What comes to mind when you think of peace?

By Andrew Glasgow, Booker Tornado Tribune - September 2006

Do you envision peace with others, peace with yourself, or even World peace?

According to Webster, peace is all about harmonious relations, security, serenity, and a state of tranquility. Today, that translates to the message of Earthdance.

This past September, the cry for peace, love, and harmony rang out across the Bay of Sarasota. Imagine yourself back in the 1960s on a pseudo hippie commune, but with access to money and business vendors set up around the camp. Picture massage stations, organic vegetarian food vendors, exotic musical instrument dealers, and clothing tents set up with all of the gauzy and flowy outfits your heart desires. Lastly, what would hippies be without music? Now, listen for the sounds of digeridoos (a native Australian instrument), drums, and guitars. There is constant music and laughter from all around the camp. Blend all of this and stick it on the beautiful property of The Crosley Mansion, we would get a little something called…. Earthdance.

Earthdance is an event held at an international level and was celebrated throughout 50 countries and held in 222 cities. It is a peace demonstration highlighting a peace circle. Participants gather around and assemble in a large circle to pray for global peace.

On September 16, the peace loving people of Sarasota gathered together to celebrate the daylong event. Booker High School was the center of attention for Sarasota’s Earthdance. It was a beneficiary of the profits made at Earthdance, along with Sarasota’s community radio, WSLR. Volunteers from the VPA theater department were on staff to help out by setting up and running booths. Additionally, the VPA dance troop danced for hundreds of the Earthdance spectators.

This is the third year for Sarasota to host Earthdance. It returned to the site of the Crosley Mansion, where it originally was preformed prior to its move for one only one year to City Island. Each year has seen a steady climb in attendance, now reaching almost 2,000 attendees. The Crosley Mansion seems to be the perfect place for this type of event. It sits right on Sarasota Bay; there is beautiful scenery, including years old Banyan trees; and a gorgeous, roomy house, welcoming its guests. The Crosley estate has enough grounds for numerous vendors to pitch their tents and lure their potential customers with interesting displays.

All vendors supported the theme of Earthdance with their “all natural” way of living. Carnivores beware; the food is all vegetarian. Earthdance does not support or condone any animal cruelty. There were natural medicine vendors, and massage tables for those who wanted to loosen up. Clothing tents were set up along with a couple of music stations to explore the “inner musician”.

Earthdance’s quest is to gather communities for a better cause and with a focus on the creative arts. Some local performers who supported and entertained at Earthdance included: The Alex Skolnik Trio, Amy Steinberg, Drum Studio All Stars, Voces Libres, and Booker High’s own, The Cherryhill Project. Other eclectic entertainers who pleased the crowds were Hip Expressions (a local belly-dancing group with a fiery gypsy flair), and Didgrevolution, which consisted of digerdoo players.

Later, as dusk settled over the Crosley Mansion, DJ’s spun the night into a dance party. All ages and peoples danced together through the night until it ended early the next morning at 2:00 A.M.

Earthdance is a perfect example of how cultures can come together and are accepted through open mindedness, education, and celebration. It demonstrates how groups of people, no matter where they are from, what they do, or what language they speak, have the same goals for peace and unity among all.