19 th International Folklore Festival Varna will be held from 1 by 5 August in Varna, Bulgaria's sea capital.

For more information please visit:
www.varnafolk.org

13th Workshop for Balkan Folk Dances, Music and Singing will be held from 4 to 16 august in Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria.

Choreographers:
Emil Genov - Bulgarian folk dances
Vladimir Mutavdžić - Serbian folk dances
Music teachers:
Petar Gerovski - gadoulka
Petyo Kostadinov - gaida
Anton Tsambov - tamboura
Simeon Dimitrov - kaval, dvoyanka, duduk
Genadii Rashkov - tapan, tarambouka
Danail Totev - accordion bulgarian music
Predrag Ivanović - accordion serbian music
Galya Haralambieva - Bulgarian folk singing
Language teacher:
Mariana Valchanova - Bulgarian language

Egnatia Road, or « odos Egnatia », was built during the 2nd century BC by the Romans, and was intended to link Western and Eastern parts of the Roman Empire. Starting from Rome, passing through Brindisi, it enters Albania (Dürres), crosses Northern Greece from Florina to Traianoupoli, enters Turkey via Ypsala and ends in Istanbul.
For almost 2000 years a non-stop flow of soldiers, Crusaders, priests, brigands, merchants, peasants, artists, caravans and a lot of various ethnic groups (Greeks , Jews, Romans, Vlachs, Pomakes, Turks, Egyptians, Roms, … ) met, crossed, traded, … : making Egnatia an immensely rich melting-pot of cultures, traditions, and expertise.

The new Egnatia road, which was finished in the latter part of 2008, follows exactly the same path as the original route from Traianoupoli to Kozani. From there, it heads down Northern Epirus and ends its way in Igoumenitsa. All kinds of influences especially in traditions, instruments, music and dance have proliferated. All along the new Egnatia many « worlds » are living and mixing together : Thrace with its different ethnic groups), Macedonia (each region being so typical : Serres, Aridea, Florina, Veria, Alexandreia, Grevena, …) and Northern Epirus (Metsovo, Ioannina) … without forgetting the refugees from Romilia, Asia Minor, Pondos …

This is what Yiannis would like us to enjoy : this richness, still alive today. A trip through time, through space and deep inside the Greek soul.

THE PROGRAM

- Dances of the SARAKATSANI and dances from DRAMA with Dimos GKIKAS
- Dances of the VLACHS and dances from PINDOS with Yannis TSAMITROS
- Dances from EPIRUS with Elli KAZAKOU
- Dances of the refugees from BLACK SEA with Apostolis SKREKAS
- Dances of the refugees from CAPPADOCIA and ASIA MINOR with Christos THEOLOGOS
- Dances of the refugees from PONDOS with Panayotis APOSTOLIDIS
- Dances of WESTERN MACEDONIA with Yannis KONSTANTINOU
- Dances of WESTERN THRAKI and GAGAUZIDES with ------- waiting confirmation from the teacher
- Dances of CENTRAL MACEDONIA and ALEXANDREIA with ------- waiting confirmation from the teacher
PEDAGOGY : at least 5 hours/day
2 Conferences about the ethnies living along Road Egnatia … and
All seminar long, we will have the pleasure to welcome MUSICIANS (local and from other regions), to DANCE in village festivals (in August there are always a lot of “PANEGIRIA”), EXCURSIONS to enjoy the picturesque landscape and historical significance of Prespas ...

And each night … if you wish ! ... the ‘GLENDIA’ continue with the Teachers, Musicians, Friends, and Neighbours, ...

ACCOMODATION – PRICE

ACCOMMODATION in Hotel *** (Rooms 2/3 persons with baths and toilets). (Supplement for single rooms)
PRICE : 850 euros for the whole seminar (full pension, pedagogy, transportation for most activities, excursions.)
…but ALL arrangements are possible ! -- half pension, etc … to be discussed at the Registration.
We will spare a few places for « accompanying » persons who do not wish to attend the dance lessons.