Sixth International Folklore Festival Veliko Tarnovo
  
 
July 19 - 26, 2003
  

ASWAN FOLK TROUPE, Egypt
  
PUNJAB CULTURAL PROMOTION COUNCIL, India
  
I STRINARI DI CALABRIA, Italy
 
 
More Than any other governorate of Egypt, Aswan is distinguished by its traditional customs and manners, Aswan, an international name in the field of tourism and ancient Egyptian monument, has a number of tribes each of which has its own customs and traditions. A unique tradition of Aswan, Nubian art, is considered an outcome of Egyptian and Sudanese cultures representing the northern and southern of the Nile Valley.
To protect and revive such folk traditions, the Aswan troupe was created to reflect this great heritage. The troupe uses ancient musical insical instruments, which accompany the various dances.The troupe started its performances in October 1975, with a number of folk dances representing various customs and traditions of the region.
From October to May the troupe gives its performances at the Aswan Cultural palace. From May to July, the troupe tours the town and villages of the all Egypt.
  
Punjab cultural promotion council is a registered dance company cum organization, which draws its name from Indian State of Punjab. It has already completed its five years glorious existence with many achievements to its credit. It is an organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and dissemination of the rich art and cultural traditions of Punjab and North India.
The council artists have remarkable achievements to their credit. The artists have already performed and represented the Indian nation in Lithuania, Sweden, Thailand, China and U.A.E.
Whereas musicians play drums /dhols/, bugchu, katos, saaps, khundas, chimtas etc. /all traditional instruments/ they also dance holding and playing these folk instruments. High pitch dhol beats create sensation among dance lovers. The dancers sing couplets, boliyans, and also songs making the event more interesting. Some folk dances of Punjab and India involve both boys and girls.
The dancers look very attractive in their traditional dresses, turbans, suits and ornaments and perform exotic, energetic, foot tapping dances.
 
"I Strinari di Calabria" was founded in 1974 in the City of Catanzaro and quickly have take place in the nucleus of the most brilliants italian folk groups for own accurate organization and for the maximum respect of the popular traditions between one rigorous scenic transposition. Group's name it's bind to pagan tradition of greek-roman period dedicated to dea "Straenia" that during centuries became Christmas roman catholic tradition and it's fruit, at the some way of the "pictures" of the most traditional moment's of calabrian folklore that the Group show during performances, of imposing and minute work of research conduct by Popular Tradition Study Center "Nino Padella", founded and direct by Artistic Director of the Group, Diego Platico, since 1980.
In the same year, was born the children Group, called "I Piccoli Strinari", in which actually take part it's about 30 boys and girls, between 6 and 14 years, for give serious and prepared love to own history and culture to the future components since younger.
         
RANCHO FOLKLORICO “AS SALINEIRAS DE LAVOS”
FIGUEIRA DA FOZ, Portugal
  
KOMENKA ETHNIC DANCE AND MUSIC ENSEMBLE, New Orleans, USA
  

ALLOA COLLIERY PIPE BAND, Scotland
 
 
Lavos is our parish, which is 8 km south from Figueira da Foz, our town. There are many beautiful sea sorts around the town and Lavos is one of them. This is a tourist place, which is visited every year by thousands of people from Portugal and many other countries, essentially form Europe.
Because we live near the sea it was possible to start the industry of sea salt many years ago. It was the main occupation of the villagers for a long time. However it was not very profitable because the work only lasted for five months (from May till September). Sun and soft wind are essential conditions to produce sea salt. Almost all men and women of our parish were workers of the salt pans. Nowadays there are people who still do this work but many have abandoned it as it is not profitable.
Because of this activity many people started singing and dancing according to the type of work they were doing. Therefore in 1959 some people decided to organise a group that could preserve the culture connected with activity. The men and women that work in the salt pans are always very friendly and transmit that friendliness and happiness through their song and dances.
The group tries to show all the details of our past culture since the music to the costumes, which are copies of the ones used in the last decade of the 19th century and first decade of the 20th. Almost all the dancers use working costumes while they are performing. They dance bare feet because it is the only way to work in the salt pans. The group also presents the costumes of the fisherman (very typical in our region), the bride and the groom wearing black (tradition of the poor people), the owners of the salt pans (richest people) and the Sunday costumes of the workers.
  
