Argentina

“El Cimarron”

El Cimarron, meaning “wild horse” in English, is a performance group blazing its way from the city of Labordeboy, Argentina. Formed in 1985, the group performs a wide range of dances that represent the Northeastern Pampas region of Argentina.

Pampa is the Quechua word meaning “a plain without trees,” and is a perfect description of the hot region that is known as the agricultural heartland of Argentina. As the historical gaucho figure and farming communities define the region, they also define the dances that El Cimarron performs. Dances such as “By the Littoral’s Paths” and “Pampas Picture” give a historic picture of early Argentine life, depicting the work and relationships of early farm owners and laborers. Performers also partake in the Malambo, a dance that typifies the northern region of Pampas in the distinct tapping that the men perform during the dance, representing the athletic skill and creative abilities of the performers and choreographers alike.

In addition to the famed Malambo, El Cimarron performs a wide variety of tango dances. The tango evolved in Argentina when public dance spaces became so crowded that dancers were forced to perform closer together in a tight embrace. The tango, in particular, exemplifies the versatility of Argentine dance in relation to its regional influences, the romantic nature of Argentine culture, and the talent of the performers.

Belarus

“Radost Folk Dance Ensemble”

The Radost Folk Dance Ensemble, whose name means “Joy” in English, hails from Belarus, a country located in Eastern Europe. The group has been acclaimed as both a guardian and an interpreter of the character of the people of Belarus since its formation in 1962.

The group has much pride in its ability to creatively and skillfully apply its dance and musical skill to the ethnic culture of Belarus and Eastern Europe in a performance genre on stage for international audiences. Fusing authentic folk culture with song and dance, the group seeks to preserve the vitality and legacy of their heritage.

Known as “White Russia,” Belarus is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, lending credit to its rich and diverse cultural heritage and greatly influencing all aspects of Belarusian culture, including its music and dance.

France

“Lous Gouyats de l’ Adou”

Formed in 1965, Lous Gouyats de l’ Adou is a return performance group hailing from Dax in southwest France. This Folkmoot audience favorite has also performed in the 2001 and 2003 Folkmoot USA festivals.

Dax, an area known for its therapeutic mineral springs and thermal mud, is surrounded by dense swampland and marsh areas that at one time had greatly impeded the thriving local agricultural community. As a result, area shepherds adopted the technique of walking on stilts as a way to avoid getting mired down in the sticky mud, carrying long poles to maintain their stability and gourds of water to lengthen their ability to stay atop the stilts.

As the agricultural community continued to grow, time and modernization led to the development of the local farming communities, and the men on stilts became dancers. Everything from the poles the dancers carry to their costumes of berets and sheepskin jackets — used to keep shepherds warm as they tended their flocks — are testament to the authenticity of the group and its mission to preserve the heritage of their community.

Performing dances that range from polkas to Scottish jigs, the group’s dance sequences now combine stilts with complex dance routines that provide a truly breathtaking spectacle for audiences. The “Polka of the Poles” offers a comedic and fun play on the poles that the dancers carry for balance, while the “Rondeaux” is a kaleidoscope of color as the women dance and weave between the flying stilts of the men in a circle of energy and astounding choreography. scale.

Japan

“Tomoe- ryu Yutakadaiko”

Drumming their way from Toyohashi City is Tomoe- ryu Yutakadaiko, a Japanese performance group formed in 1991 that offers the traditions of Taiko drumming and dance. The group has received notable recognition at the Aichi Expo for its preservation of the centuries-old Taiko art form and for its promotion of international cultural education in nations such as Germany.

In Japanese, the word Taiko means “great drum,” but refers to any variation of Japanese drums, especially those used in Taiko drumming performances (more commonly known as “kumi-daiko”). Historically speaking, though, the Taiko drumming tradition in Japan began as a form of military communication. Controlled by “yakus” (drummers), Taiko was used to signify approaching troops entering into battle, setting marching paces, intimidating enemies, and to call out orders.

