Established in the year of 1947, the Arts Theatre of China Coal Industry is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in the country.
The artists have produced and presented numerous music and dance programs as well as theatrical plays, which have won dozen of awards in all kind of art festivals and competitions. Some of the countries that the group has performed are: USA, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Italy and many more.
Some of the dances included in the group's repertoire are: Dance of flower, Dance of the peacock and many more.

BEI PU ELEMENTARY ABORIGINAL DANCE GROUP,
CHINESE TAIPEI

GONYELI MUNICIPALITY FOLK DANCE GROUP, CYPRUS

The Aboriginal Folk Dance Group of Bei Pu Elementary school was founded in 1999. It presents the folklore of one of the oldest Taiwanese tribe. The school pupils take great care to preserve the local traditions featured by the educational programs of the group. Some of the elements remarkable for these performances are dynamism, passion for dancing, glee - elements appreciated by local audience as well as by tourists visiting the city.
The group's program presents beliefs and tribe's close - knit relations with the aid of body language and elements of modern dance. The dancers` movements, both simple and expressive, convey profound spirituality of the tribe's dance culture.
All the participants in the group spare no efforts to present their traditional dances as an attractive and vivacious show.

Folklore occupies very important place in the life of Cypriots as it provides unity and identity. Probably the most special part of folklore, which plays a very important role in the unique lifestyle of Cyprus, is dancing. Their folk dances have reached the present day in a variety of mature forms, after being influenced by various civilizations during the past centuries carrying the characteristic mediterranean rhythms and joy to the dancers feet.
Cyprus Folk Dances are not only significant because they are liked by the local people but also because they received great acclaim in other parts of the world. "?skele Municipality Folk Dance Group" routinely represent its country in international festivals throughout the year. The folk dances they present reflect all details of island's lifestyle. The dances that are choreographed with the motifs of typical behaviours and traditional occasions, typically focus on notable events.
The group was established in 1987 with the main purpuse to educate young people in their folk history which is unseparable part of Cyprus culture. At present the group has over 300 members in three age ranges and has participated in numerous national and international folklore festivals and competitions.

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Dance has always played an important role in the life of a Greek. In ancient Greece, dancing was believed to be the gift of the gods. It is an expression of human feelings and everyday life. The Greeks danced at religious festivals, ceremonies; they danced to ensure fertility; they danced to prepare for war and to celebrate victories; they danced at weddings; they danced to overcome depression and to cure physical illness. Almost every dance has a story to tell.
A lot of stories performed with the meanings of music and dance will tell us the participants of Folk Dance Ensemble of Rentis Municipality. Rentis has a population of 15 000 inhabitants and constitutes part of the Piraeus Prefecture.
The members of the dance group have participated in many festivals and events at many towns in Greece. They have also participated in many festivals and events abroad presenting the great dance art of their country.
For most of us the first contact with Greek dance was through popular films - who could forget Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba in "Zorba the Greek", dancing for the pure joy and pain of living?
The unique sirtaki dance, zeybekiko or hassapiko - performers from Folk Dance Ensemble of Rentis will leave unforgettable memories in your hearts! Enjoy!

 

 

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The Steel Boyz Band of Mauritius is the one and only steel band in the south region of the Indian Ocean. The group started four years ago with youngsters of 14 years old.
The group now performs in many five stars hotels and venues around the island seeking for the opportunity to present their music abroad.
The traditional instruments of Mauritius are the ravanne, maravanne and triangle; the typical folkloric music and dance - the Sega (pronounced Saygah). Originally sung by men and women who had been sold as slaves but whose souls had remained sensitive to music, the Sega is nowadays a folksong which has integrated itself within the framework of the folklore of the island. Today the Sega and its beat are a part of every Mauritan`s life.
When the steel drums are mixed with the maravanne and ravanne in playing the Sega - it really sounds unique in the world.