Komenka was established in 1979 for the purpose of portraying international folk cultures through dance and music. The 30-member ensemble is a non-profit group with members from throughout the New Orleans community. Training with internationally recognized choreographers and musicians is stressed. Costumes are replicas or carefully designed adaptations of authenticated regional folk dress. The ensemble has been featured throughout the southern United States, and has performed on many television/radio stations. Komenka is also very active in educational institutions of all levels.
Komenka's international premiere occurred in 1988 via a performance tour in the Caribbean. The company has since toured the Czech Republic, France, Hungary and Russia. Presented in such tours are various U.S. styles such as Cajun, Appalachian and New Orleans Jazz and Mardi Gras traditions.
Komenka was the recipient of the first ever Big Easy Classical Arts Award for Ethnic Dance Presentation in 1993, as well as the recipient again in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001.
Financial support comes from performances, public grants and private donations. Komenka is indebted to the Community Arts Grant Program of the City of New Orleans and to grant programs of the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Louisiana Division of the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. The Arts Council of New Orleans expertly administers funds from these programs.
Komenka is also greatly indebted to Loyola University and the New Orleans Dance Academy for their generous provision of regularly scheduled rehearsal facilities.
 
Alloa Colliery Pipe Band was formed in the mid 1950’s under auspices of the National Union of Mineworkers. The Union provided the funding of one (old) penny week from each member. This also provided the funding for a brass band that is now disbanded.
The exact date of the band inception is unknown, but we believe we must be approaching our half-century and we are presently looking at ways of celebrating the occasion.
At one time band was supported by the workforce of six coalmines, which at one time were fully operational in the Clackmannanshire area, today there are no coalmines in the area. With the decline of the mining industry the band has had to become self-supporting. The original name has been retained because of the link with the Clackmannanshire mining history.
We try as far as possible to uphold the original concept of the Miners who formed the Pipe Band by offering our services to the local community. We can be seen at children’s gala days, charity events, community ceilidhs, nursing homes, Armistice Parades, Burns suppers, playing for the local dance group of course, no wedding is complete without the services of a Scottish Piper!Another part of the tradition that we uphold is the provision of free musical tuition on the pipes and drums, free band membership, free uniforms and free instruments.
The band today is in great demand for tourist and corporate events. On a regular basis we can be seen playing at Stirling Castle, Airth Castle and Callendar house. We also perform a “Beating The Retreat” for foreign visitors which the organisers feel provides, in an individual Scottish way, a lasting memory of the hospitality they have received during their visit to our country. We have recently performed this ceremony at Scone Palace, Edinburgh Castle, The Edinburgh International Conference Centre and Hopetoun House. Alloa Colliery Pipe Band has also been delighted to play at the following events: European Championship League football final at Hampden Park Glasgow. Opening of the new Ferry Terminal at Rosyth. Ceremony and Church Parade to mark the closing of Lennox Castle Hospital.
         
"VARTEKS", Croatia
  
DANCE ENSEMBLE "YANTRA", Hungary
  
FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE "GEORGAKIS OLYMPIOS" - SERRES, Greece
 
 
The County of Varazdin and Varazdin for itself, in the air of richness of cultural and historical tradition older than 800 years, pay a great attention to the amateur development of young people. Numerous cultural – artistic associations acting in the town and its surroinding, in between which is specially known Folkdance ensemble “Varteks” Varazdin, are giving a tremendous contribution to the cultural development of the town and its surrounding, in between which is specially known Folkdance ensemble “Varteks” Varazdinq are giving a tremendous contribution to the cultural development of the town and County.
Folklore ensemble of KUD “VARTEKS” Varazdin – Croatia was founded in the year 1946 within the scope of big textile company Varteks, Varazdin.
The Ensemble gathers many young enthusiastic people (workers, school and student youngsters) amateurs, who are spending their free time tending Croatian folklore. The richness of national tradition of Croatia, is presented by the group performing songs and dances of all parts of Croatia. Beauty and richness of original national costumes are completed by traditional instruments achieving the complete happening of picture and sound.

  
Yantra Bulgarian folk-group was founded in 1995 by the Bulgarian youth living in Hungary.
Their original Bulgarian dances and national costumes from different regions reflect the Bulgarian culture and folklore. They have performed with success at home and abroad. Rosica dance group of children enriches their performance as the rising generation.
  
CENTRO CULTURAL LLANERO - BOGOTA, Colombia
   


         
FOLK DANCING GROUP "SVETEN'", Tver, Russia
  
CHILDREN'S-JUVENILE FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE
"BULGARCHE", Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
  





 
 
"BALKAN" dance ensemble - Dryanovo, Bulgaria
   
"POLYANTSI" Folklore Formation - Polski Trambesh, Bulfaria