Author: zaraAn

Folklore Group Camagua has been created in 2011 as a successor of the numerous awards winner ensemble of Fernando Medrano, established in 1981. The main difference this time is that the group is attached to the Ministry of Culture of Cuba. 

Despite the change, the authenticity of Cuban culture is preserved and the group is presenting the real roots of the Cuban folklore based on the multinational crossroad of the island’s culture. 

The repertoire of the group includes audio and visual effects recreating the traditional urban atmosphere and the authentic music and dances of Cuba. 

The Folklore group Gamagua has performed in many countries around the world, such as Chile, Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), France, Netherlands, Slovenia, Mexico, Belgium and Spain. For its artistic achievements in 2015 the group won Statuette of the Burgos Cathedral. The ensemble has been awarded with Golden medal at the International Folklore Festival of Port-sur-Saone, France in 2016. In 2019 it won the Grand prize for its excellent performance in France. At the International Folklore Festival “Castello di Gorizia” in Italy the group won Folklore “Oscar” for best choreography.

Beijing Dance Academy is the exclusive higher education institution with commitment to developing excellent professional dancers, choreographers and dance researchers. Director of the Department of Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance is professor  Huang Yihua. 

The dance pieces originated from 15 provinces including Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Tibet and are inherited from local people. There are over 40 kinds of dances from 15 ethnic groups including Han, Tibetan, Mongolian, Uyger, Korean, Dai minority groups. Some of them are listed in intangible cultural heritage protection projects, others are still passed down from generation to generation.

African Tumbas of Kenya is a Folklore group of dancers acting as cultural ambassadors for more than 42 native ethnic groups of Kenya. Formed in 1997 in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, African Tumbas aims to promote and exhibit the rich art of Kenyan folklore through song and dance. The practice of using folk music and dance as a medium of social, cultural and spiritual expression is a resonant theme in African cultural traditions and abundant in African Tumbas’ performances. 

African Tumbas dance ensemble is a true ambassador of Kenyan Culture and traditions. Its artistic director is Antony Karundu.

Professional ensemble of folk dance „Naz” is from the city of Nur – Sultan, Republic of Kazakhstan. It was created in 1999 on the basis of the State Philharmonic of Astana. Since 2007 the ensemble was transformed into the State Muncipal Management Organization.  

The artistic director of the ensemble is the main ballet master and honored artist of Kazakhstan – Kadisha Agimbaeva.

The ensemble has won numerous awards, including Winner of the 2-nd Republican dance competition in the city of Uralsk in 2001, Grand Prix of the 4th International Creative Youth Festival “Shabyt” in 2001 and 2002, Winner of the 2nd International Choreographer Competition in Novosibirsk in 2003, Winner of the Golden Statue (China) in 2004, Winner of the 9-th International Festival „Esambaev” (Grozny) in 2017, Grand Prix of the 21 International Creative Youth Festival “Shabyt-2018” in the nomination “Choreography”.

The Attridge Academy Of Irish Dance is one of the longest established dance schools in Ireland. It was founded in 1958 by Nancy Attridge and today both Nancy and her youngest daughter Niamhmarie oversee all the dance classes. Since its foundation, The Attridge Academy has travelled to many countries—and while this festival is the group’s 46th international festival, it is their 1st virtual festival. They are very honoured to be asked to  perform and share their culture with all of us.

ELENCO NACIONAL DEL FOLKLORE DE BOLIVIA Javier Escobar is a leading institution and Ballet that develops and promotes quality artistic, cultural and educational action. The leader of Elenco Nacional del Folklore de Bolivia is Javier Escobar. The group is supporting the formation of a national identity based on the multicultural and multi-ethnic reality of the country, promoting respect and folklore valuation with broad participation from various social sectors, focused on the needs and physical and
intellectual capacities of each person.

Kalanjay Dance Academy is an eleven year old ensemble from Mumbai, India. Artistic director is Vaishali Sagar. The Academy has won the bronze at the festival in South Korea and the “Jury Award” at the Buyukcekmece festival, Turkey. It has participated in over 15 international folk festivals and has won “The best group award” at International festival in Italy.

Albricias Dance Group

Albricias is an artistic group, created in 1978 in San Martín de los Andes, Patagonia, Argentina. Artistic director is Ruben Hector Cabrera

It was born with the intention of rescuing the wisdom of our people through the dance.

It`s integrated by young people who embrace the idea that the story of places and nations is written in the folk dance, because dancing is a way of thinking, creating, hoping, of finding ourselves.

Along his 42 years history, Albricias dance group has accomplished several presentations along the country. Also they represented Argentina in many international festivals in countries like: Chile, México, Japan, Peru, Paraguay, Czech Republic and Italy.

Folklore Ensemble CAJAVEC 

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Folklore Ensemble „CAJAVEC“ was established on Maj 1952 and during that it elaborated and performed in public more than 40 choreographies from all parts of ex Yugoslavia. Folklore lovers remember this top-level amateur Ensemble under the name of  „Karlo Rojc“, in period from 1959-1993.

The ensemble were performed more than 6.000 concerts in their country and abroad, which  were watched by more than million people.

KUD „CAJAVEC“ has very rich holdings of national costumes, and some of them are original patterns more than 80 years old.

That is why this Ensemble is one of the best in Bosnia but also in the Balkans.

Youth folk dance ensemble “ARFAN”
Center for continuing and aesthetic education “Creation”
The Department of education of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania.

Folk dance ensemble “Arfan” is a youth group founded in 2002, that consists of 50 people, including orchestra. Young artists act with live accompaniment. Used folk instruments are the ossetian harmonica, doli (drum), clarinet.

Creative work, the repetitions, concerts, contests, dance festivals, master classes – are all what the young artists of the ensemble are living for.
Their successful performances delighted the audience of all ages not only in their native Republic and cities of Russia ( Nalchik, Stavropol, Sochi, St. Petersburg, Moscow) but also abroad (Turkey, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia), demonstrating the mastery of performance, acquainting the public with the national folklore and traditions, disposition and way of life, not only of the Ossetian people, but also with the art of the peoples of the North Caucasus.

Folk dance ensemble “Arfan”, won the cups winners, diplomas and higher awards at Republican and all-Russian competitions, festivals and International forums dance outside of their country. The unanimous recognition and a prize of spectator sympathies – the most beautiful reward!