Category: Groups 2021

Country: Guadeloupe French

Director: Jocelyn Martial

Artistic Director: Sandra Mathias

The group has existed since 1978. It represents the Guadeloupe’s heritage through its dance and its music, which is the GWOKA. It uses drums for the sonority with which they have 7 well-defined rhythms. Each rhythm has a particular meaning that they translate through dance (emotions, sensations, vibrations, communications).

Awards:

1. Jul/2003 Paris Festival
2. Feb/2019 Encuentro mondial Peru’s festival
3. 2019 Gwoka’s Festival GUADELOUPE
4. Nov/2020 Virtual festival CIOFF Maroccо
5. Dec/2020 Virtual festival Argentine

Media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/espace.ajsf

Instagram: espace Ajsf

Participation: in the virtual competition of the festival

Country: Armenia

Director: Albert Kiziryan

The national dance ensemble ‘Geghard’, winner of numerous awards at international festivals, was created in the Republic of Armenia in 1981. The founder and invariable art director of the ensemble since then has been Albert Kiziryan, the people’s artist of the Republic of Armenia.

All dances are performed with highly professional skill, and the choreography of each dance expresses the true national colourings of its time, the national style and spirit, and the true face of Armenian dances.

The specialists, in this respect, are stating that the talented dancers and musicians of the group are managing to transfer to the contemporary audience ‘the three thousand year old folklore dancing art of Armenia’.

The diligent creative work, the skills honed to perfection, the constant search of new forms of expression, and their colourful reproduction have brought to the ensemble deserved fame in France, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Russia – Moscow, Saint-Peterburg, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Algeria, Spain, etc.

Media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Armenian-Folk-Dance-Ensemble-Geghard-118986414838852

Participation: in the virtual competition of the festival

Country: India

Director: Rakesh Prajapati, Shreya Shah

OmShiv Performing Arts Trust was established in 2018. The Academy’s main purpose is to spread Indian culture to the whole world through the wonderful language of dance. It belongs to Gujarat, India. India, the land of unity in diversity.

The group have participated in various dance competitions at the National and International levels. It also conducts training sessions for poor and differently-abled children which is necessary for the holistic growth of the society.

The dance forms like Hudo, Rass, Garba, Panihari, Tipani, Sudpa, Chirmi, Kalbeliya, Tera taal, Haryanvi, Bhangda, Lavni, and Bihu are just a few of their specialties.

Awards:

1. Winner of AIAA (All India Artist Association) in 2018
2. Winner in Mohan’s Carnival, India – February 2020
3. Winner of Mohan’s Carnival, India- February 2019
4. Runner-up of AIAA Dance and Drama Competition 2019
5. Winner of virtual Festival at Bailando Tulpec, Mexico 2020

Media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Omshiv-performing-arts-trust-107489781203503

Instagram: https://instagram.com/shreya_omshiv

Website: https://www.omshivperformingarts.co.in/om-shiv

Participation: in the virtual competition of the festival

Country: Ukraine

Director: Natalya Bondarchuk

Dance Theatre “Escada” is one of the components of the creative association “LEVENYA”.  “Escada” Dance Theatre was created in September 2016 from graduates and the best performers of the senior group of Children’s Dance Theatre “Levenya”. Since the first days of its existence, the ensemble has had an active creative life. It participates in festivals and contests in Ukraine and abroad. “Escada” has repeatedly become laureate and winner of many competitions.

The ensemble is the winner of several Grand Prix, in particular in 2017 in the city of Lido di Jesolo (Italy) and Prague (the Czech Republic) in 2018.  The ensemble has repeatedly represented Ukraine at international festivals and cultural events in Poland, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Hungary, Turkey, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, and other countries.

Awards:

1. Participation in international events on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the establishment of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade (13-14.09.2019, Lublin, Poland)
2. All-Ukrainian festival-competition “Christmas vacation” – winner of the first prize in the nomination “Folk Dance”(12.01.2020, Lviv, Ukraine)
3. Participation in a dance marathon dedicated to the 50th anniversary of CIOFF (08.08.2020)
4. “Musical Palace”, Festival of Song and Dance. “Escada” Dance Theatre is the winner of the Grand Prix of the festival (May 12, 2019)
5. International festival-competition of dance “Veselkova Terpsikhora” – winner of the first prize (23-24.04.2021, Kyiv, Ukraine)

Media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Childrens-Dance-Theatre-LevenyaTheatre-of-dance-Eskada-Lviv-Ukraine-696630163699260

Website: https://lewenya.wixsite.com/website

Participation: in the solo/couple competition of the festival

Country: Greece

Director: VASSILIS DIMITROPOULOS

ELKELAM was established in 1982 with the following aims:

To conduct scientific research and study the materials that constitute the Greek Folklore Culture and the Greek Tradition. More specifically with traditional dance, music, song and costumes;

To preserve and inspire the folk inheritance.

The group has performed more than 500 times in Greece and has participated in more than 78 international festivals abroad in 20 different countries.

