Pourparler is a conference sponsored by the National Folk Organization. It is a time for dance educators and callers to gather and share knowledge.
The annual conference started 27 years ago by Sanna Longden. Longden founded the conference when she saw a need in the dance community.
“I realized that every time I went out and did any work at all, I was alone. That I didn't teach in a school, in an office, I didn't have colleagues — I wanted to talk to people,” Longden said.
Since 1997, participants have volunteered to host Pourparler in various locations across North America. According to Longden, 2024 is the first time in more than ten years that the conference has been hosted in the Salt Lake City area.
Longden said that whenever the conference is in Utah, it will be an event to remember.
"We know that it's going to be special because some of the best dancers in the country are here,” she said.
The format of the conference allows each person to share their teaching and dance techniques.
"This is unique. Normally when you go to a conference, you have presenters and master class teachers, but at Pourparler, everyone is a master teacher and everyone shares something that has worked well for them with everyone else," Jeanette Geslison, associate professor of dance at BYU, said.
According to the participants, dancing together at the conference brings a feeling of unity.
"Folk dance feels like it brings the world together in a little bit of a smaller space than it is,” Geslison said.
This year's conference has ended but next year's Pourparler conference will be held in the Washington, D.C. area.