Different cultures show off at festival

Toni Weber sheepishly admits she's been teaching Irish dance for four decades.

She can hardly believe it's been that long since she took lessons alongside fellow student and South Sider Michael Flatley, star of "Lord of the Dance" and "Riverdance."

"We were at the same school," Weber said.

She and her sister, Madeleine, own the Weber School of Irish Dance, in business for more than 40 years.

"The Irish dancing was more popular in the ethnic-type neighborhoods in Chicago," Weber said. "That's where it mostly started and was successful."

The sisters, who have since moved to the Western suburbs, continue to offer dance classes, mostly through park districts, all around the Chicago area, including Naperville and Chicago's Beverly and Mt. Greenwood neighborhoods.

Nowadays, Weber said, Irish dance is a discipline and art form taken up not only by children of Irish descent, but by children of all backgrounds.

A troupe of about 100 Weber students will be among the performers Sunday at North Central College's 12th annual Around the Corner, Around the World International Festival.

The event offers visitors a peek into a variety of world cultures with samplings of dance, art, food, crafts and games.

Weber said her dancers have been at most, if not all, of the past festivals at North Central.

"North Central is interesting and fun because they have so many nationalities represented there," she said. "The people who come to it seem to enjoy folk dancing."

Weber said her dancers perform hard-shoe dances and soft, ghillie-shoe dances. To protect the gym floor inside Merner Fieldhouse, where the International Festival takes place, she said, all dances will be performed wearing soft shoes.

The Weber Irish Dancers' 15-minute performance is scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

The festival also will feature Spanish, Greek and Indian dance; a Kung Fu demonstration; an International Club fashion show; and a host of vendors and organization booths.

And visitors can experience another culture's language and customs through 30-minute immersion sessions offered at the festival. Languages include Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Russian and Japanese.

This year, there will be more immersion rooms than in the past, said Jack Shindler, North Central's director of international programs.

"We had a call for more," he said. "Apparently, a lot of Girl Scout troops and elementary school groups are coming. We really want this festival to be as educational as possible."

If you go

What: 12th annual Around the Corner, Around the World International Festival, organized by North Central College's Office of International Programs and International Club and Rotary Club of Naperville-Sunrise

Where: North Central's Merner Fieldhouse, 450 S. Brainard St., Naperville

When: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday Cost: $4; free for ages 3 and younger

Info: (630) 637-5132 or northcentralcollege.edu