 Awards:

1.   2nd Prize in the Dance Category at the 61st World Folklore Festival “Albo d’oro”, Agrigento-Italy (2016)
2.   1st Prize in the International Chain Competition “6th Chain Bridge International Folk Dance Competition”, Budapest-Hungary (2015)
3.   2nd Prize at the 25th International Dance Competition “Golden Karagöz”, Bursa-Turkey (2011)
4.   1st Prize & Best Choreography Award at the International Dance Competition “1st Chain Bridge International Folk Dance Competition”, Budapest-Hungary (2009)
5.   2nd Prize at the 22nd International Dance Competition “Golden Karagöz”, Bursa-Turkey (2008)

Media channels:

Facebook: Ελληνικό Κέντρο Λαογραφικών Μελετών

Instagram: ELKELAM DANCE ENSEMBLE (@elkelam_ath) • Φωτογραφίες και βίντεο στο Instagram

Participation: in the solo/couple competition of the festival

Country: Madagascar

Director: Benjamina Heriniaina RANDRIAMALAL

Author, composer, poly-instrumentalist musician, music-instrument maker. The only group in Madagascar able to show music and dance from the six provinces of the Island.

Media channels:

Facebook: Benja Gasy

Instagram: Benjagasy

Participation: in the virtual competition of the festival

Country: Tuva

Director: Kima Dongak

Artistic director and choreographer: Vyacheslav Dongak

Dance and Costume Theatre “EDEGEY” was founded in 1999 and is the only self-financing group in the Republic. The training and education program at the school is designed to acquire full knowledge and skills.

The theatre took part in festivals and competitions in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Mongolia, China, Tibet, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Belarus, Italy, France, Spain, Kingdom of Monaco, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, USA, and Great Britain.

The group has the following goals:

• Development and promotion of the best national customs and traditions of the unique culture among young people, contributing to the prevention of social and ethnic conflicts;
• Familiarisation of children and youth of the world with the way of life and culture of the Tuvan people;
• Education of the younger generation on the basis of the great precepts of folk wisdom, national culture and universal values;

Awards:

• 19-time winner of the Grand Prix of International competitions;
• Laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Tatarstan;
• The ensemble took part in the cultural program of the World Youth Games of the CIS and Baltic countries in Moscow in 2002;

Participation: in the virtual competition of the festival

Country: Romania

Director: Catalin Oancea

‘DORUL’, from the county of Arges, has been continuing its work of valuing the folklore since 1957. The ensemble’s great mastership stays in discovering and making known traditions which enrich the universal folklore art patrimony and brings about a worldwide appreciation among the audience during thousands of performances.

Its programme contains representative dances and songs for its region, Muntenia, as well as four other Romanian areas – Moldavia, Oltenia, Transilvania, Maramures.

Since its birth, it has participated in international festivals in Belgium, Cyprus, France, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Awards:

1. First place at International Folk Dance Festival ‘Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore’, Agrigento, Italy, 1985
2. First place at International Folk Dance Competition, Cheonan, Korea, 2012
3. First place at International Folk Dance Competition, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2013

Media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doruldancegroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doruldancegroup

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLIgaNCeJISCaZfMwBxbQQ

Participation: in the virtual competition of the festival

Country: Thailand

Director: Mr. Dusittorn  Ngamying

Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Group of Dance, under the Royal Patronage is the State University which has been established since 2010 in Pathum Thani Province, Central Region of Thailand.

The Folk Dance Group consists of teachers and students studying in the field of Thai performing arts between the ages of 18 and 22, who are skilled in traditional and classical Thai performances, such as the four-regional dancing styles, as well as contemporary performances. The university regularly encourages its students to participate in cultural exchanges abroad in order to open up their worldview and experiences because it will be beneficial to their teaching careers.

The group has represented Thailand to disseminate performing arts in various countries such as China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Korea, etc., since 2010 until now.

Awards:

1. 2nd prize of international dance competition in Indonesia in 2017.

Media channels:

Facebook: Valaya Alongkorn Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

Website: http://huso.vru.ac.th

Participation: in the solo/couple competition of the festival

Country: Philippines

Director: Eric Solano

Parangal Dance Company’s mission is to give tribute to Philippine heritage by preserving and promoting ethnic art, music and dance through research, workshops and performances. Parangal aims to serve as a bridge, inspiring and connecting Filipinos in diaspora to their roots and to give them a sense of pride and identity, while educating diverse communities to foster awareness and appreciation of Philippine culture.

Awards:

1. The Outstanding Filipino American, 100 Most Influential 2020
2. Best Choreography Award Dorin Oncea, Romania, 2020
3. Best Cohesion FIFTA Award, Morocco, 2020
4. Bayaning Pilipino Award, North America, 2017
5. Champion – Las Vegas World Folk Festival 2009

Media channels:

Facebook: @parangal

Instagram: @parangaldance

Participation: in the solo/couple competition of the festival.