Participants 2013

The Dance Group "Ligo"
Latvia

It was 68 years ago in the spring of 1945 when the folk dance group «Ligo» was founded, the first concert was held in its hometown Riga. The title of the group «Ligo» is borrowed from the traditional Latvian midsummer celebration Ligo – the most joyful holiday that is enjoyed by every single Latvian. The dance group with its leaders have always aimed to encourage the spheres of culture that are inseparably connected through dance. As acknowledgement of their philosophy Ligo were awarded the diploma for the preservation of traditions in choreographic, musical and verbal folklore and for the outstanding contribution to the development of the amateur movement in Latvia.

Undoubtedly, «Ligo» is one of the oldest and most experienced dance groups in Latvia. Throughout the years the dance group has taken part in the most diverse concerts, national festivals and contests, ballet productions and even motion pictures. Moreover, «Ligo» without interruption has taken part in the All-Latvian Song and Dance Festival held every 5 years calling together more than 40 thousand dancers and singers.

The dance group «Ligo» has received numerous international awards: in April 2004 «Ligo» took part in the International Folklore Festival AMITEX in Valetta, Malta winning the 1st place award in the dance category, the 1st place award in the music category and the 3rd place award in the category of national costumes. Another 1st place and 3rd place award was given to «Ligo» in the International Dance Competition in Indianapolis, USA. In 2009, "Ligo" took part in the II International Folklore festival and contest "Interfolk" in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, in a competition of 40 folk groups "Ligo" won not only the 1st place award, but also the prestigious GRAND PRIX Award. In 2012 at the 7th International Sabah Folklore Festival in Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) Ligo won the best choreography award for their Play-dance "Kekatas".

WWW: Ligo

Folklore Ensemble "Sveti Sava"
Serbian Republic of Bosnia i Herzegovina

F.A "Sveti Sava" Zwornik was registered on 24th of April 1995. It gathers about 200 members, through the various sections, folk dance, music, singing group. Vidovian Parliament is a founder of the group.

They participated in many festivals in the country and abroad, also in several  popular TV shows. "Sveti Sava" has won many of the Festivals: International Folklore Festival in Macedonia, Nikoljdanski Festival in Derventa, Eastern Festival in Sarajevo, as well as in Istanbul, Macedonia, Slovenia, Hungary, Greece.

They are honored with Third Order of St. Sava, which is one of the top awards in their home country.

The Association "Aristotelis"
Greece

The Association "Aristotelis" was founded in 1980 in the village Kato Komi of Municipality Elimia. Rich in cultural heritage, Kato Komi, through the Association preserves continues and revives the local customs throughout the year: tradintional Christmas and New Year's carols, Carnival, "Lazarines" and other Easter festivities, celebration of 1^st May etc. The cultural association has also estabilished the "Feast in the nature" and the "New Artists Festival".

"Aristotelis"maintains four dancing groups: children's group  (for kids from 5 to 12 years old), adolescents group (for boys and girls from 13 to 20 years old), adults group, group for men and women over 60 years

The Association has gathered and preserved traditional authentic costumes which group members use in their various appearances, like traditional weeding costume of the 18^th century for girls and groom costume for boys.

"Aristotelis" participated in many folklore festivals both in Greece and abroad and has always gained the appreciative comments of the audience and jury.
 

The Folk Ensemble "Opincuta"
Moldovia

The Folk Ensemble „Opincuta” was founded in 1990. Name of the group comes from the name of traditional footwear worn by Moldovian peasants on their work-days, not on holidays.The group was formed by Maria Lupu in the time and "wave" of national revival and the detachment of Moldovia from the Soviet Union. That's why "Opincuta" is one of the first groups that began to collect and perform folk traditions long forgotten.

The Ensemble involves about 60 children, all of them being the pupils or graduates of Theoretical High school "Ion Cenga" from Chisinau. Songs and dances are accompanied live by a small folk music band. The vocalists have many prizes obtained at Folk Young Singers Festivals.

During all these years of activity the group obtained many first places and received the title of Laureate of many Folk Song and Dance Festivals from Moldovia and abroad:

- 2003 (july-august): International Children Art Festival „Изменим мир к лучшему” (Crimeea: Ukraine)
- 2007 and 2010 (may): International Folklore Festival „Skamba, skamba, kankliai” (Vilnius: Lithuania)
- 2010 (july): Festival International de Chambly, Festival Intercontinental de Musiques et Danses Populaires, Segré (France)
- 2011 (june): International Folklore Festival Montana, Bulgaria
- 2012 (august): „Zemplinske slavnosti”, International Festival Zemplin, Slovakia

In the last 15 years, the Folk Group „Opincuta” participates at the 2 municipal folk contest organized every year:
1. „Sa traiti, sa-nfloriti”: contest of Traditional Carols and Winter Rituals
2. „La fintina dorului”,  in the cathegories: folk dance, folk songs, spring or summer traditional folk rituals

The Folklore Ensemble "Zemplin"
Slovakia

The folklore ensemble Zemplín was founded on 10 December 1957. It represents the traditional cultural of Slovakia, with the focus on the Zemplin region. The total number of the participants is 70 young peoples. The ensemble has been awarded a number of awards, prizes, tributes, diplomas and medals during its existence. During its existence the ensemble has carried out more 2 600 public performances on Slovak stages as well as 1 200 performaces abroad.

Slovak folklore is characterized by his temperament, dynamism and diversity. FS Zemplín is a longtime holder of traditional folklore in Slovakia. During his 55 years of existence has created and presented more than 30 evening programs with different themes. Slovakia is a country rich in folklore, traditional folk songs, dance, music and customs that differ from region to region. Each region is characterized by the costumes, color and style, or using different instruments. Photo galleries on the east Slovakia, is a typical girls and boys karičkami Čapas. The program consists of traditional dances in central and eastern Slovakia.

WWW: Zemplin

The Folk Group "I Brianzoli"
Italy

The folk group „I Brianzoli” was founded in 1987 with the intention to revive the culture and traditions typical of the region of Brianza. They are proud members of F.I.T.P. and have numerous awards in Italy and abroad (Hungary, Germany, France, Switzerland) after taking part in various folk festivals.

Among all, the fourty components realize a performance of about 2 hours, reliving the common life in the 1600’s with dances, song scenes and music using a traditional instrument from the Brianza called “firlinfeu” (pan’s flute). On occasion of the world folk festival, August 2000 at Winnipeg in Canada, the group won the first place over 130 participating competitors.

A particular honour was the calling to Rome in 1999 by his holiness po