Our Story
American Rhythm's History
Twilla Mann learned to love international folk festivals as a teenager when she toured Europe for several summers as a dancer with an American folk group. Twilla wanted to share her love of folk festivals with her children, so she started the American Rhythm Folk Ensemble in 2000. In the early years, American Rhythm performed at varied public and private venues and competed and won numerous titles at clogging competitions throughout the United States for many years. In 2011, American Rhythm performed at our first international folk festival in Rexburg, Idaho, USA, and in 2012 we took our first international tour to France and Spain. Since that time, American Rhythm has participated in many international folk festivals throughout the world where we love learning about the various cultures of the world, sharing our love for our culture, and meeting many international friends. We are members in good standing of CIOFF-USA and IOV.
American Rhythm's Repertoire
American Rhythm performs a full hour traditional show of live music at international folk festivals throughout the world. Our live bluegrass band includes fiddles, banjo, mandolin, bass, harmonica, guitar, banjitar, percussion and vocalists. In less traditional environments, we also perform a few more contemporary numbers when appropriate. Our repertoire features a respect for our cultural roots as well as a desire to please and entertain on stage. Among our elite dancers are some of the country's best cloggers, but we also train our dancers in regional and national folk dances to present a well-rounded and accurate historical review of the traditional dance styles of the United States of America. Our repertoire reflects our diverse heritage, including Pioneer songs and dances from Utah, Appalachian Running Set with Hambone, Civil War Medley, Charleston, Lindy Swing, Western Suite, Country Hoedown, Live Bluegrass Music, Contra Dance, Square Dance, as well as numerous forms of clogging.
American Rhythm’s Tours/Performances
-
2011
American Rhythm's first International Festival appearance was at the CIOFF Idaho International Music and Dance Festival in Rexburg, ID, USA.
-
2012
American Rhythm was honored to represent the USA at the Rouergue International Folkloric Festival in Rodez, France, also performing in Paris.
-
2013
We represented the United States at the CIOFF Springville World Folkfest in Springville, UT and CIOFF Summerfest International in Bountiful, UT. We also toured the Mid-West United States, teaching workshops and performing shows in Omaha, NB; Nauvoo, IL; Gallatin, MO; Independence, MO and Hamilton, MO. American Rhythm were also headline performers at the City of Independence 4th of July Celebration in Independence, MO; guest performers in Nauvoo, IL; and the Hughes Brother's and Dixie Stampede shows in Branson, MO.
-
2014
We attended the CIOFF Festival Zacatecas del Folklor Internacional in Zacatecas, Mexico. We performed shows in Mexico City and Cancun, Mexico. American Rhythm toured Utah and Idaho, USA performing in Provo, Utah; Jerome, Rexburg, and Salmon, Idaho where we taught workshops.
-
2015
American Rhythm attended the CIOFF Le Mondial des Cultures of Drummondville in Quebec, Canada where we were chosen to perform at the People's Choice Performance and a musical fireside. We also performed at in New York and Ohio. American Rhythm also toured Moab, Price and Roosevelt, Utah performing our full show, musical firesides, and teaching workshops.
-
2016
American Rhythm represented the United States at Spotkania Folklorystyczne in Lublin, Poland and Miedzynarodowe Olsztynskie Dni Folkloru "Warmia" in Olsztyn, Poland. We also were privileged to perform our musical fireside in Warsaw, Poland. We also represented the United States at CIOFF Bountiful/Davis Summerfest in Bountiful, Utah.
-
2017
We attended MEZINARODNI FOLKLORNI FESTIVAL CIOFF PLZEN, (CZECH REPUBLIC); INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL CIOFF IOV FRYDEK-MISTEK, (Czech Republic); and INTERNATIONAL FOLKLOREFESTIVAL LAUSITZ,(Germany). We also performed and attended a clogging workshop in Prague. American Rhythm performed at Springville World Folkfest, Bountiful International Summerfest, and Sandy International Folk Festival
-
2018
American Rhythm represented the United States at CIOFF International Folk Festivals in Queretaro, and Zacatecas, Mexico. We were also grateful for the opportunity to perform in Cancun, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Chetumal, and Mexico City. We also enjoyed performing at BOUNTIFUL INTERNATIONAL SUMMERFEST back home in Utah. We were also honored to be the main performers at a United Nations UNISEF Fundraiser in Salt Lake City, Utah.
-
2019
American Rhythm attended festivals in Pasian Di Prato, Imola, and Penna Sant' Andrea Italy. We also performed our musical fireside and full folk show in Rome Italy. We also were happy to at Bountiful Davis Summerfest and Americana fest here at home.
-
2021
American Rhythm toured the United States. We performed in: Eagle Mountain, UT; Payson, UT; Bayard, NE; Council Bluffs, IA; Mentor, OH; Bloomington, IN; Independence, MO; Limon, CO; Roosevelt, UT; Akron, OH; Palmyra, NY. American Rhythm also represented the United States at the SPRINGVILLE WORLD FOLKFEST and in Provo, UT.
-
2022
American Rhythm represented the United States at international folk festivals in Lorca, Jaen, Ciudad Real and Badajoz, Spain stopping in Paris, France and Madrid, Spain on the way. We performed in Madrid. We were guest performers at a Family Watch conference for the United Nations; at Autumn Fest in Roosevelt, Utah; and at World Folkfest in Springville, Utah. America Rhythm also toured the western United States performing in Kanab, Utah; Lake Havasu, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada. We performed at Summerfest in Orem, Utah; in Payson, Utah at the Peteetneet Museum and at the Library in Springville, Utah.
-
2023
American Rhythm represented the United States at "Pueblos Hermanos" network of festivals in Peru including performances at K’anamarka, Raqchi, Espinar, Sicuani and Urcos, Peru. We also performed in Cusco and Puno. We also represented the United States at Triangle Folklore Festival in Vejle, Denmark performing in Malmo, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark on the way. We were also delighted to perform acapella vocal music at the Church of our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark. We performed in Springville, Utah; Oremfest in Orem, Utah; and presented special outreach performances in Provo, Utah; Spanish Fork, Utah; American Fork, Utah; and Springville, Utah.
-
2024
American Rhythm represented the United States at FIFO Danses & Musiques Du Monde CIOFF international folk festival in Martigny, Switzerland. We also made stops in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Italy, performing for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Breda, Netherlands; Kaiserslautern, Germany; and Geneva, Switzerland. We performed our annual spring show "Family Reunion" at the Ragan Theater at Utah Valley University in May. We performed pre-tour shows at the Peteetneet Museum in Payson, Utah and at the Summit Center in Springville, Utah in July. We also performed our musical fireside in Orem, Utah and Springville, Utah before leaving on tour.
Get Involved With American Rhythm!
Want To Be Involved? See How Below!
Option #1
Join Our Email List!
Join our email list so that you can be updated on upcoming shows, tour dates, and general news about American Rhythm!
Option #2
Follow Us On Social Media
We'd love to have you follow along with us on our social media channels! You can see where we go for tour, the experiences we have, and feel part of our community!
Option #3
Host A Show!
Want to host a show in your community, ward, at an event, etc? Use the button below to contact Twilla to arrange a show!
© Copyrights by American Rhythm Folk Ensemble. All Rights Reserved.