SOUTH AFRICA

Gauteng Provincial Troupe   

Coming from the Gauteng province in South Africa, this dance group is formed by 35 young students, members of the community belonging to different regions of the province and in love with the preservation of its rich folklore.The group’s trajectory is unstoppable especially by the energy it conveys when on stage, getting the audience’s applause and making people enjoy the glitter and the colour of its adornments and fur costumes. The group’s performances include different types of indigenous dances and Tswana and Zulu music as well as Venda traditions. The most representative dances are Zulu.

ARGENTINA 

Gran Ballet Argentino 

The company was founded in 1963 in the city of Cordova. It represents all Argentinian folklore especially country dances and the tango, the most well known dance of the country. One of the virtues the public recognises to this group is its ability to show faithfully the Argentinian popular art, performing shows with great rhythm, variety and theatrical movements. After being consolidated nationally where they have received several prizes, they began their international experience in 1984 performing in the following countries: France – Switzerland – Poland – Peru – Brazil – Canada – Portugal – Spain – U.S.A. – Belgium – the Netherlands – Panama – Slovenia – Italy – Paraguay - Malaysia.

CUBA 

Conjunto Artístico "Maraguán" 

Founded in 1981 in the city of Camagüey, this group is one of the most prestigious cultural symbols of Cuba. Maraguán conquered a great number of prizes in Cuba where it has presentations in the majority of the main cities, including the room Garcia Lorca of the Great Havana Theatre, the most important theatre in the island.
The performances abroad, also very successful, are mostly in more than non competitive events, most of them organised by CIOFF. Around 180 places in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, France, Spain, Portugal, Paraguay, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Italy etc. mark the trajectory of the "Conjunto Artístico Maraguán".

DAGUESTAN 

“Gergebil” Dance & Song Ensemble 

The Ensemble was founded in 1953. The whole program is conceived as scenes from village life. There are many artistic elements (costumes, dance pas, melodies) which remind other Caucasian folk cultures. Still Daghestani folk art has definite peculiarities which make this art unique, fresh and original. Hr revived with them the ancient ceremonial wedding dance “Aytaia” which he saw in a remoted small village of Maali, the ancient Avarian dance “Lingla”. Such choreographic compositions as “Mountain Shepherds”, “Highlander Girls”, “Salutatory Lezghinka”, “Highlander Dance Competition on Drums” received general approval and gratitude. Splendid is the group of drum musicians with their “Rhythms of Highlanders”. Since 1997 the Ensemble has the status of “Municipal Ensemble”. Representacões internacionais: Bulgaria, Turkey, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc.

SPAIN

Castro Floxo

Created in 1977 with the clear goal of bringing back, promote and spread the Galician folklore with rigor and authenticity that art, culture and popular traditions deserve, it is nowadays the artistic ultimate exponent of the Provincial Dance School in Ourense. In all its performances, Castro Floxo shows the richness, the variety, the joy, colour, feeling… of the Galician folklore in its true dimension. It has participated in several festivals in Germany, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Scotland, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, U.K., Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Ukraine, U.S.A.

THE PHILLIPINES

Folklorico Filipino Dance Company

Funded in 1973 Original music scores resulted from mixing traditional sounds with new arrangements. The innovative style of Folklorico Filipino, modernizing the folk dances of the Philippine cultures, has made them distinct and recognized Worldwide. For over 34 years, Folklorico has delighted their audience with enjoyable and exciting programs, all can be thrilled by. Representações internacionais:
Canada – EUA – Espanha – França – Polónia – México – Estónia – Bulgária – Portugal – Itália – Ucrânia.

INDIA

MEXICO 

Folk Ballet of Colima University

The Folk Ballet of Colima University was founded in 1980. It performed for the first time in 1983. It was the first group to perform in the Fine Arts Palace. Official Mexican representative in events of worldwide importance like EXPO 92 Seville, Atlanta 93 Olympics, EXPO 2000 Hanover, it performed in S. Peters Square in the Vatican for more than 30 thousand pilgrims and was received by Pope John Paul II. Being a high level group, they were designated “Group of Excellency” in 1995 by CIOFF and UNESCO. The group also obtained the first prize “Del Milenio” on the 31st Competition and World Folk Festival in the city of Gorizia, Italy, among other 10 groups from all over the world. International performances: United States, Canada, Porto Rico, Panama, Guatemala, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, etc.

PORTUGAL 

The group was created in 1966. It preserves and spreads traditions, habits and customs of Viana do Castelo region. This Ethnographic Group has been honoured several times both nationally and internationally on its several trips to Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Italy and Brazil as well as the Portuguese islands of Madeira and Azores. The group is considered today a Public Utility Institution with its own seat and large patrimony.

PORTUGAL

Rancho Folclórico Casa do Povo de Barbeita

Founded in 1959.  Widely known, the Folklore Group of Barbeita participated in the most well-known world’s folk festivals integrated into the CIOFF (International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Art): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Island, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and Andorra.
Since 1986 the group organizes the International Folklore Festival of “Ponte de Mouro and Alvarinho”.  

Regional Group Moreira Maia

The group was created in 1934. Its first public performance was in the “Crystal Palace” in Oporto city, on the occasion of the Portuguese Colonial Exhibition, has won several and honourable distinctions, among which stand out, by its meaning, the Gold Medal of Cultural Merit offered by the Town Hall of Maia on the celebrations of its gold anniversary. It is an effective member of the Portuguese Folklore Federation. The group organizes 5 folk festivals yearly. It also participates in religious celebrations, pilgrimages and festivals across the country, including the Portuguese Islands of Madeira and Azores.
International performances: Germany – Belgium – Brazil – Spain – France – Greece – Italy – Netherland - Switzerland  

ROMANIA

"Doina Timisului"

Created in 1959, Doina Timisului gathers students of almost all schools of the University Centre in Timisoara, Banat region. It quickly became popular because it has chosen as target the culture of the whole country. The authenticity of its songs and dances, traditions and habits made the group very well-known in a short period of time both nationally and internationally. The music is given by an orchestra made up of violins, clarinets, accordion, guitar, cello, saxophone and other instruments that give a specific colour to the Romanian traditional music: Dick, Drâmba, Ocarina, and Canvas.
International performances: Egypt, Tunisia, Canada, U.S.A, Brazil, Japan, Andorra, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Slovakia, France, England, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland.

TAIWAN

Taiwan Folk Music Ensemble

Also known by the Portuguese name “Island of Formosa”, Taiwan bathes in the northern East China Sea, east to the Pacific Ocean and the Taiwan Strait and south from the Strait of Luzon. Its capital: Taipei. In 2007 a new group called “Taiwan Folk Music Ensemble” is born with the mission of promoting and spreading Taiwan’s traditional folkloric music and dance. Each year, will produce several grand plays and present them at country theatres and campus in university. The Ensemble is comprised by 37 members and has participated in CIOFF European Festivals in various countries including: Germany, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Hungary, Spain, etc.