Mediterranean Folklore Dance Festival returns to Larnaca

Everything is set for the festival that celebrates tradition and cultural heritage through the arts. Traditional costumes, dances, songs and melodies from the Mediterranean region and beyond will add to Larnaca’s cultural agenda this September as the 17th Mediterranean Folklore Dance Festival takes place.

Between September 13 and 17, Larnaca’s seafront and old town will fill with festivities and colour as performances and parades take place. Eight hundred dancers, musicians, artists and singers will participate in this festival that is a grand celebration of traditions from around the world. This year, groups from mainland Greece, Rhodes, Nisyros, Albania, Costa Rica, Egypt, Latvia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Pontus, Georgia and Armenia will present exquisite shows as well as 16 groups from Cyprus: seven choirs, four bands, and two majorette teams.

The festivities begin on September 13 with a spectacular opening ceremony. A parade with the festival groups will kick off events, leaving from the police station on Athenon Avenue at 7pm. The parade will pass by the castle and conclude at the seafront stage at Finikoudes. The Children’s Philharmonic Orchestra of Larnaca Municipality and the Girl Guides Majorettes Association of Limassol will also take part.

“Despite the financial difficulties faced by the groups and their countries,” say organisers, “everyone wants to participate in this great event. This gives us the strength, despite our limited financial resources, to move forward, promoting our Cyprus.

“This is a conglomeration of cultures with live music and instrumentalists, a riot of colours and traditional, authentic costumes. It’s a joyful festival that Larnaca and all of Cyprus will have the opportunity to enjoy again this year.”

Each year, some 50,000 spectators get to enjoy the performances at Finikoudes while high school students have the chance to exchange views and learn about the culture, customs and traditions of neighbouring countries through a multicultural education programme offered by the organisers, Cultural Folklore Group of Nicosia.

The performances will begin after Friday’s parade giving audiences a taste of what is to come in the following days. On Saturday, a morning parade and dances will take place on the main streets of Larnaca and in the squares of Saint Lazarus and Ermou at 10.30am. In the evening, before more shows take place at Finikoudes stage, the groups will take part in another parade leaving from the police station on Athenon Avenue at 7pm. Over the following evenings, more parades, dances and musical performances will engulf Larnaca in the rhythms of tradition.

17th Mediterranean Folklore Dance Festival

Festival with dance and music performances by groups from the Mediterranean and beyond. September 13-17. Finikoudes seafront stage and around Larnaca. www.reamadellaioannidou.com,    www.facebook.com/MedFestCy