Slovakia FolkmootUSA
Thailand
Martinique Le Grand Ballet de Martinique Slovakia Zobor University Folk Ensemble The University Folk Ensemble Zobor comes from the oldest town in the Slovak Republic, Nitra, first settled in 828 AD. Zobor is the name of the hill above the town of Nitra. Founded in 1956, Zobor is one of the oldest folklore ensembles in Slovakia. Winners of multiple awards for choreography and musical arrangements, they have performed countless shows in Slovakia and 20 other countries throughout the world. Zobor’s dances are about ordinary country life, where poverty made life short and painful. Love, work and war are three main themes you can find in Slovak folklore as well as life’s events: marriage, birth and death. Life was very difficult, therefore the Slovak people tried to make it easier by singing anytime they could. Every second year the Zobor group organizes the CIOFF® International Festival of Academic Folk Ensembles, called Academic Nitra. Approximately 900 people from all over the world attend their festival.
The Chanthaburi Folk Dance group is from Chanthaburi, Thailand, near the capital city of Bangkok. Performers of the group are folk dance experts and specially selected students. This group has won numerous awards and been honored by Her Royal Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, for a Thai musical performance competition. Chanthaburi has participated in international and folklore festivals in Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, South Korea and Australia as well as a World Music competition in the Netherlands. Signature Thai dance elements include movements of the body, arms, hands and legs to imitate the natural movements of birds and animals. Traditional costumes are often constructed of silk fabric which may be embroidered. Dancers of the north and south of Thailand usually attach long, curved bronze “fingernails,” which accentuate the fluid, sensual movements of the hands.
Poland Wici Song and Dance Company The Wici Song and Dance Company was organized in 1972 in Chicago. Its mission is to promote Polish culture through song, dance, and music. Wici has carried the traditions of their ancestors through with their authentic costumes and original choreography. All members of the company perform without any compensation or monetary reward. Over 8,000 young people and adults have participated in the group’s activities since its origin.
Poland
Martinique
North Carolina’s International Festival
Thailand Chanthaburi Folk Dance Group
Le Grand Ballet de Martinique was created in 1946. The dances and songs of Grand Ballet de Martinique evoke the distant past of the French West Indies. Comprised of about 30 musicians and dancers dressed in traditional costumes, Le Grand Ballet de Martinique perform with the “old school” rhythms of beguine and mazurka. Performances convey the joys and sorrows in a story of ancient times and how slavery led to modern Martinique. Energetic and entertaining, the performers of Le Grand Ballet de Martinique provide an interesting cultural view into the historic island of Martinique.
Wici is comprised of two groups totaling morethan 300 dancers, musicians, and artists. The group wears hand-made costumes imported from Poland, including colorful men’s and women’s attire made from wool, velvet, and silk, some of which are priceless original handicrafts. Wici has traveled and performed at venues all over the world including Canada, Italy, Poland, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Several years ago, it started exploring American folklore and music including country western and clogging. One of its new dances comes from the Appalachian region.
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