Multicultural Fair Press Release 3.14.11

8/7/2019 Multicultural Fair Press Release 3.14.11

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Hands‐on Fun for Kids and Adults Alike

The fair welcomes children of all ages to the family activity booth offering mask‐making, henna painting,

Chinese calligraphy, and dress‐up photos. An ethnic bazaar will sell unique treasures and trinkets from

all over the globe.

The fair runs from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Admission is $7 per person at the door, with children 7 and

under free. Food tickets, sold on site, are $1 each. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Sage Hill’s

Financial Aid Endowment Fund.

Sage Hill School

20402 Newport Coast Drive

Newport Coast, CA 92657

sagehillschool.org/multiculturalfair

About Sage Hill School

Sage Hill School is Orange County’s only independent, non‐profit, non‐sectarian, coed college

preparatory high school, located on thirty acres in Newport Coast, CA. Founded in 2000, the school

provides a premier education for its 400 plus students through small class sizes that average 15 students

per teacher, world‐class educators, an outstanding program of curricular and extra‐curricular offerings,

highly personalized college counseling, and a public purpose. Sage Hill aims to transform the lives of its

students by inspiring a love of knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge creatively,

compassionately and courageously throughout their lives.

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* See fact sheet below



FACT SHEET #1

Persian Dance: Forbidden in Iran, Flourishing at Sage Hill

A colorful mosaic of costumes, music and movement, Persian dance has a deep history beginning more

than 2,000 years ago. Often accompanied by the clatter of tea glasses or finger cymbals to mark the

rhythm, the distinctive style of Persian dance should not be confused with Arabic or belly dancing.

Persian dance involves dramatic upper body movements and smaller, understated hip movements,

while the feet move in intricate patterns. Facial expression and interaction with the audience are

integral to the performance.

The origin of Persian dance parallels the rise of the mystery cult, Mithraism. The worship of the Persiangod of sun and light, Mithra, involved sacrificing a bull followed by a ritual dance performed only by

men. This ceremonial dance formed the basis for the Persian dance we see today.

Greek historians have documented cultural exchanges with “Persian dance masters.” Emperors in the

first ruling dynasty of the Persian Empire encouraged the advancement of different art forms, including

dance, and subsequent dynasties continued to promote and protect dance. But the status of dance

changed dramatically with the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th

Century.

In the centuries of religious prohibition and political instability that followed, many ancient Persian

traditions nearly disappeared, including dance. After the fall of the Persian Empire, many Iranian

women were forced to perform exotic dances. This led to a widespread impression that dancing of any

sort was dishonorable for women. Over time, not only was the practice of dance suppressed, but its

history was, too. The practice of Persian dance was preserved largely through the Armenian Christian

and Jewish populations in Iran.

The rise of the Qajar Dynasty in the late 18th

Century liberalized attitudes towards dancing, and for the

next 100 years Persian dancing flourished. But with the decline of the monarchy in the early 1900s,

dancing suffered another set‐back. In a temporary revival during the mid‐1900s, dancing became more

accepted with several government‐sponsored dance companies performing classical and folk dance.

Following the 1979 revolution, dancing was banned in Iran, and this ban continues today.

At Sage Hill School, a committed and talented group of Persian students and parents keep their cultural

tradition alive every year at the Multicultural Fair. Their vibrant performances showcase their talent,

while preserving their rich heritage.

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FACT SHEET #2

Fried Catfish:

Soul Food and the Soul of the Multicultural Fair

When Sage Hill School's 10th Multicultural Fair begins at 11:00 a.m. on March 26, Anita Jackson will

have 75 pounds of fresh catfish on hand. By the time the fair closes five hours later, Jackson will likely

be fresh out of fish, and most of the 1000 visitors will have tried her famous fare. “I fry a mean catfish,”

Jackson said.

How Anita Jackson's fried catfish became a perennial favorite at the Multicultural Fair is a story of

inspiration, commitment, and shared vision that embodies the very heart and soul of the fair, and of

Sage Hill School itself. When Sage Hill was nothing more than an idea and a parcel of sage‐coveredhillside, Jackson's husband was invited to join the founders in shaping the vision of the nascent school.

Sage Hill was committed, long before it opened, to attracting a diverse student body.

Frank Jackson, an ordained minister, has dedicated much of his life to helping African American youth

reach their potential. For years, he and Anita ran “Passport to the Future,” a mentoring program for

high school boys through the nonprofit 100 Black Men of Orange County. When Sage Hill opened,

Passport began holding its biweekly meetings on campus. “Our hope was to have people here and have

someone say, ‘You know, this is a great environment,’” Jackson said. And it worked: Sage Hill’s first

African American graduate was a member of the Passport program.

Although she was raised in Pittsburgh, Anita Jackson's roots are in the Deep South. Her mother hailedfrom Alabama, and her quintessential Southern fried catfish recipe traveled by way of Pittsburgh to

Orange County, where Jackson now resides. Jackson first offered her catfish at the Multicultural Fair six

years ago, and it’s been one of the most popular food booths ever since. “We’re always the first to shut

down,” Jackson said.

Anita and Frank Jackson no longer run Passport to the Future, but they maintain strong ties with the

organization, and with Sage Hill School. In response to the real estate crisis, the Jacksons formed Village

Solutions Foundation, a faith‐based community development corporation serving Los Angeles and

Orange Counties. Their commitment to bringing diversity to Sage Hill School hasn’t wavered. “How do

we identify the diamonds in the rough?” Jackson asked rhetorically. While he applauds Sage Hill’s

efforts to promote diversity, he would like to see even more ethnic minorities take advantage of the

academic and extracurricular opportunities the school offers, as well as the generous financial aid.

The Multicultural Fair offers a unique way for different cultural communities to connect with one

another. “Food is one of those connectors,” Frank Jackson said. Anita plans to continue sharing her

personal heritage with visitors from all over Orange County as long as the fair continues to invite her.

Based on the popularity of her catfish, she has a standing invitation.

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FACT SHEET #3

The Wimberley Bluegrass Band

Bluegrass music is alive and well in Orange County, thanks in part to the Wimberley siblings of Santa

Ana. The musical quartet—three brothers and a sister—received bluegrass instruments for Christmas

four years ago, and the Wimberley Bluegrass Band was born.

The Wimberleys had some formal piano and violin lessons, but they are mostly self‐taught, their mother

said. "We took them to open bluegrass jams where they watched and learned," said Tina Wimberley.Led by 12‐year‐old Michael on vocals and fiddle, the older siblings harmonize and play other acoustic

instruments. Danielle, 17, plays mandolin; James, 16, plays banjo; and his twin, Mark, plays guitar.

The band performs at bluegrass festivals, fairs, and other events, mostly in Southern California, including

Riley’s Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, the Orange County Fair, and the Anaheim Fall Festival. They have

also played at venues in Branson, MO and Mountain View, AR. In 2009 they released their first CD, Opry

Bound.

Bluegrass music incorporates elements of country, folk, jazz and blues. Though it reflects Scottish and

Irish folk music influences, it is a distinctly American genre. Traditional bluegrass is played on acoustic

stringed instruments like mandolin, fiddle and banjo, with or without vocals. The name comes from the

popular 1940s band, the Blue Grass Boys, whose vocalist, Bill Monroe, is considered the pioneer of

bluegrass.

At a time when famous sibling bands are making millions in the world of pop music, the Wimberleys'

goal is refreshingly simple: "We hope to keep good, old fashioned bluegrass music alive," they said.

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Multicultural Fair Press Release 3.14.11