Bosnian Performers Bring Traditional Music to Bayless
by Bettie Downs
January 12, 2010
During their first week back from the holidays, Bayless students were able to experience cultural music and dance when the Bosnian dance troupe, Sevdah, visited our school.
Sevdah St Louis was formed in November 2008 by a group of individuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to preserve and promote the traditional music from their homeland. Since that time Sevdah St Louis has had numerous concerts and radio appearances which have touched over 50,000 people.
The school assemblies at Bayless were part of the first ever “St Louis Sevdah Days Festival” that also included a house concert, formal concert at Grbic Banquet Hall and a senior citizen concert at Aboussie Pavillion all held in December 2009. This 2-year project was a unique collaboration between the following organizations: Sevdah St Louis, Bayless School District, International Institute, Bosnian Islamic Center, Aboussie Pavillion, International Folk Dance Association of University City and Sevdah North America.
