more to go one tour and share their work with others.