Interview with Paul Rosenberg
Dublin Core
Title
Interview with Paul Rosenberg
Date
12/2/2016
Is Part Of
Saratoga Memory Project
Publisher
DS113A: Storytelling Interviewing, Skidmore College
Description
Interview with Paul Rosenberg, founder of the Flurry Festival and director of programs until 2005. Paul discusses the Festival's beginnings at an elementary school and the move to the City Center in Saratoga Springs.
Language
English
Creator
Amanda Muir
Format
Original recording wav file, 16 bit 44.1 khz
Date Created
12/2/2016
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Amanda Muir
Interviewee
Paul Rosenberg
Location
Lucy Scribner Library, Skidmore College
Original Format
digital audio recording
Duration
61 minutes
Time Summary
00:00:00 Introductions.
00:00:52 Flurry hosted Iraq war protests in 2003 and 1989.
00:01:30 Founding of the Flurry Festival in Guilderland, New York, held at Westmere Elementary School
00:05:05 First year of the Flurry Dance Festival was met with a snowstorm.
00:06:12 Drawing in crowds by having good callers, musicians, and word of mouth. Held a dawn dance.
00:08:20 The importance of the president’s day weekend in the Flurry festival
00:10:30 Best memory was watching the children have fun dancing. Wanted more family activities
00:12:00 Inspired by music workshops and jamming of Ashokan camp and worked to incorporate this aspect
00:13:00 Starting the final jam performance at the end of the festival.
00:15:16 Creating the festival name and the impact it had with non dancing participants
00:17:20 Introduction of concerts into the festival
00:18:12 Procrastinating on creating the program, starting committee meetings late.
00:18:50 Influence of the Old Songs Festival and Nancy Gretta in the creation of the Flurry Festival
00:20:00 Difficulty organizing the first Flurry festival with Old Songs Committee members
00:23:45 Adding workshops and dances created difficulty in choosing and organizing
00:25:25 Rising tensions with the school because of wear and tear on soccer field and floor wear as well as cleanup
00:26:43 Adding more committees as jobs were needed
00:27:26 Moved festival at last minute because a broken pipe destroyed the multi-room. Hurried to find a new location Joe Dalton, leader of the Saratoga chamber of commerce, suggested the Saratoga City Center, Saratoga music hall and Skidmore College.
00:29:55 Dislike of the hard floors of the City Center. Had no other options and made due
00:31:06 Success of location, excluding Skidmore College
00:32:21 Difficulty with parking and so used a shuttle
00:33:06 Saratoga downtown changed perspective of hosting dances at schools to city centers.
00:34:10 Working with the Hilton manager on booking rooms the first few years
00:36:05 Deciding to stay in Saratoga
00:36:20 Creation of a video of the festival was made in 1992
00:36:55 Heaviest snowstorm the festival had almost caused the event to fold if not for the community
00:38:25 Decided to get married at the Festival in 1992 and wore a tuxedo. Jim Greggory, created a dance to honor him and his new wife
00:40:54 Informing everyone when the festival moved suddenly to Saratoga Springs 4 weeks away from the day
00:42:23 Finding a welcoming community in Saratoga Springs
00:44:03 Expanding awareness of the Flurry, especially with Mae Banner from the Saratogian
00:46:41 Considering moving to Saratoga
00:47:15 Attempting to date while organizing the Flurry Festival
00:51:00 Effecting relationships with performers
00:52:19 Reflecting on all of his goals being accomplished in bringing a world together
00:55:12 Commenting on the lack of diversity of color
00:56:28 Switching pianos across town
00:57:42 Still getting nervous feelings opening night.
00:59:10 Love of seeing children, jamming, and diversity of offerings
01:00:05 Working on keeping Saratoga Music Hall from becoming court space
01:00:50 End
00:00:52 Flurry hosted Iraq war protests in 2003 and 1989.
00:01:30 Founding of the Flurry Festival in Guilderland, New York, held at Westmere Elementary School
00:05:05 First year of the Flurry Dance Festival was met with a snowstorm.
00:06:12 Drawing in crowds by having good callers, musicians, and word of mouth. Held a dawn dance.
00:08:20 The importance of the president’s day weekend in the Flurry festival
00:10:30 Best memory was watching the children have fun dancing. Wanted more family activities
00:12:00 Inspired by music workshops and jamming of Ashokan camp and worked to incorporate this aspect
00:13:00 Starting the final jam performance at the end of the festival.
00:15:16 Creating the festival name and the impact it had with non dancing participants
00:17:20 Introduction of concerts into the festival
00:18:12 Procrastinating on creating the program, starting committee meetings late.
00:18:50 Influence of the Old Songs Festival and Nancy Gretta in the creation of the Flurry Festival
00:20:00 Difficulty organizing the first Flurry festival with Old Songs Committee members
00:23:45 Adding workshops and dances created difficulty in choosing and organizing
00:25:25 Rising tensions with the school because of wear and tear on soccer field and floor wear as well as cleanup
00:26:43 Adding more committees as jobs were needed
00:27:26 Moved festival at last minute because a broken pipe destroyed the multi-room. Hurried to find a new location Joe Dalton, leader of the Saratoga chamber of commerce, suggested the Saratoga City Center, Saratoga music hall and Skidmore College.
00:29:55 Dislike of the hard floors of the City Center. Had no other options and made due
00:31:06 Success of location, excluding Skidmore College
00:32:21 Difficulty with parking and so used a shuttle
00:33:06 Saratoga downtown changed perspective of hosting dances at schools to city centers.
00:34:10 Working with the Hilton manager on booking rooms the first few years
00:36:05 Deciding to stay in Saratoga
00:36:20 Creation of a video of the festival was made in 1992
00:36:55 Heaviest snowstorm the festival had almost caused the event to fold if not for the community
00:38:25 Decided to get married at the Festival in 1992 and wore a tuxedo. Jim Greggory, created a dance to honor him and his new wife
00:40:54 Informing everyone when the festival moved suddenly to Saratoga Springs 4 weeks away from the day
00:42:23 Finding a welcoming community in Saratoga Springs
00:44:03 Expanding awareness of the Flurry, especially with Mae Banner from the Saratogian
00:46:41 Considering moving to Saratoga
00:47:15 Attempting to date while organizing the Flurry Festival
00:51:00 Effecting relationships with performers
00:52:19 Reflecting on all of his goals being accomplished in bringing a world together
00:55:12 Commenting on the lack of diversity of color
00:56:28 Switching pianos across town
00:57:42 Still getting nervous feelings opening night.
00:59:10 Love of seeing children, jamming, and diversity of offerings
01:00:05 Working on keeping Saratoga Music Hall from becoming court space
01:00:50 End
Record Creation Date
6/12/2016
Collection
Citation
Amanda Muir, “Interview with Paul Rosenberg,” Skidmore Saratoga Memory Project, accessed January 31, 2025, https://ssmp.skidmore.edu/document/399.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.
Social Bookmarking
Embed
Copy the code below into your web page