July 17, 2019 – Cultural Art Society “Ante Zaninović” from Kaštel Kambelovac, “Branimir 888 – Muć” from Muć, “Pleter” from Dugopolje and “Dalmacija” from Dugi Rat, for the twelfth time, have cooperated to organize the International Folklore Encounters of Split-Dalmatia County, which will take place on the summer stages of Kaštel Kambelovac, Muć, Dugopolje and Dugi Rat, from Thursday July 18th to Sunday, July 21st, 2019.
Folklore fans will enjoy the international folklore dances, vocals and musical traditions fostered by guest folk groups from Russia, Poland, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The initiative for the International Folklore Encounters dates back to 2007 when these meetings first united the individual efforts in the organizations of international cultural exchanges of KUDs from K. Kambelovac, Muć, and Dugopolje. Regardless of the fellowship that fosters the preparation and realization of the project, all the folklore societies involved have maintained the distinctive identity of their folklore festivals in their areas.
The following groups will present this year:
– 18.07 starting at 21:00 in Kaštel Kambelovac (Church of St. Michael) at the 17th International Folklore Encounters „Za jubav tance igraše“
– 19.07 starting at 21:00 in Dugopolje (Domovinske Zahvalnosti Square) at the 16th International Folklore Encounters „Ljepota u kamenu – kamenitom“
– 20.07 starting at 21:00 in Donji Muć (on the outskirts of Radača in Donji Muć) at the 18th International Folklore Festival „Stara je škrinja otvorena“
– 21.07 starting at 21:00 in Dugi Rat (Poljička trg) at the 5th International Folklore Festival “Kolo, kolo, kolajna od zlata“
The following folklore groups will be invited every night:
• Mnogoletie Ensemble (Moscow, RUS)
• Regional Zespol Banda Burek (Wisniowe, PL)
• KUD Ilinden (Struga, MK)
• KUD Tanac (Pećuh, HU)
• Folklore Subor Čačinare (Spišska Nova Ves, SK) and
• Croatian Cultural and Artistic Society “Rodoč” (Mostar, BiH)
The program of each folklore evening will be complemented by the hosts and their guest ensembles from Croatia. During the past 12 years, over 1700 folklore amateurs from 72 cultural and art associations from several countries such as Austria, Italy, France, Slovakia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Portugal, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Canada, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria have performed. Local folklore groups aim to complement the programs of local cultural summer programs through these international folklore events, emphasizing the openness of local communities to tolerance, understanding and accepting diversity between cultures and traditions. In these cultural exchanges, which are an integral part of the International Folklore Encounters’ Project, members of KUDs introduce the rich cultural heritage of Croatia to audiences across Europe, performing their traditional music, songs and dances, and are proud hosts to guest groups in Croatia.
Of particular value to organizing such meetings is the fact that a multitude of groups that have already performed at previous meetings return to Croatia for further visits, and their members often return to Croatia as guests.
