Germany - Thuringian Folklore Dance Group
The Thuringian Folklore Dance Group from Rudolstadt is resident in a very old Culture region of Thuringia, in the city Rudolstadt. Thuringia called “The Green Heart of Germany” is situated in the middle of Germany.
As one of the most known Thuringian Folk Dance Group we travelled to 25 countries of 4 continents during our existence of more than 50 years. From Afghanistan to America and from Russia to Egypt.
We show folk dances in a high artistic quality and scenic arrangement. Our dance arrangements were created by the best professional choreographers of our country.
Our dance group is 170 strong with members ranging from 4 to 48. The dance group members have been able to preserve our cultural heritage and bring it to life through their dance performances.
In our performances you will experience the Thuringian history, customs and songs which reflect the long and rich traditions of our past.
Brazil - GEMP - Escola e Cia de Dança
The GEMP was founded in 1995 by a group of students, parents, teachers and the direction of Private Elementary School Madre Paulina, led by young Leandro Rupp Diel with 15 years old.
The initial name was Ethnicity Group Madre Paulina, named after the patron saint of the school religious congregation.
Thereafter begins the research work on folklore, ethnic groups and ethnic dances, the first choreographies were mounted at the end of that year.
Altogether there are over 100 awards in national and international competitions.
The GEMP as already won three times "Best Costume Award", Gold Medal at the Certamen Internacional de Danza de Buenos Aires / Argentina and was elected by the public as the most popular group of Internacional Folk Festival in Chile, 2008 Edition.
In September 2006 wins the Award for BEST DANCE COMPANY in National Competition of Santa Maria. In March 2003 the GEMP creates his instrumental group.
In March 2007 was declared, by the mayor, CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE CITY OF Crissiumal.
Currently, GEMP, has its own headquarters, with ample space, where 23 dancers from GEMP has its trials and more than 130 students from the School of Dance, have their lessons.
The GEMP has a number of municipal partnerships, being sponsored by local businesses and encouraged by the municipality administration.
There are 15 dancers in the corps de ballet of the CIA, and 03 musicians.
Scotland - Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Newcastle upon Tyne and District Branch
Dances - The traditional dance and music of Scotland is popular throughout the world. Basically, there are two distinct forms of dance. Scottish Country Dance is sociable dancing with dancers arranged in sets of 2 or more couples. Highland Dancing is a very energetic form of dance usually performed by one person.
Costumes - The costumes our dancers, musicians and pipe band wear is a modern development of that which was worn by the original people of highland Scotland.
The rural people of northwest Britain generally wore a long linen under shirt, and a large woollen cloak or mantle worn over the shoulders fastened by a pin or brooch. Over many hundreds of years this over cloak became belted at the waist and pleated. The plaid became the feileadh beag or little kilt we know today.
During this period of time weavers produced woollen cloth in patterns and colours peculiar to the area they came from and the ‘Clans’ or families had their own tartan and clan crests. Tartan probably means TUAR or colour and TAN, district.
The dancers wear a variety of costumes to suit our displays. The men wear white and coloured shirts or black tee shirts for less formal occasions, and black jacket and bow tie as formal dress.
Slovakia - Folklore ensemble MAKOVICA
The folklore ensemble MAKOVICA was established in 1956 years. The group works by Town´s Cultural Centre in Svidník – the town situated in eastern part of Slovakia.
In the present time the MAKOVICA consists of three sections: dancing, female singing, musical. The group has cca 50 members from 16 – 40 years old. The average of age is 20 years. The new members are coming from children´s folklore ensemble Makovička.
The MAKOVICA has yearly 30 performances, together over than 800 performances. It perform at different culture events, folklore festivals, competitions, celebrations at home in Slovakia and abroad.
The MAKOVICA is dancing choreographies from regions Šariš and Zemplín. In its repertoire we can find:
- „krucena“ – lyrical slow couple dance with singing from region Šariš
- „karička“ – typical female circle dance from region Šariš consisting of various songs that accompany dance variations of Šariš region
- „verbunk“ – typical male dance from region Šariš with the meaning of recruits to army. Dance consists of various steps accompanied with rhythmical beauting of the lengs.
- „čardáš“ – typical pair dance rhythm. The most temperament Slovak folklore dance from regions Zemplín and Šariš.
- „šarišpolka“ – the fastest couple dance from village Raslavice
Spain - Group Gaditano of Music and Dances “Andalucia Dos”
The Group Gaditano of Music and Dances “Andalucia Dos” was funded in 1978. It’s provinient from the extints Chorus and Dances of Education and Rest. Since 1980 the group remains autonomous. In 1987 constitutes as nonprofit Cultural Association remain in this manner.
