The groups of Folkmoot 2006
Canada – Zephyr
Zephyr, a French Canadian dance company from Edmonton, Alberta, in Western Canada was founded in 2002 through Edmonton’s Francophone Dance School “L’Association la Girandole.” This summer, Zephyr includes Folkmoot as part of the group’s first international tour. The group will participate in Folkmoot immediately following its performance in the well-known festival “Mondial des Cultures” in Drummondville, Quebec.
The group of 12 dancers and three musicians is directed and choreographed by Isabelle Laurin, who is assisted by Marie-Josee Dupuis. Zephyr’s repertoire includes traditional and contemporary French Canadian dances and high-level step dances that present the dynamic Franco-Albertan culture of their home.
Zephyr, whose English translation means “a light Western breeze,” will dazzle audiences with performances that integrate the many world influences on their Western Canadian culture and traditions. Zephyr performs the difficult and intriguing rhythms of the step dance in more forms than can be imagined.
Members of Zephyr feel that everything around them is worthy of a celebration, and in a world with no boundaries, it is important to preserve their traditions.
China – Shenzhen Arts Troupe
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Shenzhen Arts Troupe is from the city of Shenzhen in the Guandong Province of China, very near Hong Kong. Liu Junjie directs the group. This dance troupe has been awarded the Lotus Award, which is the highest national performance award in China. Most of the dancers graduated from the top national artistic academy in China. Shenzhen has traveled in Europe and Asia, but this is the group’s first trip to America.
The group will present typical folk music and dance from around China. Some of the dances the group will perform include an exciting Mongolian wrestling dance and a peaceful dance illustrating a fairy riding on colorful clouds. The instruments used by the group include a folk pipe, tom-tom, gong, cymbals and a suona horn.
Colombia – Ballet Folklorico de Antioquia Colombia
The Ballet Folklorico de Antioquia, from Medellin, Colombia, boasts 14 years of history, national and international awards, as well as recognitions worldwide. The group won the gold medal at the International Folklore Olympics celebrated in France and the highest and most prestigious award of the International Folklore Festival at Agrigento, Italy.
The company boasts a total of 22 dancers and the musical group Tierradentro to accompany them. Under the supervision of General Director Juan Camilo Maldonado, Artistic Director Maruicio Aristizabal and General Manager Zuleima Asprilla, the group has performed for audiences throughout the world. Ballet Folklorico de Antioquia traveled to Folkmoot directly from Mondial des Cultures in Drummondville, Canada, where members performed for two weeks.
The mission of the group is to make folklore a life testimony by means of a unique show full of dance, color and joy designed to move and touch all audiences. This is the first time that Colombia has been represented at Folkmoot USA in the festival’s 23-year history.
Ecuador – Grupo De Danza “Jahua-Nan” Universidad Tecnica Particular De Loja
The folk group Jahua-Nan from Loja, Ecuador, represents Loja Technical University with young university students comprising the group. The group was formed in 1994 to promote and preserve the diverse culture of Ecuador and some of its surrounding countries. Making appearances throughout South America regularly, the group traveled to Europe for the first time in the summer of 2005 where it performed at the 41st Billingham Folklore Festival in Billingham, England. This will be the first US appearance for Jahua-Nan and the second time that Ecuador has been represented at Folkmoot.
Prepare yourselves for a tour of the Andean Mountains region of South America as Jahua-Nan presents a program that includes dances depicting village life, weddings, fiestas and other important events to the accompaniment of an orchestra that includes the haunting sounds of the panpipes that is typical of the Andes.
France, Brittany – Bleuniadur
The Bleuniadur Ensemble is a regional ballet founded in Saint-Pol-de-Leon, France, in 1978. The cultural development policy of the group includes folk music and dance research, educational programs for all ages and skill levels, and programs that highlight the Breton spirit as authentically as possible. The group has participated in CIOFF festivals, of which Folkmoot is one, in France, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Romania and Austria. In other festivals, the group’s technical expertise in dance, music and costume has attracted much recognition.
In Brittany, the region of France represented by Bleuniadur, music and dancing have always been an expression of identity for the folk society. The name “Bleuniadur” in Breton, the ancestral language of Brittany, translates to “flowering.” Historically, the practice of dancing and music was not restricted to pure entertainment, but also was a manifestation of the folk social order which expressed the status of each individual within the community.
Brittany’s culture is Celtic and very distinct from the folklore of other region’s of France. A group from Brittany attended the Folkmoot festival in 1990.
Gabon – Tandima
This year’s Folkmoot festival marks the first time the African nation of Gabon has been represented at the festival. The group Tandima, founded and directed by Vyckos Ekondo, is based in Libreville, the capital of Gabon.
