Dancers from the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble on stage at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Salem’s World Beat festival returned to Riverfront Park over the weekend with a colorful Children’s Parade, an array of dancers and cultural activities from every corner of the globe.
This year’s festival theme was Ukraine, bringing focus to the eastern European country’s folklore, dance and traditional handicrafts.
Yulia Brockdorf from DAWNUS demonstrates how to wear a traditional Ukrainian headdress called a vinok at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The World Beat Children’s Parade led by the Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Participants in the World Beat Children’s Parade at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Participants in the World Beat Children’s Parade at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Members of the Salem Chinese Golden Willow Dance Group prepare before their show at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A member of the Salem Chinese Golden Willow Dance Group dances at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Members of the Salem Chinese Golden Willow Dance Group dancing at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Members of Ameyalmazatl Citlaltonal dancing at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A member of Ameyalmazatl Citlaltonal dances at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A member of Ameyalmazatl Citlaltonal dances at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A member of Ameyalmazatl Citlaltonal dances at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Members of Karate for Kids demonstrate punching with members of the audience at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Members of the audience participate in a Karate for Kids demonstration at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Guru Rinpoche performs the Black Hat Dance at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Children make flowers in the Asian Village activity tent at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Children take a break from the heat and make crafts in the Americas Village crafts tent at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)People play Chinese chess, or XiangQi, in the Asian Village at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Xochitl SanJose sings a Hawaiian melody for the Hula Halau ‘O Ke Alaula dancers at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Hula Halau ‘O Ke Alaula dancers perform at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Jambwa Napoleon plays at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The audience watches the Hula Halau ‘O Ke Alaula dancers perform at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Beats from Anatolia perform on the Stepping Stage at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A dancer from the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble poses before beginning her routine at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Dancers from the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble on stage at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Global Heat gets the crowd dancing at the amphitheater at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A break dancer with Global Heat at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Paradise of Samoa fire dancers enter the amphitheater during the Parade of Lights at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Belly Dancers on stage at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Paradise of Samoa fire dancers on stage at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dancers on stage at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A Paradise of Samoa fire dancers swings her poi balls on stage at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Paradise of Samoa fire dancers on stage with their signature fire hula belts at the World Beat Festival held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
