Participants 2015

Belarusian traditional ethno folk group ‘GUDA’

Belarus

GUDA is one of the most famous folk groups of Belarus. The basis of GUDA’s repertoire consists of ritual songs and folk dancing.

The history of the group started more than two decades ago in the beginning of the 90th. Some young people - scientists and students - joined their efforts in order to research the ancient history and culture of Belarusian land: experimental research in the realm of archaic singing heritage was a branch of their work. Co-operation with ethnic musicologists and folklorists during long work allowed to single out and to imitate the peculiarities of ancient manner of singing.

The dance group of ‘GUDA’ performs really rare and unique Belarusian dancing, some of them are: grechaniki, krakavyak, padyspan, coquette, demons, million, etc.

The songs are performed a capella. The musicians (violin, tambourine, gusli, pipe) play Belarusian folk music and make the group’s programs more “colorful”. Types of the performances are: a capella singing, vocal + music, musical pieces, traditional dances, dance workshops for the audience with vocal and music... Watching ‘GUDA’ performances is a unique experience having quite a magic effect...

Since 1992 GUDA has given hundreds of concerts, has participated in national festivals, holidays, anniversaries, and international projects in Kaliningrad, Vilnius, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Warsaw, Tver, Vinnytsia region, Ashkhabad, Moscow, Terespol, etc.

Folk Dance Association "FOGEM"

Cyprus

FOGEM is one of the most succesful associations in TRNC, which was formed in 2007, the trainer, musicians and the dancers were the members of the Ministry of Education and Culture’s State Folk Dance Group.This association is founded for creating an environment that everyone can work more independently.

FOGEM succeeded in many activities. There are nearly 150 dancers which are dancing within 5 different groups. Fogem performed many shows in local and international organisations, also attended 18 festivals with international groups.

FOGEM considers the authentic specialities of the Turkish Cypriot Folk Dance figures, musics and costumes and tries to present these with modern stage arrangements. Last two years we have been in Summerfest in Sazolambatta-Hungary Karlovac Festival in Croatia and Lugoj Festival in Romania.

FOGEM is one of the organiser associations of the International Summer Joy Children Festival which was organized for 5 times and the International Nicosia Municipality Folk Dance Festival which was organized for 7 times. 

"Youth Educative and Cultural Cause of Melissohori-Thessaloniki"

Greece

The Y.E.C.C.M. was found in 1977 aiming at participating actively to the society, promoting and looming up the local traditions and songs, as well as to preserve and revive rich cultural heritage of Melissohori.

However, society`s most extended activity is its traditional dance group. 120 dancers form eight groups where dancers are taught dances and songs from all over the Greek region (Makedonia, Thrace, Epiros, Thessalia, Island Greece).

The group has given a great number of performances in Greece, not to mention abroad (RHodes, Romania, Serbia, Hungary Turkey) where they received flattering critiques.

"Wi’j eren ’t Olde" Dancing Group

The Netherlands

The group performed among others in France, ltaly, Switzerland, Austria, Ger-many, Poland, Hungary. Since long the group enjoys also great fame in the Nether-lands / Holland.

The well-known dances like the Veleta, the Spanish Walz, the Sternpolka, the Snow-waltz and the well known Drikusman are part of the program / repertoire. Also the less known, but beautiful dances like the Mill, the Sunflower and the Rosewaltz are shown. In total the program / repertoire con-sists of 40 dances.

With their very beautiful but simple tradi-tional costumes, to which the white scoured clogs / wooden shoes belong, Wi’j eren ’t Olde has won the hearts of many spectators.

Undoubtedly you will be at ease and you won’t be bored during the group’s perform-ance. You will see that also those days, life was cosy and pleasant in the country.

"Penfolk" - PENDİK FOLKLORE ORGANİZATİONS YOUTH AND SPORTS CLUBS

Turkey

PENFOLK, founded in 2011, aims to make collections, researches and surveys on Turkish Folklore, to form performance groups to present folk dances, to help tourism by presentation activities, both home and abroad, to teach folklore to younger generations and to publish scientific works on Turkish Folklore.

PENFOLK shows activity on folk dances and music which is a main branch of our folklore. Its purpose is to train young people with locale instructors and contribute to the keeping our cultural belives alive. By means of these activities PENDİK FOLKLOR ORGANİZASYONLARI GENÇLİK VE SPOR KULÜBÜ, each period teaches youth folk dances belong to the locales of our beautiful country. In our country our association joins festivales, runs seminaries, opens courses, displays shows and in international folk dance festivals represents our country.

Folk Dance Group Drienka

Slovakia

Youth folk dance group Drienka was founded in 1986. The founder of the file is the Art School in Slovenska Lupca – central region of the Slovakia.. The file name is derived from the beautiful cave , which is located in the municipality Slovenska Lupca .

Group during his tenure has created several interesting choreography , singing and instrumental numbers. Themes in their work draws from nearby areas and Horehron, Podpolane , but also more distant cultural regions of Slovakia - Zemplin. Created works are the interesting and varied, and the viewer regional specificities and the uniqueness of our country.

Group main mission is to lead members to an awareness of the beauty of Slovak folklore and Slovak bring these traditions to the general public at home and abroad . Thanks to the efforts , tenacity and natural talent of youth members but also teachers responsible approach this mission Drienka meet thrive in the slogan H. Heine : "The beauty of the world is always proportional to the beauty of spirit that perceives it."

Folk Group „Mirce Acev”

Macedonia

The folk group Mirce Acev from Prilep has been an interpreter of folk dances and songs of the Republic of Macedonia, a country with ample cultural, and folklore resources. The ansemble is founded in 1947 year. During many years, members of this ansemble have given over 4.000 concerts, for the citizen of Macedonia and foreing countries. The group have been visited almost all the continents in the world, presenting macedonian folklore. The most significance is the first place in Langolen – England, Middelkerke – Belgium, Oviedo – Spain, Nice – France, guesting in Poland, Marocco, France, Germany, Denmark, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, Croatia, Serbia etc. The ansemble especially treats the authentic traditional macedonian folklore.

Big honor for our folk group are performances on various renowned events in Macedonia such as performance in village of Galichnik on the famous Galichnik Wedding in 2007 where in front of more than a thousand people in audience were played Heavy Oro ( Teshkoto – male traditional dance ) and Bride Oro ( Nevestinsko Oro – traditional women dance ). Also, there are many performances on Ilinden Days Festival in Bitola, where we have received a lot certificates, awards and prizes.

Currently KUD "Mirce Acev" has more than 200 members, divided into 5 groups ranked according to age. The repertoire of the group is huge in terms of duration, we have our repertoire for more than 4 hours of varied dances, songs and clusters of various parts of Macedonia.