From  August 15th. untill August 18th., Jambes, part of the City of Namur, welcomes you to her 55th. “Folk Festival”, with folk companies coming from

* Bolivia (“Folk National Ballet Manuel Acosta”, from La Paz),

* Bulgaria (“Svetlina Folk Company, from Sofia),

* Georgia (“Tsiskari Company”, from Tbilissi”, … with male dancers’ giving all their energy, like on the picture),

* South Korea (“Sang myung Han o Reum Dance Company”, from Seoul),

* Spain (“Danzas BurgalesasJusto del Rio”, from Burgos),

* Turkey (“TAN Folk Dance G.S.K. & Aegean Folk”, from Antalya),

* Belgium (“Volkskunstgroep De Kegelaar”, from Wilrijk and “Frairie Royale des Masuis et Cotelis”, from Jambes-Namur).

We will have four shows, taking place in the elementary school of the Queen Astrid Park (“Parc Reine Astrid”) of Jambes :

– Friday August 15th, at 02:00 p.m.

– Saturday August 16th., at 08:00 p.m.

– Sunday August 17th., at 03:00 p.m.

– Monday August 18th., at 08:00 p.m.

Tickets at the gate (15€00 / Special Prices for teenagers from 8 untill 12 years old : 8€00 and Seniors Citizen : 12€00 / For the 4 shows : 50€00, 30€00 or 42€00 / Free untill 07 years old included). If you come with a group of 20 people, it will cost you 10€00 each! Untill Thursday August 14th., you can buy tickets in all “Night and Day” shops of by internet on http://www.librairie.be.

For 05 (08 – 12 years old) or 08€00 only, you can take part in one “fiesta latina” evening, on Sunday August 18th., at 08:00 p.m., learning some dances with the musicians and dancers of Bolivia and Spain. Before, at 06:30 p.m., you can enjoy a “dish of the world” (some chicken in a sweet and sour sauce and one glass of fresh “sangria”) for 10 (08 – 12 years old)or 15€00, “fiesta latina” evening included) .

On Friday August 15th., it will also be possible for you to dance some folk dances, starting at 08:00 p.m. (price : 05 and 08€00). Last year, this evening had a great success for the people of Namur and for the members of the different companies dancing together with a local folk dance teacher.

Short free shows will be offered in the garden of the City Hall of Namur, on Saturday August 16th., at noon (with some welcome drinks for the audience, the  dancers and the musicians) and on the Square of Wallonie (“Place de la Wallonie”) in Jambes, on Sunday 17th. (at 11:15 a.m., right after they singued and/or plaid music in the “Saint Symphorien” Catholic Church of Jambes, starting at 10:00 a.m.). Also, there will be a prive reception gived by the Governor of the Province of Namur, in his Palace.

So, from the latin american rythems untill those of east european countries, as well as from South Korea or Spain, you will enjoyed the musical traditions of three different continents. Welcome in Jambes-Namur, from August 15th. untill August 18th., and don’t hesitate to dance with bolivian and spanish dancers  and musicians, on Sunday August 17th., or to learn some folk dance steps together with all our guests, on Friday August 15th.

Definitively in August, each year, Jambes-Namur becomes the folk dances’ capital of the world (more informations, in french, on www.festivaldefolkloredejambes.be )!

Yves Calbert.