The group has performed at festivals throughout the world including in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Ivory Coast, France, Canada, South Korea, Japan and Switzerland.
Tandima was formed by Vyckos Ekondo in 1985 with the goal of restoring ancestral Gabonese culture. Ekondo had been active and well-known in the African artistic arena since the early 1970s and had inspired many young artists to honor the Gabonese music tradition. Tandima brings to life the diverse music and dances of Central Africa, where people and nature traditionally have lived in perfect harmony. Tandima, a diverse formation of more than 20 dancers and musicians, presents to its audiences the region’s customs, philosophical values, initiations and other traditions. Ekondo has sought to collect and assemble the lyrical and choreographic traditions of each of the 45 ethnic groups of Gabon. The performances of this group provide a moving and captivating voyage through the beliefs and traditions of the Gabonese people.
Mexico – Ballet Folklorico Recreacion
Mexico is represented by Ballet Folklórico Recreación. This group was founded in 1995 with the intention of promoting Mexican culture in a variety of places in Mexico and abroad. In 1998, the group received recognition for its work in Mexican folklore from the national periodical association. The group also participated in the opening of a Celine Dion concert while in Canada in 1998.
Ballet Folklórico Recreación, based in the Federal Capital, Mexico City, endeavors to present the diversity of dances from all areas of Mexico. Some of the dances will include polkas from Coahuila, dances from Sonora, Tabasco and Tlaxcala, zapateados (dances with colorful skirts and foot stomping) from Veracruz and courtship dances from Nayarit and Jalisco.
New Zealand – Whitieria Perfoming Arts Group
Whitieria Performing Arts Group from Whitieria Polytechnic will demonstrate the beautiful and exciting dances of the South Pacific culture of the Maori at this year’s Folkmoot performances. Though the Maori make up only 10 percent of the population of New Zealand, their culture and folklore has a strong influence on the islands.
The students of Whitieria Performing Arts are taught all aspects of performance and costuming including the significance of each element. The group’s dancing is accompanied by singing and instruments traditional to the South Seas. Instruments for the performances include drums, pa’u, mat drum, and the conch shell.
This is Whitieria’s second appearance at Folkmoot with the last being in 1997. This is the third time in Folkmoot’s 23-year history that New Zealand has been represented.
Thailand – Rajabhat Pibulsongkram University Dance Troupe
Rajabhat Pibulsongkram University Dance Troupe is a member of the university’s Arts and Cultural Center the focus of which is to promote the Thai culture both nationally and internationally. The group is well known in Thailand and has performed at events in its home country, as well as, in China, Japan, Australia and Germany.
The dance and music group from Thailand will perform various kinds of Thai folk dance from the four regions of Thailand, as well as, classical Thai dances. A creation of the Fine Arts Department of the university, “The Dance of the Four Regions” of Thailand will be included in several of the group’s performances. The Rajabhat Pibulsongkram University Dance Troupe invites you to travel in Thailand through the group’s dance performances. You will touch nature, earth, ancient destinations and, most importantly, the friendliness of Thai people.
UK– Royal Scottish Country Dance Society-Newcastle Branch
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society-Newcastle Branch travels to Folkmoot from Newcastle-upon-Tyne located in Tyne and Wear, England. The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) is a worldwide organization with more than 20,000 members. The Newcastle branch has nearly 300 members of all ages. Twenty-three members of the group are participating in Folkmoot.
The group exhibits the traditional dance and music of Scotland that is popular throughout the world. Basically, there are two forms of dance. Scottish Country Dance is sociable dancing with dancers arranged in sets of two or more couples. Highland Dancing is a very energetic form of dance usually performed by one person. Music is provided by the accordion and fiddle for both traditional and modern tunes. The Highland bagpipes and drums are known for military music. Much of the Highland dancing is performed to the pipes.
This is the first time Folkmoot has been able to secure representation of Scottish music and dance in the festival. This is surely a long overdue event, considering the great influence of Scottish traditions on the cultural heritage of the Appalachian region. To learn more about this group, visit its Web site at www.rscds-newcastle.org.
Venezuela – Compania De Danzas Scorpio
The dance company Scorpio, formed in 1976, comes to Folkmoot from the central region of Venezuela, a rich and fertile part of the country that is famous for the growing of sugar cane, rice, maize and coffee. This is where the group finds the inspiration for the dances it performs.
Scorpio is considered one of the most famous dance companies in Venezuela. The successful group has traveled throughout Venezuela and Europe, and all of the group members are fully trained in classical ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, flamenco and folk dance.
Scorpio will delight audiences with colorful dances based on its ancestors harvesting coffee and sugar cane and celebration dances for events such as fiestas, weddings and holidays.
