10th MEDITERRANEAN FOLKLORE DANCE FESTIVAL (Cyprus)

• published: 09 Sep 2015
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11th - 14th September 2015 Dear friends, Once again, I welcome you to the biggest celebration of tradition in Cyprus. Hopefully after the many financial difficulties we faced this year, we are here to celebrate the 10th Mediterranean Folklore Dance Festival. This festival has become a very successful established event, the biggest in the Mediterranean recognized in the whole world, thanks to enormous efforts we made. We are proud of what we accomplished and grateful to the city that embraced us for 10 years. Larnaka has the honor again this September and it deserves it! The various financial difficulties, the result of the economic crisis that broke in Cyprus, made difficult even impossible to organize this year's festival. The courageous decision of the Mayor of Larnaka, the Cultural Services of the Municipality and the City Council to continue the grant, despite the financial difficulties, has been a breath for us, turning up our soul to the organization of the 10th Mediterranean Folklore Dance Festival. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year. Dancers and musicians from Latvia, Lithuania, Romania ,Slovenia, Slovakia, Ukraine, ,Georgia, Pontus, Bulgaria, Egypt, Armenians of Cyprus and 15 Cypriot selected folklore groups, are here with us in a crazy fun dance offering locals and foreigners in a multicultural feast. Warm thanks to our institutional and other sponsors because without them nothing we could do.. The participation of volunteers is the most powerful link in the execution of the entire program. The financial crisis has unfortunately affected even the arrival of most of the groups and the financial help from our institutional sponsors who we thank a lot, but we note that even all the cuts they made, they should not put barriers in culture and those who serve selflessly and tirelessly. The fate of the Festival is hanging on a thread .... The relevant departments should take into consideration that a country without culture does not exist. What will happen; Will we be forgotten? Finally big thanks to my co-workers who for 10 years are fellow travelers on the road we chose, a road that certainly is not strewn with rose petals. Thank you Paris, Helen, Georgia, Theoti, Odin Antigoni, Alexis, Yianna, Icarus, Liana George, Dimitris. Thank you Akis for your unconditional support. Thank you Lefteris,. Thank you Panagiotis Niko we miss you so much, not being with us is a big loss. This year we have a big loss again , one of our volunteers has been killed in a car accident. Giorgos Papandreou. We will never forget you. This years festival on which we celebrate 10TH YEARS anniversary is dedicated to your memory………. Thank you Mayor, Mr. Louroutziatis you are doing the best for this town and we feel so much security knowing that you are the captain of the boat we are sailing on. Graditute to the Mayor Mr. Louroutziatis and the City Council for their effort. Rea Madella Ioannidou President of the Cultural Heritage Association of Nicosia Member of the Board of Directors of International Dance Council C.I.D. UNESCO