“VALDEMEDEL” folkloric group , Badajoz, Spain

The group Valdemedel was founded in 1983 in Ribera de Fresno (Extremadura) by the masters Mr. Juan Antonio Gallardo Alvarez eta Mr. José Joaquín Masa Romero. This group belongs to different associations like “Melendez Valdes” Culture Association, Extremadura’s Folklore Federation and Spanish Folklore Confederation.

Nowadays the group is made up of 50 young, either musicians or dancers. But apart from that, they have a Children Folkloric School; and while pupils grow up and improve their artistic abilities, they pass to the adult group.

The current group director is Luis Masa Marcias, and he is in charge of more than 100 persons.

Valdemedel’s Children Group has participated in different festivals along the Spanish geography. And besides, it organizes its own children festival in the festivities of Lower Extremadura.

Timisul folkloric group (children selection) . Rumanía

The group was founded in 1996 with children selected from some courses of Timisoara’s Cultural House; with the help of the choreographer Vladu Doru.

Nowadays the group is formed by children of all the schools of that city. They have musicians, singers and dancers, and thanks to that, they present performances in order to spread their popular traditions and their folkloric customs.

The music group which usually goes with plays traditional music from different regions of Romania. That’s why they show popular dances from very different places as Banat, Ardeal, Moldova, Oas and Bihor.

Up to now the group has participated in several children festival either in Romania or Europe, in countries like Turkey, France, Greece, Serb, and Hungary...

History of Ensemble “Etnos” – Skopje, R. Macedonia

Ensemble of folk dances and songs “Etnos” from Skopje, capital city of Republic of Macedonia was established on the beginning of this millennium, and in 2010 will celebrate 10 years anniversary. Through the Ensemble “Etnos” many boys and girls with the mean of the folk songs and dances spread the Macedonian tradition and culture across whole Europe.

Ensemble “Etnos” count about 150 members between 7 and 18 years old that work in several groups. The Ensemble has given about 400 performances since today in Macedonia, as well as in many European countries such as France, Germany, Finland, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia etc.

The Ensemble “Etnos” posses the original folk costumes from several regions of Macedonia.

In all festivals that Ensemble “Etnos” participated, it was awarded with high acknowledgements and awards for performances and authentic costumes. In 2009 the Ensemble participated in festival in Lebork – Poland, where won the first award for the best choreography and in Varazdin – Croatia where among 10 Ensemble, Etnos won the award for most original costume and scene performance.

ERAIKI DANTZA TALDEA, Irun. PAYS BASQUE.

It was around 1978, when a young group from Behobia (Irun-Gipuzkoa), founded Eraiki Dantza Taldea (www.eraikdt.com), which from the very beginning tried to maintain alive Basque Countries’ folklore. Nowadays, the group consists of 150 participants between 5 year old children and adults. The folklore that Eraiki Dantza Taldea represents is based on the 7 counties which culturally made the Basque Country. The group have always tried to keep the legacy our ancestors gave us as pure as possible, giving importance to the traditional clothing of each county and also to each of the instruments played at the moment. In 1997, Eraiki Dantza Taldea decided to organize the 1st International Young Folklore Festival from Bidasoa (www.festivalfolklorebidasoa.com), which the most important aim was to make all the different cultures around the world known, being folklore the most important tool.

International festival in which the group has taken part:

• Jelenia Gora. Polonia (1989)
• Naoussa. Grecia (1990)
• Castellón. España (1996)
• Telsiai. Lituania (1997)
• Lodz. Polonia (1997)
• Tarragona. España (1997)
• Asturias. España (1998)
• Olot. España (1998)
• Rabat. Marruecos (1999)
• Jelenia Gora. Polonia (1999)
• Toledo. España (1999)
• Vilnius. Lituania (2000)
• Kazimbarzika. Hungría (2000)
• Nêuchatel. Suiza (2000)
• Cambo. Francia (2000)
• Zvolen. Eslovaquia (2001)
• Albacete. España (2003)
• Nova Prata . Brasil (2003)
• Galicia. España (2004)
• Zielona Gora. Polonia (2005)
• Elters/Thale. Alemania (2006)
• Estambul. Turquia (2007)
• 30 aniversario del grupo (2008)
• Ohrid. Macedonia (2009