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Although yesterday the rather unfriendly fine drizzle prevented us from fully enjoying all the festival events, we did attend several of them, and it was interesting - aerobatic display flights, a puppet procession, a retro car parade, an artisans' market, a show at the Small Guild, an open house day at the Russian Drama Theatre, and of course the fireworks.
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This year we visited Madona for the third summer running, where the Exotic Dance Festival took place on the afternoon of 31 July at the culture house. It must be said that with each year the event becomes more organised, more varied, and better attended. Alongside the traditional belly dance choreographies such as oriental, saidi, and tribal, original pieces and fusions of various styles were on display. Several Gypsy dance performances and improvisations with Spanish, Moroccan, Brazilian, and Indian dance styles.
I am a child of spring, and so April and May seem to me the most beautiful months of the year, when the earth awakens and blooms. If we're talking about blooming, where else is the flower so celebrated and honoured as in Holland. The enthusiastic accounts of the vast blooming tulip fields truly prove justified when you see the photographs sent over.
For the second year running, the exotic dance festival was held at the Madona Culture House. The concert consisted of modern belly dance performances with certain show elements, khaleeji, saidi, and oriental. Šarma had taken care to include the Hawaiian dance style in the programme. However, compared to last year, a certain uniformity was noticeable; Indian dances, tribal dance, and Andalusian dance rhythms were lacking.
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«Feria de Abril» - that is also the name of the spring festival celebrated every year in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia. This festival is especially popular in Seville, where flamenco parties go on for entire days and nights and everyone dances sevillanas. Traditional bullfights and trading also take place there. Spanish culture in its most recognisable expressions - hot-blooded music, flamenco dancing, open-hearted conversation.
A thoroughly lovely event took place on 12 July at the Madona Culture House. Dance studio Mantigra, in cooperation with Madona City Council, organised the 1st Exotic Dance Festival.