Black Sea Folk Fest to host flamenco star, dance and song bands

Distinguished folk music and dance ensembles from Europe and South Caucasus are converging to Georgia's Black Sea coast to showcase their countries' rich cultural heritage at the Black Sea International Folk Festival launching today.

Spain's celebrated flamenco dancer Fuensanta La Moneta, recipient of multiple awards for best performance of the famed dance, will go under the spotlight at Black Sea Arena in a high point of the festival.

Widely praised ever since her maiden performance at Madrid's Sala Suristan at age 16, she has appeared in some of the most prestigious flamenco venues and festivals.

Born in Granada, La Moneta has been awarded the Premio Flamenco Hoy for best dancer by the Spanish Association of Journalists in 2010.

Her 2011 appearance at the El Taranto of Almeria club was selected as the best flamenco show of the year in the Andalusian city.

La Moneta will be joined on the festival roster by Armenia's Masounk ensemble, established in 1986 by ethnologist and choreographer Rudik Haroyan.

Currently led by directors Lusine Mkrtchyan and Hayarpi Ananyan, the band is known for re-enacting national rituals and games beside music and dance performances.

Festival stages in Batumi and Shekvetili will also feature folk ensemble Dolina Popradu, founded in 1965 by locals of the Poprad river valley in southern Poland.

The ensemble features artists playing on violin and bass and involves a repertoire of folk dances from the region performed in national costumes.

Ensemble Dolina Popradu will represent folk performance traditions from southern Poland. Photo: Dolina Popradu ensemble Facebook page.

More bands and artists from Italy, Ukraine, Turkey and hosts Georgia will complete the line-up for the event in seaside city Batumi and resort town Shekvetili from August 31-September 2.

Giorgi Donadze, director of festival organisers the Folklore State Centre of Georgia, told local reporters selection of participating ensembles had been done with "great attention".

Established with the current structure in 2005, the folklore centre also hosts the Sairme Music Festival, another event of folk music performances in Georgia.

The Black Sea International Folk Festival will run in frame of Check in Georgia, a year-long program of festivals, exhibitions and performances throughout Georgia.