The Balkan Festa was held— for the ninth consecutive year—on the sports field in Bolesławice. Organized not only for repatriates from the territories of the former Yugoslavia and their descendants, the event enjoys enormous public interest. Many ensembles in our county have Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian songs in their repertoires.
This year's event was honored by the presence of: starosta Cezary Przybylski, Chairman of the Bolesławiec Municipality Council Bogusław Uziej, Municipality Head Andrzej Dutkowski and his deputy Roman Jaworski, as well as treasurer Franciszek Popek.
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The Festa began with a performance by young people from the vocal workshop in Kruszyn, led by Agnieszka Orawiec. Then Józef Janusz from Kruszyn performed a cappella. Next to appear on stage were the Niespodzianki group from Tomaszów Bolesławiecki, the Singing Ensemble from Ocice under the direction of Edward Braszka, Nasza Biesiada from Osiecznica, Kapela Herbutów and the well-known Jutrzenka Municipal Song and Dance Ensemble.
The audience at the Balkan Festa was surprised by a performance from Zespół Pieśni i Tańca Ziemi Bolesławieckiej, which prepared the music-and-dance show “We Are Coming Back,” telling the story of Poles in Bosnia. It is worth noting that rain began to fall during the performance; nevertheless, the actors did not interrupt the show. ZPiT Ziemi Bolesławieckiej received well-deserved applause. Head Dutkowski congratulated both the ensemble members and the instructors: Elżbieta Tor and Sławomir Ratajczak. Sister Magdalena from the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ in Bolesławiec was also unable to hide her emotion.
The traditional rooster-catching contest was also held, with eight men and one woman taking part. Kamil from Krępnica proved to be the best.
Fans of Greek music were surely delighted by the performance of the Pireus group. The event concluded with a performance by the Warsaw-based Balkan Sevdach group and a dance party accompanied by the Precedens band. The Festa was organized by the Bolesławice Village Organizing Committee and the Municipal Culture and Sports Centre in Bolesławiec, based in Kruszyn.
(information: Beata Widera/ii)