Wild Steps, a Flagstaff-based 501(c)(3) organization, is actively engaged in researching, reviving, and recreating the diverse music and dance traditions of Arizona and the Southwest. The nonprofit aims to share these cultural expressions with the community through programs offered at various venues, including nursing homes, schools, and libraries, alongside a dedicated concert series that includes performances in Sedona. This initiative grew from a recognized need to explore the specific, often overlooked, traditional music and dance forms that flourished in the region before modern influences.
Founder Kate Rose, Ph.D., whose background includes extensive experience in Irish fiddling learned through traditional methods in Ireland, identified this gap. Alongside guitarist Armand Ramirez, who brings a broad musical background spanning flamenco to gypsy jazz, Rose noted that little attention was being paid to the historical music and dances of Arizona itself. This observation prompted their deep dive into archives, old recordings, and direct collaborations with Native American culture bearers, such as Gertie Lopez from the Tohono O’odham Nation, to uncover these lost traditions.
A core focus of Wild Steps' research is the fusion of traditions, particularly how Celtic and Hispanic music converged to create a distinctive sound in the Southwest. Rose highlights the significant historical migration of Irish people to the region. Many Irish individuals, displaced by the Irish famine between 1845 and 1852, moved west after fighting in the Civil War, settling in areas including Arizona. They invariably carried their music, stories, and dances with them, embedding these cultural elements into the fabric of their new homes.
This historical presence is underscored by figures like Hugo O’Conor, a Dublin-born officer in the Spanish Army. Appointed governor of Texas by Spanish Viceroy Carlos Francisco de Croix of New Spain in 1767, O’Conor founded the Presidio of San Ignacio de Túbac in 1775. The settlement around this fort eventually developed into the city of Tucson, illustrating a deep and varied history of Irish influence within the Hispanic colonial structure. Another historical figure, Nellie Cashman, an Irish businesswoman of the 1800s, operated hotels, including the Russ House in Tombstone, before embarking on a journey north to the Yukon during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. The organization also notes the existence of poets who merged Irish poetic forms with the unique landscapes of Arizona, contributing to an under-researched topic that Wild Steps frequently integrates into its performances.
Rose, holding a doctorate in comparative literature, regularly draws from literary sources to enrich the performances. She references works such as “Ned White: Arizona’s ‘Bard of Brewery Gulch’,” and the group often recites his poetry, connecting it with Arizona’s landscapes and history. Beyond musical performances, Wild Steps engages in musical storytelling, utilizing folk tales from various Southwest traditions. These programs involve recounting a folk tale followed by playing music specifically chosen to complement and bring the narrative to life.
Sedona residents will have opportunities to experience these unique cultural presentations. Wild Steps is scheduled to present some of these musical storytelling shows at the Mary Fisher Theatre. Additionally, the organization plans to host story times in the park in Sedona, designed around the folk tales they have discovered and researched, further extending their community outreach into the Verde Valley. By delving into these historical and cultural intersections, Wild Steps continues to offer a valuable contribution to understanding the deep roots of Arizona's diverse heritage.