A CIOFF evening celebrating tradition and friendship among nations
Prnjavor (Mačva, Serbia), 8 August 2025 — At the Cultural Center in Prnjavor, even if only for one evening, the stage became a crossroads of traditions. Bright costumes, captivating rhythms, and knowing glances—the entire hall pulsed with the same rhythm.
About CIOFF
CIOFF (International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts) brings together festivals, ensembles, and enthusiasts with the aim of preserving, promoting, and passing on the world’s folk cultures. Its hallmark is the encounter on stage, rooted in respect for identity and a desire for sharing.
A hall that gathers people together
The performance took place in a hall, on a stage, in a setup close to theater: clear entrances and exits, precise lighting design, and transitions rehearsed down to the smallest detail. The overall impression? A demanding presentation that highlights both the performers and the folklore, supported by smooth, well-coordinated organization.
Djenka, ceremony host
A special tribute to Djenka, the host and true running thread of the evening. He changed outfits—sometimes in the colors of Serbia, sometimes as a subtle gesture of respect to the invited countries—showing a strong sense of rhythm and understated humor. He introduced each ensemble, showed respect for the performers, and effortlessly drew the audience in. With every appearance, the right word; with every finale, a shared smile.
The Ensembles: Highlights and Impressions
Argentina — The Pulse of Sharing
A warm, almost family-like energy. You can feel generations calling out to one another, movement being inherited and reimagined anew. The sound of footsteps calls out, and the hall responds: a virtuous circle that leaves a lasting smile on the face.
Russia — Sleek Lines, Held Breath
Burning youth, upright posture, precise lines. Lifts and jumps brush against the virtuosity of artistic gymnastics, without ever losing the musicality of folklore. A few moments seem frozen in the air, followed by sincere applause.
Cyprus — The Art of Balance
Here, elegance is hidden in detail: carefully handled props, measured entrances, and subdued exits. A choreography in which every pause carries weight, where the collective matters more than display. One island, one soul.
France (Brittany) — Briny Wind
Packed circles, joined hands, an insistent rhythm: Brittany explains nothing, it draws you in. One finds oneself following the beat, as if captured by some inner dance.
Republika Srpska — Pride and Precision
Impeccable lines, precise accents, flawless posture. That blend of discipline and joy that gives large ensembles their brilliance: unison as a promise, costume as celebration.
Serbia — Home, Roots
When Serbian ensembles enter, the hall changes. The power of the rhythms, the joy of the circles that are formed, the confidence of inherited steps. This is our home, and it is open to everyone: Serbian hospitality, expressed through music and movement.
A moment of tribute
The highlight of the evening: each ensemble took one Serbian motif and blended it with its own choreographic language. A variation on the kolo as a tribute to the host country: respect for tradition, freedom of interpretation. Unity in diversity—the CIOFF spirit in action.
Why it matters to FYSE
For the Federation of Young Serbs of Europe, this evening is a bridge: between the youth of Europe, between family memories and today’s stage, between the Serbia we carry within us and the curiosity we are proud of. Tradition is not a museum—it breathes when it is danced, and it is passed on when we invite someone to join the kolo.
Thank you
Thank you to CIOFF for the invitation and the trust. Thank you to the Cultural Center in Prnjavor for its attentive hospitality. Thank you to the ensembles for their generosity. And above all, thank you to Djenka: your art of presenting, connecting, and paying tribute to both artists and audience gave rhythm to the entire evening.