the folk festivalfaro will take, from August 19th to 27th, the «colorful of the music and dances of the world» to the councils of Faro, Loulé, Olhão, São Brás de Alportel, Albufeira, Tavira and Silves.
In this event, which will pass through a total of 15 locations, the music, dances and costumes of people from different continents will be represented, through groups from seven countries. "More than three hundred participants, including dancers and musicians" will show the "richness of popular traditions of their lands", explains the organization.
“People, Cultures and Traditions!…” is precisely the motto of the 2017 edition. The participating groups were selected from over a hundred proposals received by the organization, with the presence of: Folk Ensemble Madara (Shumen), from Bulgaria, confirmed. Ensembles Murager and Inju Marzhan (Atyrau), from Kazakhstan, Costa Rica Folklore Group (Asserri), from Costa Rica, Gruppo Gergent (Sicily), from Italy, the Mexicans Ballet Folklórica from Orizaba (Orizaba) and the Ensemble Warszawianka (Warsaw), of Poland.
In addition to international groups, Portuguese traditions will also be well represented by folk groups from different regions of Portugal: Traditional Group “Os Casaleiros” – Azambuja, Folklore Group Rosas do Lena – Batalha, Folklore Group of São Torcato – Guimarães, Ethnographic Group of Serra do Caldeirão – Cortelha (Loulé), Folklore Ranch of the CP da Conceição de Faro and the Folklore Group of Faro (organizer) – adult, children and songbook.
It all starts this Saturday, August 19th, at 21 pm, with an opening gala at Teatro das Figuras. All participating countries will be present, marking “the start of nine intense days, full of shows and countless activities, in what is one of the most awaited events in the cultural summer of Faro», considers the organization.
This gala will feature special appearances by CDA – Companhia de Dança do Algarve and the singer Sandra Cristo, as well as the presentation of the host group and the debut of all six invited international groups.
As for the daily shows, this year they return to the stage of the docks walk, in Faro, between 20th and 27th of August, simultaneously with the Fair of Sweets, Dried Fruits and Regional Drinks.
On each of these nights, several foreign groups will perform successively, but there will also be special participations: João de Deus Dance Club, S. Brás Bailando Association, “Amar Guitarra” Group and Fado with Cátia Alhandra accompanied by José Alegre and Rafael Pacheco.
The street animations, downtown and in the Municipal Market, as well as the parades of groups from Pontinha to Passeio da Doca and musical events in “Tertúlia Algarvia” «will bring an atmosphere of joy and celebration to the city».
The special programs for children at the Library and Refúgio Aboim Ascensão, the programs for the elderly at various institutions and a special program for inmates at the Prison, on the other hand, show the festival's social component.
Os workshops. Dance courses at Escola EB 2,3 Santo António will allow the most curious to learn and practice a little of the world's dances through the groups that visit us.
The Ecumenical Celebration in the Igreja da Sé, on the last day, with a message of peace and unity among peoples, is also a reason for the interest of this festival.
Volunteering and the inclusion of the festival in the community are fundamental aspects of FolkFaro. The volunteers ensured the smooth functioning of different areas of the festival: Organizing Committee, accommodation, kitchen and cafeteria, transport, Folk-Bar, Folk-Shop, concierge, secretariat, stage support or even accompanying the Groups as guides.
THE FOLKFARO is the only festival in southern Portugal with the international certification of CIOFF-International Council of Folklore and Traditional Arts Festivals Organizations, a non-governmental organization (NGO) with formal consultative relations with UNESCO, created in 1970 with the objective to safeguard the promotion and dissemination of traditional culture and folklore.
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