Meet the performers of Folkmoot 2015
Bangladesh • Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts
This year is the first time Bangladesh has been represented in Folkmoot USA.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s younger countries, formed in 1947 when Pakistan was split away from India.
Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA) is an educational institution dedicated to the preservation of traditional dance, music and performing arts of the country. Its students are trained to present a wide variety of these traditions to audiences at home and around the world.
BAFA brought its culture to the U.S. for the first time in 2014 at the International Folk Dance Festival in Utah. This year, they will present these traditions to the residents of Western North Carolina and its visitors, as well as share their traditions with members of groups from other countries that are participating in Folkmoot.
Canada • Manigance (French Canadian)
Manigance comes to Folkmoot from the town of Ste Marie de Beauce in the Canadian Province of Québec. The group was founded in 1984 under the name of “Les Danseurs de Ste Marie,” which some will recall as a popular group at Folkmoot USA in 1988, 27 years ago.
The group’s name has been changed, but it retains the characteristics that were so well received by Folkmoot audiences during its first appearance at Folkmoot. During that time, in addition to the USA, Manigance has represented Canada in festivals in Greece, Mexico, Chile, France, Philippines and, most recently, in Peru.
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As most know, the Province of Québec is the French speaking part of Canada. Thus, one might expect their folklore and traditions to be largely descended from France, the land of many of their ancestors. Yet, when it comes to folk dancing and music, it is truly amazing to recognize how much they have in common with the folk dancing and music of the Southern Appalachian region of the USA. Their traditions, like those of this region, seem to have more Irish and Scottish roots than any others.
Cherokee • Tsalagi Touring group
This group will bring a little of the Oconaluftee Indian Village to Folkmoot. The Tsalagi Touring Group provides demonstrations of crafts, legendary social dances and more. It also demonstrates the Seven Clans of the Cherokee people. Also, group members give lectures on culture and history, stories passed down from generation to generation.
The Tsalagi Touring Group performs social dances like the Corn Dance to honor the women in Cherokee culture, the Bear Dance, the Quail Dance and many more. The emcee describes the dances, clothing, as well as the culture and history of the Cherokee people as the group performs.
Chile • Ballet Folklorico Universidad de Tarapaca, “BAFUT”
BAFUT is the Folklore Ballet group of Tarapaca University in the city of Arica in the northern region of Chile.
The group was founded in 1972 by Dr. Manuel Mamani, a musical anthropologist who still leads the group today. Dr. Mamani brought his group to Folkmoot in 1998 and again in 2003. Now, after a 12-year lapse, a new generation of Tarapaca University students is here to share the dances and traditions of Chile with residents and visitors, and to share their traditions with the dancers and musicians from other countries represented at Folkmoot this year.
BAFUT has participated in international folk dance festivals in Germany, France, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and other countries. In its worldwide travels, BAFUT has become well known and respected for its highly disciplined and authentic performances.
The group will perform traditional Chilean and Andean dances from its own northern region of Chile, plus dances from the country’s central region, primarily representing Chilean farming, as well as dances of the island people of the Chilean Austral zone at the southern tip of the country.
Ecuador • Grupo de Danzas Tradicionales Ecuatorianas Universidad Tecnica del Norte - UTN
The group representing Ecuador in Folkmoot USA 2015 comes from the Technical University of the North (UTN), located in the city of Ibarra.
The group was initially formed in 1984 by a group of students at the university, and it was officially endorsed by the rector of the university in 1986. In the 29 years since, the group has represented UTN in a number of countries around the world, most recently in France and Portugal in 2014, earlier in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, etc.
Since its creation, more than 1,700 students have belonged to the group and have participated in more than 2,500 public presentations, demonstrating their love for the culture and traditions of their country and for the opportunity to help preserve and share these traditions with audiences at home and abroad.
Estonia • Folklore Group Kaokirjas
Estonia is a highly developed small country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of the least populated countries among members of the European Union, the Eurozone and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Yet, it is home to one of the most effective National Sections of CIOFF®, the world Organization of Folklore Festivals, of which Folkmoot is also a part. The group Kaokirjas was highly recommended by that CIOFF® National Section. The director of the group is Ms. Ülle Podekrat.
Estonia today has an advanced high-income economy. It ranks high, worldwide, in economic freedom, civil liberties, education and freedom of its press. The language of Estonia is related to that of nearby Finland and differs from the languages of the other Baltic and Scandinavian countries.
Kaokirjas is a very traditional folklore group, meaning that is highly respectful of the traditions of ancestors and endeavors to preserve and present these traditions in a largely unaltered fashion. They have taken this repertoire to many countries, including Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Korea, Indonesia and others. This is the group’s first trip to the U.S.
Puerto Rico • Areyto Ballet
The relationship of Folkmoot USA with the Areyto Ballet of Puerto Rico goes back about 30 years, when Folkmoot officials were invited to attend a festival which they hosted in San Juan. Areyto Ballet was founded by the late Irene McLean, who was also one of the early leaders and an honorary member of CIOFF®, the International Organization of Folklore Festivals, in which Folkmoot has also been active for a number of years.
Areyto Ballet participated in FOLKMOOT USA in 1991 and again in 2007.
Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but Puerto Rico is not a state. It is a self-governing commonwealth, under the U.S. flag. Thus, Puerto Ricans are considered part of the international contingents of participants in Folkmoot.
U.S./Philippines • Parangal Dance Company
Parangal is a group from San Francisco, Calif., representing the folklore and traditions of the Philippines.
Folkmoot USA is best known for bringing groups from around the world to Western North Carolina to share their traditions with residents, visitors and the members of groups from other countries. However, festival organizers recognize that the USA is home to many talented groups representing the traditions of the countries from when their members and their ancestors came to the U.S. many years ago. In fact, multi-cultural groups, known in the U.S. as “ethnic” groups, have recently also become prevalent in a number of countries around the world, as a result of the increased level of migration that is now taking place. Folkmoot is taking this emerging trend to heart and for the past two years has included one or more U.S.-based ethnic groups in each of festivals. Parangal is an outstanding example of this undertaking.
Most of the members of Parangal undoubtedly will appear to be typical American young people. Yet, they have an asset that most do not have, and that is their knowledge of the traditions of their forefathers and their talent for sharing these traditions. Going back far enough, most Americans are multi-cultural, as descendants of immigrants; yet few are fully conscious of the heritage from our ancestors. The members of Parangal and other U.S. ethnic folklore groups are determined to ensure that these traditions are upheld and shared with their fellow citizens.
