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The 2008 Programme

Below are details of the groups attending the 2008 Alnwick International Music Festival. For a flavour of the feast of music and culture in store, check out the 2007 festival programme, 2006 festival programme or the 2005 festival programme.

Kruzheva Dance Ensemble - Republic of Bashkiria, Russia
 
This young university group from Ufa, was formed to preserve, maintain and promote their ancient traditions of Bashkiria.
Bashkirs are concentrated to the slopes of the Southern Ural Mountains and neighbouring plains. At the beginning of the 10th century, Bashkirs lived as nomadic cattle breeders, hence their many fur costumes. Traditionally worn for warmth and comfort now have been adapted for dance to preserve the rich folklore of this ancient tribe of people. Until the middle of the 13th century they occupied the territories between Volga and Kama Rivers and the Urals, until the arrival of the Mongols, when they formed a strong independence. Through many struggles and wars they eventually became part of Russia. This is where we will see the strong Russian influence in their folklore and costumes. This group has a very wide and extreme repertoire, never seen before in Alnwick, We have been extremely lucky to be able to secure this group, as they are in big demand with CIOFF festivals all over the world.






Striichmusig Alpegruess - Switzerland

Striichmusig Alpegruess play traditional folk music from Appenzell, a region near St Gallen, about 20km from Lake Constance, the pojnt where Switzerland, Germany and Austria meet.
They play two violins, a cello, a double bass and a hammered dulcimer. They play in traditional costumes, much heralded in Appenzell. The tunes they play are walzes, polkas and "Schottisch", a fast polka. Very special are the jodels they play - very slow and you can hear and feel their homesickness for the mountains and the hills with the cows with their big bells. Theirs is a farming region.
Dance Troupe & Zhanying Orchestra - Taiwan
Leading Dance Troupe was founded in 1996. The art director Ping-Yuan Chui has devoted herself to the creation of various Chinese dances. In addition, the troupe has taken several prizes at the national dance contests. The troupe won the best choreography for Chinese Folkdance Contest in 1995. It also received many top awards from several government departments. Leading Dance Troupe is full of creative abilities. The troupe possesses experienced choreographers and talented dancers. For years, it has been seeking inspiration from the spirits of Chinese culture in the dancing production. By mixing the elements of the western and the eastern dances to make the production a modern Chinese folkdance. The troupe insists on presenting excellent performance. Indeed, looking forward to capturing the attention of the audience with explosive performance which is coming truly from the bottoms of dancers’ hearts.


Anilana - Poland





The folk dance group Anilana was founded in 1970 by Widzewskie Domy Kultury. In its 38 years, Anilana has represented Poland all over the world. During this time, the group has given about 4,000 concerts in countries such as Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia, Finland, North Korea, Israel, and Turkey.
The group has 100 members, including a folk band, song duets, dancers and soloists. Anilana is composed of three smaller groups: preparing group, youth group and representative group. Instruments played by the band include accordion, drums, violin and clarinet, and they perform folk music as well as classic forms.
The diverse repertoire of the group concentrates on original dances from various Polish regions - highlander style, east and west dances, central Poland - and national dances such as Polonez, Mazur, Krakowiak, also genre pieces and rite shows. All of them are performed in original costumes. This abundant and colourful programme is shown on Polish and foreign stages.
I Vignarul andQuartiere Villanova - Italy

These two groups, representing different regions of Italy, are travelling to Alnwick together.

I Vignarul is a very energetic and spectacular folk dance group from Pignola in the south of Italy. The group has a great pedigree. It was founded in 1989 and has taken part in folk dance festivals all over the world. I Vignarul is made up of about 30 dancers, all young people aged 16 to 23 years old. Their costumes are handed down by their grandparents and represent the poverty of the countryside.

Quartiere Villanova is a folk dance group from Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia. It takes its name from one of the oldest downtown areas of the city and was founded in 1976 by a collection of young people who wanted to share, not just a general interest for folklore, but also a passion for the origins of Cagliari’s popular traditions. With such strong conviction, the group set about analysing costumes, ceremonies and popular traditions rooted in the city and its surroundings.



I Vignarul


Quartiere Villanova

Colombia Viva - Colombia


Viva Colombia was formed in 2001. Its founders are Sara Mendoza and Fernando Rodriguez. Its aim is to communicate and promote Colombian culture through music, rhythm and joy, which are characteristic of this beautiful country. Viva Colombia has participated in numerous cultural events presenting a wide variety of traditional and folk dances such as Cumbia, Laps Antioquia, Joropo, Garabato, Bambuco, Sanjuanero, Mapalé, Currulao, Bullerengue, Bambazu, Porro, Cumbia-modern ballet, Chirimia, Caderona and Salsa.
Shilpagya - India
Shilpagya is a leading organisation of truly traditional arts in India. It hails from Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and mainly performs folk and cultural dance from various parts of India. Shilpagya is known for training in folk dances and musical instruments and for its arts and crafts collection in India.
The main activities run by the group are event organisation, folk dances, western dances, drawing and painting workshops, craft workshops and many more mainly for children, Which provides a bridge between cultures both ancient and modern.
They organise cultural events, stage performances, fashion shows and give performances. The group hold events at local, semi-government and corporate functions, at a national and international level. It provides special training sessions for school or collage competitions.




Phynodderee - Isle of Man

Traditional Ceilidh bands ensure a lively night out in the Isle of Man with their own brand of Celtic-inspired live music, usually performed in community halls and marquees and often accompanied by a 'hot pot' supper. Manx music has enjoyed a revival in recent years, with bands such as Phynodderee arranging and recording old tunes that had lain dormant for many years.
Ampuriesu - Sardinia, Italy
There will be two groups from the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy, at this year's Alnwick Music Festival. Ampuriesu is folk group from Valledoria.


Andra Mari Eusko Dantzari Taldea - Basque Country

Andra Mari is proud of it 50 years-plus of song and dance.
In 1955, a group of young people from Galdakao, with the help and protection of the local Catholic Church, formed the Basque dance group Andra Mari Eusko Dantzari Taldea. After a few years of very hard work, the group found and defined its own rightful place in the world of Basque culture.
From 1965 to the present day, the group has represented traditional Basque culture in all the International Folk Festivals in which it has participated, both in Europe as in the rest of the world.
 


 

A host of local performers

Including Andrew Harper, Derek & Tom Johnson, Andrew Lobb, Monkseaton Morris Men, BorderBox (pictured), Robert Whitehead, John & Caroline Bushby, Malcolm Bennett & Friends.

Timetable

Groups will be performing in the Market Place throughout the week. Check out the 2008 festival programme, on sale before and during the festival for £1, for more details. There will also be events in the The Playhouse, Alnwick's theatre.

Come to Alnwick International Music Festival ... and let the wo1rld come to you.

 


 
Alnwick International Music Festival. Company Reg No 4108406. Reg Charity No 1090589