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Last Updated: Aug 22, 2008 - 12:10:50 AM |
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Ginny Kaiser of Apple Valley, Minn. and Tom Kotrous of rural Nebraska cut it up on the dance floor during Becksterfest 2008 in Amana. Mitch Traphagen Photo
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AMANA - More than 2,000 people, followers of a Bohemian custom, rolled into Amana over the weekend bringing with them RVs, song, dance and more than a few pieces of colorful clothing. They all arrived for Becksterfest 2008 - one of the region’s largest polka-fests. In all, it was 24 hours of food, drink, fun and, of course, polka dancing - running from 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday and six to midnight on Sunday.
For those who have never been, don’t discount polka too quickly - and certainly don’t envision a Lawrence Welk-type crowd of ballroom dancers. Polka dancers really know how to move and the live bands know how to rock - it was not an event for the couch-potatoes among us.
Becky Livermore, also known as Barefoot Becky, is the organizer and namesake of Becksterfest. This is her sixth year running at Amana.
“We have lots of food, lots of drink and lots of people here,” Livermore said. “Usually we get between 2,000 and 2,500 people - I don’t know the number yet for this year but we’ve had really good crowds this weekend.”
Indeed, the tables surrounding the dance floors in two buildings were nearly full with people taking breaks, having a meal or just socializing. Out on the floor, the dancer were gracefully gliding around to the fast beat of the bands - somehow magically avoiding collisions with other dancers as they cris-crossed the floor.
Ginny Kaiser traveled from Apple Valley, Minn. for Becksterfest, her friend Tom Kostrous traveled from northeastern Nebraska. Together, they whirled around the floor in a seemingly spontaneous yet practiced unison to the steady beat. When it came time to leave, they couldn’t just walk off the dance floor, they actually danced off the dance floor.
“After my husband died, I sat at home for a few years looking for something to do,” said Kaiser, a former teacher. I don’t like ballroom dancing so I tried polka dancing - and then there was this man who asked me to dance…”
Tom beamed at the reference.
Together, they join many thousands of others as they travel around to polka fests throughout the area - and throughout the country.
It’s easy to see why - the people attending Becksterfest were clearly having fun - the music itself seems to inspire a good time. There is laughter and dancing - and a band whaling away - what could be better?
Many consider the Midwest as the polka center of the universe - Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas and Wisconsin are, apparently, alive with music from the accordion. While many at Becksterfest were middle age and beyond, a growing number of young people are also discovering polka. After all, a fair number of rock and rollers have nothing on a good polka band.
Becksterfest is held each year at the Amana RV Park on the first weekend after Memorial Day.
For more information visit www.barefootbecky.com or call 877-499-7133.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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