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| Dancing in the streets of Palma
| Text and Photo: Aina Bosch |
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Every two years the World Folkdance Festival transforms Palma into a labyrinth of entertainment. Festive stages are set up throughout the heart of the city for singers, dancers and musicians who come from all over the world specially to perform here, filling the city with colour and rhythm.
From the war dances of the Zulus to the delicate moves of Natya Bharata and the spirit of Central Europe, the diverse and different cultures provide a wonderful kaleidoscope of popular music. All of the dance troupes, decked out in national costumes, perform a series of shows from different parts of the city every day during the festival. But, apart from entertaining the public, the festival also provides a chance for dancers and performers from across the world to meet up in Palma and share their experiences. Between performances, you can often spot Greek dancers trying to teach their moves to a dance troupe from Ghana, or Bulgarians learning to dance to the rhythm of the Mariachis. Everyone becomes teacher and student at the same time. At the end of the event, many of the performers return home with addresses of new friends as well as presents and souvenirs. |
| Performers from Rwanda, Estonia, the United States, Bulgaria, Algeria, Georgia, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico, the United Kingdom and more, bring a taste of their folk dance and culture to Mallorca. |
It is thanks to the Palma School of Dance, which last year celebrated its 30th anniversary, that this event is held. The festival is hosted every two years in Palma, and in 2007 will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Since the event first began, over 70 countries from five continents have taken part. This year, 1,500 performers from over 30 countries will participate in the World Folkdance Festival.
Dance, some say, was one of the first art forms we used to communicate with each other. Today it is an important part of a countrys identity. This festival is a clear demonstration that mankind still has the spirit to party! | |
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