Through the combination of the Japanese drumming traditions, dances, and songs, Tomoe-ryu Yutakadaiko is able to present a fascinating and energetic representation of Japanese history and culture in a performance that emphasizes precision, athleticism, and rhythm.

Canada (Nova Scotia)

“Forrester’s Cape Breton Scottish Dance Company”

Traveling from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in Canada, the Forrester’s Cape Breton Scottish Dance Company is a new addition to the Folkmoot USA repertoire, offering fresh and authentic representations of Scotland’s Celtic and Highland dance traditions.

The name of their home Province of Nova Scotia translates to New Scotland, so indeed their music and dances represent their heritage.

Highland dance, in particular, requires that performers dance on the balls of their feet and follow a highly choreographed pattern of footwork that is combined with integral upper body, arm and hand movements. Highland dances often resemble square and step dances, native elements to the dance culture of Western North Carolina, and represent a wide range of values and athletic dexterity.

Historically speaking, the majority of dances represented by the Forrester Dance Company are visual lessons of the military history of Scotland. In addition, many of the dances that the Forrester Dance Company practice and perform hold social and practical value.

Russia (Bashkeria)

“Leysen”

Descending from the mountainous city of Uchaly in the Ural province of Bashkir is the Russian ensemble Leysen, meaning “the first spring rain” in English translation.

This group has a large international repertoire and has performed at the Olympics. Leysen has also won several medals for its interpretation of Russian life in the Ural Mountains via music and dance. The Bashkir region is world-renowned for its emphasis on the preservation of traditional cultural practices such as folk music and dance, resulting in a large network of folk festivals and national theaters from which Leysen originated.

In addition to the dances, many of the performers’ costumes represent the diverse population of the region, most notably connoted by the wide range of patterns and colors in the stitching on women’s costumes. The men often wear fur hats, fur trimmed boots and warm wool clothing, indicative of the cold wind and weather native to the region.

Slovakia

“Karpaty”

Created in 1998 by a small group of dance enthusiasts who sought to preserve the folk heritage of Slovakia, Karpaty represents an ever-growing association of performers dedicated to the preservation of and education about Slovakian folk dance and music history.

Named after the Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe, Karpaty has succeeded in bringing their mountain folk heritage to the world by participating in folk festivals and dance performances that span from Germany and Greece to Nepal and Taiwan.

The group’s dance repertoire is just as diverse as its performance history, representing the multiple communities of Slovakia while simultaneously unifying the traditions of those communities to reveal the spirit of Slovakian folklore.

Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)

“Fang Shiang Dance Troupe”

The Fang Shiang Dance Troupe is a skilled youth performance group from northern Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) that celebrates the pride of Chinese folk dance with world-class professionalism, creativity and expertise.

Honoring a rich cultural history that focuses on the celebration of nature, emotional well-being, youth, and healthy communal relationships, Fang Shiang Dance Troupe maintains the strong commitment of the Chinese to their communities and each other through the elegance and symbolism of their dance performances.

Accompanying the voices and dances of Fang Shiang’s performers are a host of musical instruments ranging from the Ruan (“moon guitar”), which visually resembles a banjo, and the Dizi, a bamboo reed with finger holes and mouthpiece, to the pipa, a pear shaped instrument with strings that are plucked.

Trinidad

“Footprints”

Journeying from the mecca of Caribbean cultural preservation and tradition in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Footprints Folklore Performers bring an infusion of fire, talent, intensity and skill in their award-winning repertoire of island music and dance.

Securing national acclaim for its presentations of performances that include Calypso, African dance, Limbo, Moko Jumbies, Fire Breathing, and steel pan music, the group has won multiple awards for its engaging and unique presentation of Trinidad’s island culture.

The most popular music genre, Calypso, originated as a form of communication between Afro- Caribbean slaves on the island when former slave masters forbid slaves from speaking to one another. In the early 20th century, Calypso music began to take on political undertones and became a popular way for islanders to promote free speech and spread island news. Soca music, also performed by the group, is a direct relative of Calypso music that combines percussion rhythms with Chutney music.