Since their origins, the Group Gaditano of Music and Dances “Andalucia Dos” has been collecting without rest the flavor of the classic and folklore balls of the land that saw they born. They were enriched by the contribution flamenco own an region with a creator force and artistic as Andalúcia.
Their performances by all Spain and abroad (México, Tunisia, Cyprus, Morocco, Portugal, France, between others) establishes them an artisitic serious formation and careful for good transmition of the music feelings of their land. Their last performances, in 2006 in Amiens and Abert, France, and in 2008 in Friburgo, Switzerland, serve once more to ensure links of cultural union and artistic between the country of big folkloric tradition.
They still investigating continually adapting they’re repertory with new contributions in a totally disinterested and vocational way.
In 2008 the group celebrate they’re 30 years of they’re foundations. Three decades of work and constant evolution of their repertory keeping the essence of flamenco and andalusian folklore.
Mexico - Orizaba Ballet Folkloric
The ballet folkloric orizaba of the IRBAO, you is founded in the year 1970, their current director is the teacher Erasto Gómez Santa Rosa who has printed him the grateful quality from the group to national level.
The group has had numerous presentations along its existence, so much in the main tv channels, like in the main scenarios of the country (Mexico).
In 1972 obtained a medal of gold for it makes a choreography her of the Concheros in the World Festival of Folklore taken place in guadalajara, Jalisco.
In 2008 Zywiec, Poland. - For the showy of the wardrobe, the quality of the musical accompaniment and for the wonderful dance of Quetzals, the Folkloric Ballet of Orizaba obtained first three places during the First Festival of Dance taken place in this Pole.
The folkloric balet of Orizaba has been the first Mexican group in this festival in having obtained a place little by little its trajectory and quality you this making present at international level, representing with great quality and pride to Mexico.
North Ossetia - Iriston Folk Dance Group
Iriston Folk Dance Group is from Vladikavkaz, capital of Republic of North Ossetia, one of the most important points of old silk route.
The group consists in students of the University of Vlaikavkaz, which mission it’s to recover and disseminate the music and traditional dances of their culture.
Their dances are energetic, characterized by acrobatics and fast movements of the feet’s by men’s and soft movements by women that most look like floating in the air.
The orchestra is composed by three drums and too accordions that sound in a special way.
Portugal - Grupo Folclórico das Terras da Feira Casa da Gaia
CASA DA GAIA – Culture Centre Sport and Recreation of Argoncilhe – Santa Maria da Feira was founded in the year of 1971.
From the many sectors that exist in this centre, one of the most important is the “Grupo Folclórico das Terras da Feira”.
After an exhaustive work of investigation this group appears with a lot of dignity performing the “Terras da Feira Folclore”. Since 1978 it is a member of Portuguese Folklore Federation.
This centre also organizes the WORLD DANCES - International Folk Festival in Terras da Feira, this year it will be de 32nd. Edition.
This group parcipated already in many festivals and folklore events, through all the country, with also a performance at the National television.
Abroad, it had performed several times, in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece.
From the several performances this group had abroad, they conquered several trophys such as: Gold Medal of Province of Catanzaro and Trophy of friendship of the City of Motta S. Giovanni (Italy).
In France, this group conquered the Silver Medal of the Cities of Charolles and Angers, The Medal of Honour of City of Montrejeau and Fraternity Cup of the city of S. Michel.
Russia - Volnaya Steppe
The Stavropol Region, located in Southern Russia, is the region of the Cossacks. For centuries the folklore and traditions of the Cossacks of this region have intertwined wonderfully, like the primordial rivers the Don, Tereka, and Kuban. To allow these national riches greater exposure in the diverse world of modern art, in 2005 the Mayor of Stavropol created the professional song and dance group Volnaya Steppe in order to display to the world the essence of the Cossack's yearning through the centuries for freedom and independence.
On the wide open steppes, there was no equal to the Cossack soldier, who fearlessly protected the southern borders of Russia, often facing the challenge alone except for his truest friend, his fighting horse. In the short period of time since its creation, this energetic young group has become a leader in the art circles of the Stavropol Region. The group is currently comprised of 35 members, with a choir of thirteen, together with thirteen dancers and nine musicians.
The repertoire of Volnaya Steppe is varied and large, with complex choreographed compositions often involving the entire ensemble, such that singers and dancers act as one, telling a narrative of the happy moments when the Cossack soldiers returned to their wives and families, and the joys of working the land.