Antique Amphitheater in the Bulgarian Black sea resort – Nessebar became a scene of the first concert and the official opening ceremony of the VI World Championship of Folklore “World Folk” 2016.

Official opening ceremony has special solemnity. Tens of groups, duets and individual performers went on the stage under the flags of their countries. Among the officials and special guests of the ceremony were the President of the European Association of Folklore Festivals – EAFF and the World Association of Folklore Festivals – WAFF – Kaloyan Nikolov; Consul General of the Russian Federation in Varna – Sergey Lukyanchuk; Kremena Stoyanova – head expert in “Culture” Department at Nessebar Municipality; Valko Lyubenov - Doctor Honoris Causa by folk music and dances of Ansted University UK, producer and choreographer, deputy chairman of the 6 Comission at the International organization of folklore art IOV-World. The chairman of jury of the Championship Prof. Nikolay Kravtsov - Honored Artist of Russia, Professor, PhD in Art History, Dean of the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts, the winner of the "Golden Book of Motherland”. Honored members of the Jury are: Maestro Georgi Yankov – conductor and musical expert and Valentin Halvadzhiev – choreographer. Mrs. Mariana Nutsova – director of the Internet TV “Eurofolk” - the general media partner of the event.

In a letter addressed to the organizers and participants in the Championship, the Mayor of Nessebar Municipality – Mr. Nikolay Dimitrov expressed his compliments on the occasion of accepting the EAFF in the structures of UNESCO. Mr. Dimitrov declared the support of the municipality to the diligence of the organizers regarding the implementation of the World Championship of Folklore and wished success in the noble endeavour to preserve folklore traditions.

Congratulatory address was also sent from the Deputy Minister of Culture in Bulgaria – Boil Banov, who welcomed the efforts of EAFF and its partners in the conduction of such large event in the idea of promotion of culture diversity and encouraging the international dialog. Mr. Banov wished “Good luck” to all.

“Here, as nowhere else, the spiritual proximity and similarity in the mentality of different cultures harmoniously combine. Folklore event can be called a celebration of friendship. The emotions, obtained during these days, let them warm you to the next edition.”, noted in his speech the Consul General of the Russian Federation – Sergey Lukyanchuk.

Mr. Kaloyan Nikolov – the president of EAFF welcomed all Bulgarian and foreign participants, thanked to the hosts of the event – the town of Burgas and Nessebar, resort Sunny Beach, Obzor and Sv. Vlas. He thanked to all the teams, who have worked hard for the successful implementation of the sixth edition of the championship as well; to the media partners which support is extremelly important in the promotion of world traditional folklore arts.

World Championship is in the highest level at the Chamionshiop system where 2000 groups took part this year. We are here in order to preserve the traditions and this way to keep the tolerance and good relations between the people. Keep the spirit and folklore of our ancestors!”, wished to all the performers Mr. Nikolov in his welcoming speech.

The contest evening was bright and rich. Hundreds of residents and guests of Nessebar applauded the performers of authentic and processed folklore from all the ethnographic regions of Bulgaria; groups for old urban songs; individual performers and ensembles which presented lot of songs, dances and local humor.

9 groups and individual performers were awarded with 9 medals (4 golden, 4 silver and 1 bronze).

Foreign groups, duets and individual performers presented themselves honorable and showed their motivation not only for medals, but for the Grand Prize Goldren “Orpheus”, the title Absolute championship of Folklore and the amount of 1000 Euro, provided by the organizers. The big competition is yet to come.

The host of the concert today is the town of Obzor – stage “Amphitheater”. The concerts starts at 4:30 pm and will be live broadcasted on Internet Tv Eurofolk: tv.eurofolk.com.

(Dates and venues of the next concerts you may see on the official website of EAFF).

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