Participating Dance Companies
For our Virtual Festival we have selected some of the top World dance companies which we will be presenting at our daily evening concerts.
In our daily evening concerts, we will be featuring different repertiore from the dance companies we selected.
None of the selected dance companies have been to our festival before and we hope they will appear Billingham in future years.
Participating Dance Companies:
Compania de Danza ‘Mitimaes’, Argentina
Argentina is the largest state in South America, the second largest in Latin America and the biggest among Spanish-speaking states.
Compania de Danzas Mitimaes defines their work as a fusion between contemporary dance and Argentine and Latin American folk dances.
From there, a language of its own arises; a language without time or space, and one that represents us beyond borders. The name Mitimaes comes from the Quechua language and means “come from another place”, since the members of the company not only come from different parts of Argentina but also from different styles in the world of dance.
Choreography Facundo Mercado and Gabriel Contreras
Photo Gallery: Compania de Danza ‘Mitimaes’, Argentina
Academia de Danza Folklorica ADAF, Bolivia
Bolivia is a country in central South America, with a varied terrain spanning Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert and Amazon Basin rainforest.
ADAF-BOLIVIA dance academy was created by Roberto Sardón Orihuela on August 7, 1999, as an independent dance company with the firm objective of keeping the wonderful Bolivian culture expressed in folk dance alive.
Over 20 years the company has successfully toured all over the World, presenting their interpretations of Bolivian Folklore.
Director Director Roberto Sardon Orihuela
Photo Gallery: Academia de Danza Folklorica ADAF, Bolivia
International Dance Group ‘Ngwao Letshwao’, Botswana
Located in the south of the African continent, The Republic of Botswana is a country with an abundance of water resources in the desert sands. 70% of the country is occupied by the Kalahari Desert, and 18% of its territory consists of national parks and reserves. It is the land of traditions and animals.
The National Folklore Ensemble “Ngwao Letshwao” is one of the most significant presenters of popular arts and traditions in Africa. Founded in 2005 in the city of Gaborone, it aims to preserve its culture and spread it all over the world. The ensemble consists of artists representing the twelve ethnic groups that make up the country, especially the Tswana, of Bantu origin. The group creates shows that showcase the country’s cultural richness and diversity. The performances reflect traditional beliefs, rituals, ways of life and eventful history of the wonderful country of Botswana.
Director Odirile Rammoni
Photo Gallery: International Dance Group ‘Ngwao Letshwao’, Botswana
Batimbo Percussion Magique, Burundi
Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge.
This young group of Burundian Drummers have successfully performed nationally and internationally.
The group has toured in Germany, Spain, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zinzibar and India
Photo Gallery: Batimbo Percussion Magique, Burundi
Guizhou Folk Song and Dance Troupe, China
China is a country in East Asia. It is the world’s most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
Guizhou song and dance troupe, which was established in 1956, is the largest troupe in the Guizhou province and one of the most influential in south east China.
Having performed all over the world, the Guizhou Song and Dance Troupe combine unique folk customs of Guizhou with different artistic styles.
Photo Gallery: Guizhou Folk Song and Dance Troupe, China
The Lang Yang Dance Troupe, Chinese Taipei
The Lan Yang Dance Troupe was founded in 1966 by the Italian Catholic missionary Father Gian Carlo Michelini in the then sleepy rural town of Luodong in the north-eastern county of Yilan.
The dance troupe takes its name from the county’s Lan Yang Plain — lan yang meaning “orchid sun” — signifying the importance of Michelini, a great promoter of traditional culture and dance in Chinese Taipei. Those who cooperated with him have always given to loving one’s native soil.
The troupe takes ancient Chinese folk stories as its starting point and weaves them into dance patterns. The Company have performed all over the World and are famous for their most beautiful Peacock Dance, which we will be presenting at our Festival.
Photo Gallery: The Lang Yang Dance Troupe, Chinese Taipei
Compania Folklorica ‘Camagua’, Cuba
Cuba is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean where the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean meet.
Compañía Folklórica CAMAGUA was formed from the multi-award-winning Conjunto Artístico Maraguán (the representative group of Camagüey’s University, founded in 1981 by the master of arts and science Fernando Medrano Vireya). In 2011, together with all the dancers and musicians, a new Professional Company was formed – this time under the Culture’s Ministry of the Republic of Cuba, constituted as “Compañía Folklórica Camagua”.
