The 2016 Nanying International Folklore Festival ended on (Saturday) October 15, 2016, at 9pm in Anding District’s very own Bao’an Temple, which is located in Anding Village. The following are a few of the 20 international groups that accepted invitations to perform at the festival: Devchata of Orekhovo-Zuevo, a folkdance group from Russia; Turkey’s Bursa Tahtakıran Sword Shield Folkdance Association; Miyabi Daiko of Syugakukan High School, a drum group from Japan; and the Italian folkdance group Gruppo Folklorico Pro Loco di Castrovillari. When it comes to folk music and dance, these international groups were excellent representatives of their countries’ unique cultural characteristics. In addition to many Anding residents, Yeh Tse-shan, Director-General of Tainan City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, and Anding District Chief Liu Shih-Hsiung also attended the event. With an audience of nearly 2,000 people, Anding’s very own folklore festival effused with an exciting atmosphere.
The Russian folkdance group Devchata of Orekhovo-Zuevo was the opening act for this special Anding District event that features touring groups. Radiating with their yellow hair and blue eyes, these dancers were full of energy as they performed a swift and lively rondeau. The group showcased acrobatic moves from the country’s traditional festivals while also doing an amusing troika set to a quick tempo. Following them was Turkey’s Bursa Tahtakıran Sword Shield Folkdance Association. Turkey is well known for its sword shield folkdance, which is a type of war dance. An all-male group, the dancers did not dance to musical accompaniment, as the sounds of their swords and shields striking served as both the background music and the performance’s most special aspect. The act for Japan’s Miyabi Daiko of Syugakukan High School featured pleasant flute melodies, vibrating drum sounds, and perfectly synchronized movements. The Japanese group members are clearly very diligent, because their performance was full of energy and incredibly beautiful. It was surely the highlight of the night. The last performance was by Gruppo Folklorico Pro Loco di Castrovillari, an Italian folkdance group. The dancers brought energy to the event with their bold and unrestrained tarantella piece. Their show came to a close with gallant singing voices accompanied by a quick and crisp dance, causing the crowd to respond with enthusiastic applause while hoping that this wasn’t the end of the event.
This year’s Nanying International Folklore Festival did more than allow Anding District residents to be able to appreciate dance styles from many different countries, considering that learning about the history and special features of a nation’s dance style(s) is helpful when it comes to cultural and artistic exchange. We’re confident that both local residents and the foreign touring groups will all have fond memories of this night’s event.