Traditional Artists

Traditional Artists at the Florida Folk Festival are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Just the Way it Was

Liliane Nerette-Louis is a Master Artist who has been promoting Haitian folk life for the past 40 years. She is the author of When Night Falls and other publications including 4 children books such as Pumpkin Soup is for Sunday. She was the recipient of the 2006 Life Achievement award. Louis is committed to continue on passing on the rich culture of the Haitian people.

Paco and Celia Fonta are internationally recognized performers of Spanish flamenco music and dance, and for over thirty years have been ambassadors of flamenco throughout Florida and the U.S. They are the founders of Siempre Flamenco, a not for profit organization that promotes the art of flamenco outside of Spain. They are recipients of the Florida Folk Heritage award and have been recipients of the Florida Folk life Apprenticeship Program as Master Artists. Their performances delight and exhilarate both young and old and the emotions expressed are timeless and universal.