By Ebi Kesiena
Folk troupes from around the world have celebrated cultural diversity at a dance festival in Morocco.
Participants at Morocco’s 13th International Festival Entrerritmos for Folk Dance used their performances to emphasise the importance of preserving their heritage.
The 13th International Festival Entrerritmos for Folk Dance in Morocco showcased vibrant cultural traditions as folk troupes from 11 countries, including Iraq, Spain, Senegal, Paraguay, and the United Kingdom, came together to celebrate diversity and heritage.
Held annually since 2012 in the coastal town of Larache, the festival promotes the preservation of cultural traditions through dance. Participants highlighted the importance of such events in fostering understanding and unity.
Indian participant, Siddhesh Mestry expressed concern about declining interest in cultural traditions among youth, emphasizing that festivals like this inspire younger generations to engage with their heritage and explore traditions from around the world.
Also, Mexican dancer Itza Marcor reflected on the festival’s deeper significance: “I think we are able to find a little bit of union and world peace. Everyone united sends a message itself.”
Bulgarian participants Kaloyan Hristov and Maria Krastinkova prepared for a year to represent their country. Krastinkova noted that their dances convey rich stories from Bulgaria’s folklore, saying, “For us, it means a lot to be here.”
Radovan Holub from Slovakia shared how such gatherings foster cultural exchange: “We can give each other some knowledge from our folk groups.”
The festival, which concluded recently, underscored the universal language of dance in celebrating humanity’s shared heritage.
