Irene Oxford

Honored March 15, 2009

The Sacramento Folk Dance and Arts Council is proud and happy to acknowledge the lifelong contributions and dedication to Folk Dance and Arts by Irene Oxford. She and her husband, Jim, are legendary and very key to the success of the folk dance movement in Sacramento over more than fifty years. Irene has been practically everything in the local scene over the years: teacher, organizer, decorator, author, editor, Council President,  and general spark plug! Not to mention her service in many positions in the Federation. Irene and Jim have started and taught several clubs, including Family Circle for 15 years, and Whirl-a-Jigs.  They were charter members of Pairs and Spares.  They were also members of First and Last Dancers.  They organized Kaleidoscopes, which was half squares and half folk dance, and was once the largest club in Sacramento. They taught and provided music, square calling, teaching, and general energy and fun. Each of these clubs was a labor of love and heart and planted the seeds for many other groups over the years.

Irene loves a “Happy Face”! She has them everywhere. She is our own Folk Dance “Happy Face”! Irene is also legendary for her lavish and imaginative stage settings and decorations for countless Camellia Festivals, in the good old days, when they were held in Memorial Auditorium to sold out houses. She is famous for never leaving a table undecorated.

Thank you, Irene, for your contributions to building the folk dance movement in Sacramento, and spreading happiness wherever you go