At present the company represents the real roots of the Cuban folklore based on the multinational crossroad of the culture in the island, recreating the lively traditions which are at the heart of every town and village in Cuba.
The company has successfully toured in Chile, Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), France, Netherlands, Slovenia, Mexico, Belgium and Spain.
Director Fernando Medrano Vireya
Photo Gallery: Compania Folklorica ‘Camagua’, Cuba
Ballet African de Republic de Guinee, Lanyi – Guinee Precussion, Ballet ‘Saurakhata’, Guinee Conakry
Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea (French: République de Guinée), is a west-coastal country in West Africa. The modern country is sometimes referred to as Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from other countries with “Guinea” in the name, such as Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Ballet Africain de République de Guinée,
Les Ballets Africains is the national dance company of Guinea and is based in Conakry. It is one of the first African national dance companies and it has toured extensively around the world. The focus of the company is promoting traditional African dance and culture.
Lanyi – Guinee Percussion,
The name LANYI means the union between us Guineans, musicians from Guinea, Africa and the world in general.
The Company was founded to promote percussion drumming and dance in Guinea Conakry.
Ballet Sourakhata,
Ballet Sourakhata was founded in Guinea Canakry by Facinet Camara.
His work is not limited only to the faithful recreation of African traditions, but also to creating wonderful, innovative dance and music performances. His dance and choreographies are original and unique in style.
Photo Gallery: Guinea Conakry
Folklore Ensemble Martisorul, Romania
The Republic of Romania is one of the most picturesque countries in Europe. Legends and fairy tales, high mountains and deep lakes, endless forests and gentle sea – it’s all Romania. This country has a rich medieval heritage, including stunning castles, ancient churches, beautiful towns and villages. The main natural feature of Romania is the Carpathian mountain system, which runs through the country. Bucharest, the capital of the state, has long been famous for its cultural heritage and sights.
The culture and traditions of Romania are very diverse, as they combine the roots of different peoples and cultures. Romania’s rich cultural heritage abounds with folklore patterns and legends that are unique to this region.
Folklore Ensemble “Martisorul” was established in 1957 at the House of Culture of Students of the University Center of Cluj-Napoca.
For more than 60 years of its existence the ensemble team (thanks to its bright performances) has gained fame not only at home but also abroad. At present, its work includes authentic original Romanian folk songs and dances.
Director Ioan Cocian
Photo Gallery: Folklore Ensemble Martisorul, Romania
State Academic Chukchi-Eskimo Ensemble “Ergyron”, Chukotka Region, Russia
Chukotka is located in the Far East region of Russia. Indigenous people living in Chukotka are Chukchis and Eskimos. The name of the group “Ergyron” is translated from the Chukchi language as “dawn”.
“Ergyron” was founded in 1968 as a professional song and dance ensemble, and in 1974 acquired the status of a state ensemble. In August 2000, the ensemble was recognized as a particularly valuable heritage site of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Chukotka Region). In November 2003, “Ergyron” celebrated its 35th birthday with a new concert program. Today, the troupe consists of 22 artists, 6 vocalists and 16 ballet dancers; as of 2020, the ensemble has been given the status of an academic ensemble.
“Ergyron” was created with the aim of preserving and enhancing the vocal and choreographic heritage of the Chukotka people. The ensemble is the only professional collective in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the bearer and custodian of the national vocal, choreographic and decorative-applied art not only of the Chukchi and Eskimos, but also of other small peoples of the Far North-East of Russia: Koryaks, Chuvans, Evens, Aleuts and Evenks.
The “golden fund” of the ensemble includes numerous national songs, dances and miniatures: “Flight of a seagull against the wind”, “Slaughtering a deer”, “Collecting eggs on a rock”, as well as the ballet “The Legend of the Raven”, the opera “Girl and Death”, musical “The Tale of Good and Evil”. In total, the ensemble’s repertoire includes more than 70 performances of vocal and choreographic art.
The ensemble is well known in its small homeland, as well as across Russia and all over the world.
Photo Gallery: State Academic Chukchi-Eskimo Ensemble “Ergyron”, Chukotka Region, Russia
Fundacion de Danzas Cantaclaro, Venezuela
Venezuela is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea.
Cantaclaro Dance Company is based in Maracaibo, Venezuela. They are one of the best companies to represent Venezuela in many festivals and countries around the World.
Director Jose Gonzalez
Photo Gallery: Fundacion de Danzas Cantaclaro, Venezuela