Folklore dance group "Mtatsminda" from Georgia became an Absolute Winner of Folklore for 2018 at the World Cup of Folklore™ - Jesolo 2018 (Italy) and won the Gran prix of the forum, as well as a the money prize of 2000 Euro. 

 

The chairman of the international jury was Francesco Gatto (music specialist) by the Italian section of IOV and members - choreographers Ekaterina Muratova and Victoria Bodnya (Russia and Ukraine). The Commission awarded the first place to the Georgian performers among 9 formations, participating in the event. It was held from 24 to 28 May in Jesolo - Venice, together with the 16th International Festival of Folklore and Contemporary Arts "Le spiagge d'Italia".

The first place in the Italian World Cup of Folklore this year took the performers from Folklore group "Naadyog Gurukul" (India). Only a few days earlier the dancers won the Grand prix in the Bulgarian edition of the event. At the second place, the jury ranked the performers from Austria – Pramtaler Volkstanzgruppe. At the third place in the ranking were the participants of the Folklore Group "Chigli de "Mbrolo" (Italy).

 

An official guest and a Honored member of the jury was the president of the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF, Kaloyan Nikolov. He handed the premium of the big winners as well as several other awards: 2 vouchers for 500 Euro for participation in the European Championship of Folklore "Euro Folk"  (Folklore group "Chigli de "Mbrolo" (Italy) and for the World Championship of Folklore "World Folk" (Purva’s Nritya Akruti – Italy). The other participants in the World Cup of Folklore (from Austria, India, Poland, Kyrgyzstan) also received references for participation in the European and the World Championships of Folklore, which are held in the summer in some of the most beautiful Bulgarian Black Sea towns.

 

The impressive folklore celebration became even more impressive due to the accompanying events: a parade of the participants on one of the central streets of the city; tasting of wine and food, traditional for the region; a competition for the most beautiful pieces of sand, as well as excursions for the participants to Padua and Venice.

 

“This year Jesolo hosted more than 400 artists from 9 countries and proved it’s ready to become a strong festival center which offers quality of servicies and unforgettable experience.” – says the Artistic Director of Festival Mrs Svetlana Rumenova. – “All groups shown excellent preparation of their programs and it was difficult to decide who would be the winner – they impressed and created explosive combination of magnificent choreography and impeccable performance on stage. The weather was our great ally and gave a wonderful holiday to all the participants. The favorable climate of the area in the period of May allowed us to organize for our guests several attractions during  free time like sand sculptures, zumba on the beach, degustation of typical italian food ect…” – continues Mrs Rumenova.

 

The photo exhibition "Folklore - shared knowledge. Past, present, future."  by the official photographer of EAFF – Georgi Nutsov found its place at the festival in Italy. The beauty, captured by the camera at the precise moments during the festivals of EAFF in Bulgaria, attracted the visitors.

 

Step by step, the World Cup of Folklore in Jesolo, Italy transforms in an important international forum and festival full of emotions, colours and diversity thanks to variety of ensembes and traditions. Because folklore is not only an exhilarating dance or a beautiful song, but it’s the story of a land, the tale of its ancestors and richness for who choose it as part of life or who only admire it as public.