This is a festival of the authentic folklore of the people of the world that takes place for 5 days, every August on the Island of Lefkada.
International entries from Asia, Europe and Latin America along with national entries from Northern Greece joined the local cultural associations, dance schools, the Philharmonic Society of Lefkada and organised groups of volunteers to compose this year's folklore mosaic of this August 2023.
The festival program included a multitude of events throughout Lefkas, the villages of the Municipal Units and on the islands of Kalamos, Kastos and Meganisi. Everyone had the opportunity to see street performances, participate in dance workshops, taste national cuisines, attend seminars and have fun with the international participants of the Festival experience joy of peace and solidarity.
Preparations are ongoing for the grand opening of the New Open Air Theatre of Lefkada which will become 'the permanent home' of the Lefkas International Folklore Festival.
Our first experience was seeing some of the vibrant costumes as the participants walked through town from their hosting hotel to the Cultural Centre, to prepare for their evening performance.
The organised event, prior to the evenings Closing Ceremony, was an interactive demonstration of the Japanese art of origami.
Origami - is the art of folding paper, while cutting is prohibited.
I proudly produced a bird which when you gently pulled its tail, its wings flapped.
The Japanese folk group Makoto Juku delightfully entertained visitors, accompanied by a talented pianist.
Handmade crafts were displayed that could be purchased. In Japan, from ancient times people have given gifts wrapping with white 'Noshi paper' and red 'Mizu-hiki' decoration for special celebrations of life such as marriage and childbirth.
The plum blossom knot of 'nizu-hiki' decoration is a symbol of happiness that endures the harsh winter and blooms in advance of other flowers with a noble scent.
This is a traditional style of heartwarming and caring Japenese communication which has been handed down in a long history. I gifted myself a pair of earings....because I am worth it!
It was not possible to attend all the workshops on offer throughout the five days but we spontaneously decided to attend the Closing Ceremony.
Closing Ceremony
The orchestra of the festival is a musical group that is created every year by the musicians that accompany the dance groups of all the countries. Throughout the duration of the International Folklore Festival, the musicians meets and collaborate in rehearsals in order to perform the official song of the event, 'Lefkada's Festival Folklore'.
Each year is unique and different, using various musical instruments available and elements from the musical tradition of all of the participating countries. The arrangement was composed by Alexis Karaboikis and conducted by Pantelis Pandis.
Japan
Makoto Juku is a group that constantly disseminates Japanese traditional performing arts to the whole world. Especially the Lefkas International Folklore Festival in Greece, the birthplace of Yakumo Koizumi, is special for them. They represent a wide range of Japanese culture, from modern to classical.
Georgia
'Chela' was created in 1968 in the city of Zugdidi, Western Georgia and consists of 30 members. It has received many gold and silver medals and awards at festivals and competitions in Georgia and abroad.
I felt this display of traditional male dancing was indeed the most energetic. The males wear soft soled boots to enable them to continually jump on the toe knuckle, leaping and crash landing on their knees and intense spinning.
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India
Shivam Nrutya Cultural Academy is a dance institute, operating for at least 20 years, focusing on Indian folk dances as well as classical Bharatnatyam dance in order to maintain authenticity. They offer regular non-profit professional shows to raise public awareness to show how rich Indian Culture is.
Indonesia
'Listra Unpar supports non -academic student activities of the University 'Unpar', West Java. This student activity unit revolves around Indonesia's traditional folk music and dances, participating in folklore competitions and festivals. Having joined the 56th Lefakas International Folklore Festival in 2018, this was the 2nd time Listra Unpar performed in Lefkada.
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Colombia
Since 2013 the CreaDanza Artistic Company was created seeking to decorate the artistic performance in a novel way, linking the visual with the feeling of the viewer. The objective of the company has been to start from tradition to carry out projective work, recovering ancestral values of the territory and build an attractive, innovative, rigorous proposal, which gives the viewer a different image of native Columbian dance.
Mexico
The Mayan Folkloric Ballet was founded in 2012 with the purpose of promoting the cultural diversity of their country through dance and music. Their entrance to the stage enraptured the whole audience.
Ukraine
The dance group of the Boumbouras Foundation was founded to promote Greek culture and specifically the Greek tradition, focusing on the authenticity and philosophy of Greek traditional dance, based on the idea of participation and expression in the local community.Everyone can participate in Greek dance, regardless of age, cast, or abilities, enjoying what dance has to offer. Its not easy, but its worth trying and with the right guidance, you will find that you can fill your life with unprecedented emotions. (I have been practicing with my kitchen tea towels)
The Foundation has three dance groups; its ambition is to develop the Greek dance activity, gathering people who will be introduced to its virtues. In this context, trips are organised to Greece and other countries as well as Ukraine, with the aim of participating in festivals etc. Performances are given in theatres in Ukraine, mainly in Odessa.
Grigoris Chnarakis is from Greece, dance teacher and choreographer of all groups.
Chile
Ballet Folkorico Tupa Marka, a name that in the Aymara language means 'Meeting of Peoples', was established in the city of Puerto Montt. This ballet is an independent artistic company made up of a staple of 20 dancers and 9 musicians, as well as an inspiring cast. The Tupa Marka Folklore Ballet delivered a show with universal projection that unifies the tireless study of traditional culture in order to recreate and disseminate the different cultural manifestations of Chile and Latin America.
A revealing performance!!
Greece
Educational Association 'Orestis' was founded in 1972. It maintains two dance departments with the purpose of preserving the original cultural tradition, in this case of music and dance, to
future generations, and recording of the folkloric wealth of the city. Achieved with the publication of the book 'Folklore Of Argos Orestiko (Chroupistas)'.
Lefkada
The Dance Department of Orfeas was founded in 1960 with the aim of preserving dances, songs and Folk Cultural Tradition of Lefkada, the Ionian Islands and the rest of Greece. Dances of the Seven Islands, with corresponding costumes and other urban dances are taught and nurtured with the values of popular tradition.
Since 1962 they have been pioneers of the 1st International Folklore Festival of Lefkada.
Every June dancers aged 5-16 who are taught kinesiology, singing and dancing, perform throughout the island.
The Music and Dance Club 'Nea Choir Lefkada' was founded in 1964 with the aim of preserving the Heptanisian musical tradition and developing the spiritual and cultural level of Lefkada.
Every August since 1983 a Choral Festival has been held with the aim of promoting choral singing.
Every year at the end of June the 'traditional dance evening' is organised with participation of all the dance departments of the club.
The Music and Philology Club of Karya Lefkada 'Aplollon' was founded in 1956 and is the second historical club in the Prefecture. Its purpose was the essential rescue, preservation and dissemination of the cultural and spiritual culture of the place and residents of Karya. It has a theatre department, music and dance, philharmonic and mandolinata.
Every year it organises two cultural events, 'The Village Wedding Reenactment' and the 'Celebration of Traditional Dances, Youth Dance Departments'.
Since 2020 the 'Home of History and Culture of Karya' (in the former elementary school), musical and theatre events take place; the premises hosts a rich historical, cultural and folklore archive, a library, an old primary school hall and a folklore exhibition.
Dancing with copper water pots. These traditional pots can be seen at the Folklore Museum in Karya.
The dance Club of Lefkada (HOL) was established in 2016. The motivation for its creation is the love of its members for traditional dance, as well as their ever-increasing desire to share this mood with more and more people.
If you did not attend this years Closing Ceremony of the International Folklore Festival I highly recommend making a date in your diary for subsequence years.
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