Guernsey’s Latvian and Portuguese communities are being offered their own day of traditional folk music in the Bank Julius Baer Folk Festival, which is part of the Victor Hugo Music Festival. Fifty-five musicians, dancers and singers of Portuguese and Latvian origin from the UK and Ireland will demonstrate their own countries’ traditional song and dance, all delivered in colourful traditional costumes.
Rob McGhee, artistic director of the folk festival, said “This is an opportunity for Guernsey’s two most important ethnic groups to show off the richness of their traditional cultures to an Island audience. Of course, we hope many of these minorities will come to the Centre for Performing Arts and enjoy the spectacle too.” Seated at tables of 10, the Portuguese night is on Thursday 18 September at 8.00pm whilst the Latvians may join in the dance on Friday 19 September at 3.00pm and sit back for the Latvian concert at 8.00pm. A cash bar is in operation at all times.
Lilita Kruze, President of the Guernsey Latvian Association, expressed her appreciation of the festival organisers and to Bank Julius Baer on behalf of all Latvians in the Island. She said “It’s a great opportunity for hardworking Latvians to enjoy a day out and for other people to understand our culture. It would be helpful if business people could give time off to Latvians on Friday 19 September. Culture is what brings people together and enriches us all.” Tickets for the afternoon and evening events are on sale from Jānīsi, the European food shop at 15 Mill Street and also from Ms Kruze on 07781 455088.
Elvio Pires, the President of the Guernsey Portuguese Association thought the idea of a Portuguese evening was “fantastic”. “It's a great feeling that someone outside the Portuguese community is actually thinking of us. This sort of event and actions only brings people together. I'm sure that I speak for the Portuguese living in Guernsey, that, everyone is more than happy to support this effort to bring people together using one of the most powerful tools there is, the Culture.”
The past president of the Guernsey Portuguese Association, Rivelino Rodrigues, said “It’s good that local people can see some of our culture and also for the people that haven’t been back home.” Of the Portuguese group performing at the Centre he said “They are a very good group. They have kept it very traditional using the right instruments and costumes, and also they perform very well. They have been in other countries such as Germany and Switzerland performing for some of the Portuguese communities around the world, so they have some experience in entertaining.”
It is the first time the folk festival has attracted commercial sponsorship and Mr McGhee explained the beneficial impact this had on their plans. “Funding from Bank Julius Baer enabled us to bring significant numbers of Portuguese and Latvian folk musicians to Guernsey and we were very happy with that. Then we learned that a Latvian choir in Dublin had heard what was happening in Guernsey and they approached us and asked if they could be involved. We thought they would be ‘the icing on the cake’ and offered to make a financial contribution but, on re-examining our budget, found we had exhausted our funds and, consequently had to withdraw our offer of financial assistance. Imagine our surprise when they replied they wanted to come anyway, and would pay their own fares and accommodation. What a wonderful spirit they have!”
The Portuguese evening will be held at the Performing Arts Centre on Thursday 18 September at 8.00pm and features 20 members of Group Folkloric de Centro Desportivo e Cultural Portugues from London. The Latvian Folk Day begins with folk dancing at 3.00pm and includes a concert at 8.00pm on Friday 19 September. Both events include a group of musicians called Dudalnieki from Yorkshire, dancers from London called Londonas Tautas Dejas Kopa and a choir from Dublin called eLVé; 35 Latvians altogether.
Tickets are available at £10 for the evening concerts and £7 for the afternoon Latvian dance. Details of this and all festival events are available from the festival website at www.vhfestival.com and tickets can be bought for folk events, from the Guernsey Information Centre Tel: 723555. Tickets for classical and folk events are also available from St James box-office – Tel: 711361. Discounts of up to one-third are available for folk and for classical season tickets.
Lilita Kruze 07781 445088
Elvio Pires 235678 or 07911 725 159
Rivelino Rdorigues 711749 or 07781 190533
Visite o site de Victor Hugo International Music Festival
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