How did Chang's International Folk Dancers help spread folk dancing in California?

Chang’s International Folk Dancers played a pivotal role in the expansion of the folk dance movement in California. The group was organized by Song Chang, a Chinese American, and his Swedish wife, Harriet, who sought to recreate the sense of camaraderie they experienced while folk dancing during a trip to Europe.1

By forming this group with their friends, they helped establish a foundation for the broader movement in the region. A significant milestone for the organization occurred when they performed at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Exhibition between 1939 and 1940, which helped bring international folk dance to a wider public audience.1

This movement eventually grew to become one of the most active repositories for folk dance, characterized by members who learned and performed dances from diverse global cultures regardless of their own ethnic backgrounds.1