One of the things I have always loved about Rebec Vineyard's Annual Garlic Festival is the sense of community.  Each year brings a chance to meet new people, sure; but there are some folks you meet at the Festival year after year.  People have certain Garlic Fest traditions.  For my friends and I it has been closing out the days at the Stage in the Woods enjoying the entertainment of Robin Rich and the various friends and guest artists he has brought in over the years. 
I know folks who look forward to the Garlic King and Queen competitions all year and others who are true wine lovers and can taste the difference in vintage years at their favorite wineries.
This year Lynchburg Tribal became an authentic part of the Festival experience.  The dancers worked hard for weeks on end preparing new material and working the kinks out of other piece.  Some of our newest members worked overtime learning core repertoire pieces.  I was really impressed with work and dedication the ladies put in.  At the festival they danced beautifully and dealt with last minute set changes with race and humor.
For me it was a dual honor: an honor to contribute to an event I have loved for years and an honor to dance in the company of such talented, intelligent, and professional dancers.

Lynchburg Tribal is busy packing for the Garlic Festival--a Central Virginia tradition hosted by Rebec Winery.  Actually the history of belly dance at the Garlic Festival goes back many years and is tightly woven with my love of Irish drinking songs.  Years ago my friends and I made a habit of closing out each day of the Garlic Festival be heading to the Woods to listen to that bearded fella who sang the good, bawdy songs.  It wasn't entirely uncommon for Tina and I to get up a dance (many of you know Tina as the one for whose wedding the Wedding Dance was created).  After that bearded guy's wife started taking belly dance lessons, it was all over and herds of bedecked belly dancers began showing up at his stage and shimmying whenever he took a break.
After many years, Lynchburg Tribal is dancing, officially!  We hope you'll come visit us in the Woods at Noon and 3pm,