The Summer Theater in the town center will host the event from July 20 to 27
The festival will feature ensembles from China, Cyprus, Mexico, Georgia, Uruguay, East Timor, Comoros and Bulgaria.
There are about 190 foreign participants, and nearly 150 Bulgarian participants, Yorgova said. For the first time in the festival, the audience will see representatives of Uruguay, East Timor and Comoros, she added.
The Mbeningoma group is from the town of Mbeni, Comoros Islands or officially the Union of Comoros
One of Africa’s smallest island nations, located north of the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and East Africa. In 2011, Busri Ben Said Ahmed became the creator of the group or the “project”, as they themselves call it. It has one main mission – to preserve the Comorian traditional intangible heritage and show it to the world. In his project, Busri Ben Said Ahmed includes classes in dancing, singing. Holds cultural and artistic meetings with like-minded people who love local traditions and cultural wealth.
It gathers artists, musicians, singers, performers from all corners of the country. And show the rest of the world this mix of cultural influences between Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Finding an intersection precisely in their island country. “The lineup claims that they are preparing a special repertoire that will meet the high artistic level of our festival and give a definite request for one of the most attractive and colorful groups in this edition of our summer festival,” Yorgova commented.
Weuiku Wehali Cultural Association of Dili also come from a distant and exotic place – the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. It is an island country in Southeast Asia, located at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago. Northwest of Australia and occupying the eastern half of the island of Timor, Yorgova explained. They will perform various traditional ritual dances from their folklore as well as other choreographies.
Aboriginal Folklore Ballet from Canelones, Uruguay
In 2017, they created it with the aim of preserving the traditions of their ancestors. Its folklore wealth and culture, its history and all this presented with a modern reading and feeling. The troupe recreates the cultural values of its people through folk dances and folk music. And proudly promotes its homeland to the world. The group participates in numerous national and international cultural events and festivals. And also prepares a special show for each foreign tour.
“Ballet Folklorico del Norte” from the city of Ciudad Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua is visiting the festival in Veliko Tarnovo for the second time. After coloring the stage with its colorful performances in 2015, Yorgova recalled. They travel a lot, have a number of participations and awards from international and national competitions and festivals.
The Adjarian State Academic Music and Dance Ensemble “Arsiani” from Batumi, Georgia was also already part of the festival program in Veliko Tarnovo, but in 2022. The formation recently celebrated its hundredth anniversary. The leader of the group is Temuri Koridze – a world-renowned artist, creator, choreographer and soloist from the Cirque de Soleil troupe, under whose leadership the ensemble continues its rise, unceasing work and numerous tours, Yorgova pointed out. “They took a week out of their busy schedule specifically for our audience, because they are in love with our city and our festival,” she said.
A Youth Dance Troupe will arrive from China to the Shanghai Theater Academy.
Young artists were gathered in 2006 with the objective of developing their talents within the group. The participants of the troupe have presented their art not only in the country, but also abroad – USA, Japan, Australia. They have participated in some of the biggest national events such as the Olympic Games held in 2008 in Beijing, national dance competitions and many others. “For our audience this summer, the performers from China have prepared a diverse repertoire. They will tell us stories, paint pictures, lead us on a fascinating and enchanting journey through their exotic dance art,” commented the director of the festival.
The Folk Association, created by volunteers and lovers of folk art in 2007, will represent Cyprus at the Youth Center – Nicosia. And since then, many performers have received dance training through the formation.
The composition has members aged from 6 to 50, divided into 6 different age groups. The total number of dancers and musicians is 150, which makes the formation the largest folk group in the country. Folk art, theatrical productions, preserving and spreading traditions and cultural wealth – this is the mission of its participants. For the festival in Veliko Tarnovo, they have prepared a dance performance in which they will tell about their ancestors and their history.
The Bulgarian representatives of this year’s edition of the festival
Folklore Ensemble “Tarnovche” from Veliko Tarnovo, Folklore Dance Ensemble “Balkan” at the People’s Community Center “Tsar Boris III – 1928” – Sofia and Ensemble “Bistritsa” at the People’s Community Center “St. Tsar Boris I – 1909” – Bistrica, whose core is the Bistrica Grandmothers, proclaimed by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. The audience will also see performances by the “Yantra” Folklore Ensemble from the Hungarian capital, Budapest. He has been spreading Bulgarian culture on the Hungarian and international stages for more than 20 years, and has participated in tours in more than 10 different countries around the world, Yorgova pointed out and invited all residents and guests of the city to attend the festival, which will be held this year subtitled Will You Be There…
The International Folklore Festival is organized by the National Section for Bulgaria of CIOFF – International Council of the Organizers of Folklore and Traditional Arts Festivals – an official partner of UNESCO with the status of “associate” and the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo on the territory of the city and neighboring areas. The forum has been awarded the status of “CIOFF Festival”. For the past quarter of a century, 283 ensembles from 119 countries on 5 continents and 242 Bulgarian ensembles have appeared on its stages. More than 660 concerts were performed in front of more than 640,000 spectators, Yorgova pointed out.
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