Today’s post marks 33 days to go until the start of this year’s WMDF. We hope you have enjoyed our lineup taster of the international group profiles announced so far. Please check back next week, when we will be posting over thirty profiles in English and Japanese on our artists page!

Brian Hulse

Originally from the farm community of Knightstown, Indiana in the United States, Brian began his professional performing career as a comedy juggler in 1986 at the age of seventeen. Since then, he has performed throughout the United States and around the world. Brian has become a stalwart supporter of WMDF, sharing both his awesome performances and his in-depth production knowledge. We are grateful for both.

This year, Lithuania marked the 25th anniversary of its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union (it was the first Soviet republic to declare independence). WMDF is  happy that we can help to spread the celebrations to Japan!

Grandinele

This folk dance ensemble has a history stretching back to 1978, and took the title “Grandinele” in 1992. This name means “chain”, which illustrates the group’s philosophy of never-ending youth: dancers join “Grandinele” as little kids; they grow up with traditional dances and music; then they help to teach the new kids that have joined. In this way, each generation continues the traditions of their fore-runners and also creates their own new ones. The Ensemble “Grandinele” represents the northern region of Lithuania and dances Lithuanian folk dances, roundelays, games and also the newest folk stage compositions. They have an impressive record of performing in many countries around the world; WMDF hopes they will create many new traditions with us, on their first ever appearance in Japan.

www.grandinele.lt

WMDF is delighted to welcome back some old friends from Ecuador. This time, they are bringing some new members in the form of a new band!

Raymis

Raymis is a new group born from the Ecuadorian folk music group Sisay. Sisay first visited Japan in 2005, and came to WMDF two times. While based on the folk music of Ecuador, the Andes and traditional Latin music, Sisay incorporated modern musical elements resulting in their own “World Music”. Raymis continues the tradition of cherishing the roots of Ecuador’s traditional music through a new combination of Sisay’s veteran musicians and other traditional Ecuadorian musicians.

Raymis in the Kichua language means “energetic” or “fun”: please enjoy the uplifting feeling and strength of this South American folk music.

http://www.sisay.natives.jp/jp/index.htm