Folkmonção: the World Dances

Facing a Village that more and more people do not want Global, Folk expressions are getting weight on culture. At Monção there is a festival on the wave.

 

It has 32 years of existence, and it gains more and more visitors and participants, coming from around the world. The Folkmonção, International Festival of Folk Dances, in the north of the country, began in 1986, with 5 local traditional dance groups. In the course of time, the participating groups began to grow exponentially, as well the countries of origin: in 2018 will be attending Folkmonção countries as South Africa, Argentina, Belarus, Buryatia, Colombia, Spain, Tahiti, Ukraine and three Portuguese groups.

The festival runs from July 29 to August 5, always around Monção, both in Portugal and Spain: Arcos de Valdevez, Barbeita, Caminha, Melgaço, Paredes de Coura, Ponte da Barca, Ponte de Lima, Salvaterra de Miño, Valença, Vilanova de Arousa and Vila Nova de Cerveira.

 

Take advantage from the trip to the Festival, and get to know better about one of the best wine regions of the country, which also makes a good part of the Romanesque Route, an historical paththrough medieval churches and fortresses that is growing on national tourism relevance.

Since 2010 he has earned the nickname "The World Dances", and even before, in 2006, it had been recognized by C.I.O.F.F. (International Council of Organizations of Folklore and Traditional Arts Festivals, UNESCO B status), in 2005 by C.I.D. (International Council of Dance) and in 2004 by I.O.V. (International Organization of Popular Arts).

 

The Folkmonção owes its increasing success to both the quality of invited groups and good organization, as well as the warm welcome and the atmosphere of friendship that reigns between the groups and the population.

In Monção the spectacles take place in Deu-La-Deu Square, with 1,500 seats and a wide space around to watch standing. In the same square each group of artists also has the possibility of installing an exhibition stand for the sale of handicrafts and objects representative of both their work and their native region.

And from this vast world we will able to enjoy the AMA - Zebra Folk Dance Ensemble, 30 young artists from the Zulu region of South Africa, in tribal dances remembering adventure films, or the Ballet Calden Gaucho, from the city of Santa Rosa, at Argentina’s pampa, who will dance the malambo, the tango and boleadoras.

 

The Hei Show Tamure brings from Tahiti the Polynesian culture, the Ori Tahiti, which in Europe is still far from being acquired, and from the Ukraine come the typical voices and dances from the east, with the Poltava Ensemble group, a regular guest at Walt Disney World , in Florida, USA.

 

See all the groups and rest useful info here.

 

 

Pictures from passed editions, as seen at Folkmonção website.