Dancing Oaks

2009-04-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

The first Sunday in May, the Santa Rosa Junior College opens its doors to the public for an educational and cultural open house- Day under the Oaks. This day is devoted to showing off the college’s departments, athletics, museums, artwork, dance programs, culinary expertise and the committed staff, faculty and students that make up the college community. The event is free to the public, and there are hundreds of exhibits and vendors for all ages to participate in.

Day under the Oaks began when two of SRJC’s board members and college staff wanted to give back to the community in the form of a fair and college open house. The event is held beneath the interlaced oak trees that look like a field reflected in the sky. The vibrant grass comes alive with hundreds of vendors selling food, information and artwork. Soft jazz plays and the beat of a drum keeps time with Native American dancing. There are children riding horses, discovering animals at the petting zoo and jumping on bounce houses. There are about 10,000 community members that join in festivities under the oaks each year.

With literally hundreds of events, you will have to decide how to spend your time: shopping, tasting, watching dancing, art, parades, and playing games with your children. But two events that are highly attended and worth viewing are the Native American museum and dance show.
The Jesse Peter Native American museum at the college honors the local Pomo tribes that settled the county. The Pomo inhabited the coast and Inland County when the first Russian and Mexican settlers came to the valley in the late 18th century. Today the Pomo live in Rancherias throughout the county.

Pomo are famous for their ornate basket weaving and beautiful shell and bead jewelry. The museum displays gorgeous baskets, jewelry and weapons made by local Pomo. According to museum curator, Christine Vasquez, “The museum contains the largest collection of original Pomo basketry and jewelry in the world”. Do not miss walking around this small museum to view the fine and dying art of basket weaving at its best.

Adjacent to the museum is the grass area for the dance ceremonies. The Pomo don traditional dress complete with headdress. They dance dream-ghost dances that have been practiced for centuries. “These are their traditional ceremonial dances that celebrate everything from birth to nature to death and even the afterlife”, says Vasquez.

There a handful of Pomo dancing at a time. They sway gracefully in a circle to the beat of many drums. Men, women and children hum in time to the rhythm and wave feathers in their hands. It becomes difficult to walk past the dancing because of the growing audience, so you might get stuck watching. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it might become impossible to take your eyes off this mesmerizing celebration.

It is exhilarating to see strong bodies and vibrant dress swaying under the warm sun. And the intriguing head dress of feathers and sticks that look rectangular. The dancers resemble the strong, graceful and beautiful oak trees found all over the campus. They are dancing oaks.
It is intriguing to interpret the story they tell in a slow dream dance. Before you might know it, they begin a fast dance that is full of energy and smiles from both the dancers and the crowd. Some might join in the dancing and the Pomo welcome it. It is a wonderful experience to the eye, the mind and the soul.

The dancing and museum are a wonderful representation of the diversity in culture and traditions of the college. The event satisfies the purpose of Day under the Oaks: for the participants to have an outstanding experience at the college through learning and honoring. Public relations manager and coordinator of the event, Susan Matthews state “Day under the Oaks is supposed to evoke the complete experience of what SRJC can offer in the way of education and culture.” The Native American dancing and museum certainly convince me that I’ve seen what SRJC has to offer the community.

I’ve only described two of a myriad of events each equally special and unique. You can come for the food, the dancing or displays but spend plenty of time poking about the entire campus. You may be surprised at what you can find or learn all that the college has to offer the community. It truly is a refection of the Sonoma County community- that is abundant in culture, diversity and the joy of learning.

Katie Leon

Dancing Oaks