Gurgaon: International Folklore fest to showcase cultural diversity from Oct 13

‘Let’s dance for the world peace’ is the theme for the second International Ethnic Folklore Festival starting in the city from October 13.

The six-day festival, which will be held at the Leisure Valley ground in Sector 29, aims to bring together the cultures of the world.

Several countries, including Germany, French Polynesia, Mexico, Greece, Singapore, Colombia, Iran and Nepal will participate in the event showcasing their traditional art forms for the second consecutive year.

The festival will be a combination of dance recitals and performances of traditional music, along with workshops. It is expected that around 200 international and 100 Indian artistes will take part in the six-day event.

The event is organised by the Shrustii Multicultural Centre, a non-profit organisation which works to promote Indian folk art.

Organisers said the festival will connect the audiences and artistes from around the world. It aims to generate significant cultural, social and economic benefits to the city and will make people aware about the various traditions and culture.

After the success of the event last year, it is expected that around 20,000 people will throng the venue. Residents of the city will witness a combination of various ethnic patterns in clothing, dance, music and hairstyle during the event.

The festival will create a fusion of folk music with traditional dances that will portray the ethnic ancestral traditions. Colourful costumes and designs depicted by regional and cultural attires will give an insight into different cultural diversities, the organisers said.

FRENCH POLYNESIA

The French group, which is called ‘Na Pua Nani’, will showcase a dance that will combine songs, rhymes, legends, games, exercises and basic steps techniques, with which the performers will be able to transmit the history, culture and dance to the audiences.

SINGAPORE

The Singapore group will focus on folk dance that will combine different traditional dance genres, including Asli, Inang, Zapin, Joget and Masri.

MEXICO

The Mexican group will present the folklore, ranging from the Mexican revolution, through the carnivals of Sotavento Jarocho, the romance that exists in Huasteca Tamaulipeca, the marriage between people of Nayar, ending with a Fiesta Charra.

INDIA

A group from Kerala will showcase a combination of dance, music, theatre, satire, facial and body painting, masking, martial art and ritualistic functions. Audience will be able to witness a group of men dancing to the beats of Chenda, Ilathalam, Thudi, Panchavadyam and Kuzhal -- some musical instruments of Kerala.

GREECE

This group consists of 450 dancers of various age groups.The dances that they will perform will represent each geographical part of their country and local provinces accompanied by a complete orchestra of traditional instruments.

GERMANY

The Sorrbian folk dance Group ‘Schmerlitz’ is a folklore ensemble which represents Sorbian culture and traditions at the festivals that will be showing the Sorbian and German culture from different regions.

All members come from the Catholic Sorb villages in the district around Kamenz. In addition to dancing, they will also display other customs such as Easter Riding and Maypole Throwing.

COLOMBIA

The artists of Colombia will promote Latin and Afro-Colombians rhythms through their dance.

IRAN

The Raha Group which started in Aminshahr of Iran will be performing at the event. Iran contains several ethnic minorities with their own variations of Iranian folk music, including Azeri, Bakhtiari, Baluchi, Kurd and Turkmen peoples. The group consists of two world class musicians such as tambourine and santoor Players. The santoor is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer or string musical instrument made of walnut, with 72 strings. It is the national musical instrument of Iran.