World Music Festival set for Oct. 9: performers spotlight cultures of Alaska and beyond.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: Alaska This Month

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Powerful, rhythmic drumbeats--across cultures and musical genres--draw attention to the storyteller. Performers will lure audiences with tales from Alaska and around the world in Anchorage this month.

The World Music Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The free event features performances by groups specializing in music from various cultures, from Africa to indigenous people of North America. Other festival activities include Native drummers and dancers, village site tours, artist demonstrations and art activities for children.

Steven Alvarez of the center developed the festival, which premiered in 2004, to spotlight music from the United States' indigenous people: Alaska Natives, Native Americans and native Hawaiians. He included international music to recognize Anchorage's cultural diversity. Alvarez works as director of strategic initiatives and media production.

About 1,000 people attend the festival, Alvarez said. The festival has now included international musicians and performers from Senegal, Norway, Denmark, Greenland, Cuba, New Zealand and Peru.

Alvarez treasures the chemistry generated at each World Music Festival as Alaskan musicians connect with their international counterparts.

"I love the camaraderie that is shared between the performers and the energy that is clearly felt throughout the day," he said.

He also enjoys seeing Anchorage residents show their support by attending the event.

Valerie Naranjo, a percussionist for "Saturday Night Live," and her band Mandara, will perform music from Africa. Alvarez performed with Naranjo at the 2010 Winter...