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STATEMENT ON THE PARTICIPATION OF THE NORTHERN PROVINCE TRADITIONAL DANCERS IN TWO FOLKLORE DANCE COMPETITIONS IN TURKEY FROM 13 - 30 JULY 2001
Thirty-three dancers from the Northern Province Traditional Dancers (NPTD) participated and won several awards in two Folklore Dance competitions in Turkey from 13 - 20 July 2001. The participants comprised of five different traditional groups; indigenous to the Northern Province, namely: Pedis, Swatis, Tsongas, Tswanas and Vendas. The dancers participated in the 15th International Golden Karagoz Folk Dances Competition in Bursa on 12 and 21 July 2001 and the Samsun International Competition that took place on 26 July 2001. The group was accompanied by three officials from the province's Department of Sport, Arts and Culture who also performed with the dancers. South Africa was the only African country that participated in these two competitions. Other countries that participated included countries from Eastern Europe, Australia, Bangladesh, Mexico and South Korea. This is the first group to represent South Africa in Turkey's organised international competitions. Both competitions are of a high level and are annually organised by the Municipalities of Bursa and Samsun during the Turkish summer holidays.
The South African Embassy in Ankara was requested to facilitate in arranging South Africa's participation.
South Africa's dynamic and unique culture is new in terms of what the Turkish people have experienced before in most of the festivals arranged in the country. South African participation is becoming popular in Turkey, especially in terms of folklore dance.
The NPTD performed well in the Bursa Festival but excelled in the Samsun Festival. They were the most admired group in the competition because of their dances and colourful traditional attire. The Swati traditional dance was the group's winning card and they were repeatedly encored.
Photographs of the group performing on stage dominated the local newspapers of Bursa and Samsun.
The group will return from Turkey on Tuesday, 31 July 2001, arriving at 08h50 at the Johannesburg International Airport from Istanbul.
South Africa was invited back to participate in both competitions during 2002.
Contact Basetsana Thokoane on 083 443 7740/ (012) 351 0174/ 0351
Issued jointly by: Department of Foreign Affairs and Office of the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Northern Province, 30 July 2001