Romanian folklore is the best preserved, most varied and traditional in Europe. The tasteful beauty of the regional costumes can be seen throughout Romania. The costumes reflect ethnic identity and witness the historical and artistic values of the Romanian people. A rich variety of traditional dances still exists in Romania. Any dance is a combination of elements: regional style, motifs, musical rhythm, and choreography. New melodies may be used for old dances and new dances danced to old melodies. Banataul Professional Folk songs and Dances Ensemble represent Romania and more precisely the ethno - folkloric area known as Banat, located in the western part of the country. Banat has being regarded as one of the richest parts of Romania. This richness is well represented in the cultural field, at the beauty of the traditional vesture, the variety of performances, the developments of the inter-cultural relations. The ensemble offers scenes of the traditional practices from Banat, as well as other folkloric areas of the country. The beauty and richness of the local folklore was presented through the international tours of the group in Italy, Spain, China, Cuba… "Banatul" Ensemble was established 37 years ago and today it is the sole professional folklore ensemble of the western Romania.

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Like anywhere else in Asia, Thai Dance is an excellent window to the soul of Thailand and is the main dramatic art form of Thailand. There are many different Thai dances. They appear to fit into three main categories:
- First, there are Royal dances. These dances are full of grace and elegance. Movements are slow and stately. The hands and feet are the most important part of the dancer as the position signifies many meanings.
- Second, there are the folk dances, so lovely and energetic. They are often more sexual in the movements. While the hands are still important, the dance steps are more athletic than those of the royal dances.
- Finally, there are the story dances, very similar to western musicals. These story dances use male performers.
" Phetchaboon" Folk dance Group was established by a group of people who has deep love in learning about traditional local performances since 2004. The main task of the group is the choreography in order to preserve the performance of local dances, songs and music, and pass on of these to younger generations who will present the value of Thai traditions and culture to other regions and countries in the future.
The group has performed successfully at many national festivals in Thailand as well as in other countries such as the USA, Turkey and Poland.

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.
Komenka has performed internationally on many occasions since 1988 in such areas as Bulgaria, the Caribbean, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Poland, and Russia.
The history and roots of ethnic and popular dance unique to the southern United States will be provided via exciting and informative Komenka presentations. Dance styles from the mid 1800's through today will be available. Both rural and urban styles are included.

PHILIP KOUTEV
NATIONAL FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE, BULGARIA

The Philip Koutev National Folklore Ensemble was founded in 1951 as the embodiment of the prominent composer Philip Koutev's idea to introduce the Bulgarian folk tradition into performing arts. His aesthetic goal was to preserve the form and style of country folk into the stage compositions and songs through the traditional instruments. Vocal sound extraction. archaic costumes and dances. Soon, the Ensemble became a pattern to be followed across the country and later, in other countries.
Ensemble's history is marked by tens of thousands of concerts in Bulgaria and all over the world, hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide, gramophone records, CDs, audio and video cassettes, videos and TV films and motion pictures.
In recent years the Ensemble has experienced a diverse stylistic development which is quite different from the previous landmarks; the new artistic quests are marked by extending the ranges of genre, sound, stage, form, performing and other features.

Folklore ensemble "Elika" was created in 2001 by graduates of The Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv. Three months after its creation, the ensemble makes its first audio and video recordings as well as commercial products, gaining wider popularity among the general public. At the same time it makes successful steps on the big stage. On May 17th 2002 it wins 1st place in The National Contest "Atanas Atanasov" in Stara Zagora.
Two months later it makes its debut in an International Folklore Festival abroad. Between the 16th and the 21st of June 2002 it performs on the stages of The Danube Folklore Festival in the cities of Baia, Koljocha and Seksard Hungary. The ensemble is invited and takes part in a project to create an ad CD about Bulgaria, shoots a number of video clips with distinguished Bulgarian orchestras and performers, as well as an individual dance video. In 2003-2004 "Elika" takes part in a number of international forums in Serbia, Turkey, Greece, including the international festivals in Antalia, Turkey, Kavala and Joanina, Greece. In October 2005 it takes part in the opening ceremonies of the World's second largest trade center "Grande Cevahir Shopping Centre" in Istambul, Turkey.
All that is accompanied by a number of rewards and prizes, the more prestigious of which are: The reward of "Ivan Spasov" foundation and the Dean of The Academy of Music and Dance Art, Plovdiv for excellence in the field of performing arts. It was awarded to the ensemble's choreographer along with the recognition of "Elika" being a "Distinguished ensemble" of CIOFF- Bulgaria, after a successful performance in the National Review.