The Gran Canaria town of Ingenio hosted on Wednesday the first of the parades of the 31st edition of the International Folklore Festival 'Solidarity Showcase of the Peoples', with the participation of groups from Taiwan, Armenia, Greece, Bulgaria, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
The Gran Canaria town of Ingenio transformed into a stage of colours and rhythms from around the world during the evening of Wednesday, July 22, with the celebration of the first parade of the 31st edition of the International Folklore Festival 'Solidarity Showcase of the Peoples'. From 20:30 hours, delegations from four continents paraded along Ramón y Cajal street, from La Cantonera to the Plaza de la Candelaria, in front of a large audience who watched the procession from the sidewalks, windows, and balconies.
The parade was led by the Band of the Villa de Ingenio Musical Society, followed by the twelve participating groups. The procession included the Kuo-Shin Chuang Pangcah delegation from Taiwan, the Ingenio Choir and Dance Group, the Husher group from Armenia, the Tacoremi Group, Choirs and Dances of Ronda, the Las Mahoreras group, the Anolaki formation from Greece, the Guayadeque Folklore Group, Gíbaro from Puerto Rico, Amigos de Carrizal 7 Islas, Ravitzie from Bulgaria, and the Mien Moh group from Ivory Coast.
The Taiwanese dances particularly caught attention for their syncopated precision. The men danced with bare torsos, while the women wore red outfits adorned with a small bag, used during harvest festivals. Meanwhile, the dancers from the Armenian group Husher performed elegant arm movements to the rhythm of the duduk, a small flute, and two drums, interpreting traditional dances such as the yarkhushta or the kochar.
The largest representation was that of the Ingenio Choir and Dance Group, which included its children's section, showcasing the work of transmitting Canarian musical heritage that it has developed for over seven decades. The boys and girls opened the local group's procession, parading in their traditional costumes.
The Málaga group Choirs and Dances of Ronda enlivened the route with sevillanas, singing, and Andalusian folk dance. The women wore colourful faralaes dresses, shawls, and combs, while the men donned rural suits. The Greek delegation Anolaki showcased dances such as the hasapiko and the sirtaki, with traditional costumes filled with golden details reflecting Mediterranean history.
From Puerto Rico, the Gíbaro group offered the plena boricua, an indigenous musical genre that fuses African, Spanish, and Taíno roots. The Bulgarian group Razvitie stood out for its cheerful short dances, such as the horo, a circle dance, accompanied by the gajda and tupan instruments. The men wore conical hats and embroidered vests, while the women donned outfits with golden embellishments and flower tiaras.
The Mien Moh group from Ivory Coast closed the parade, dancing barefoot throughout the route with great physical skill, jumps, and energetic movements to the rhythm of drums, among which the traditional doum stood out. The parade concluded at 22:00 hours, on time, in front of the Ingenio town hall, where the groups offered a brief showcase of their art.
Subsequently, on the stage at the Plaza de la Candelaria, the delegations performed more complete acts before an engaged audience. The festival continues its programming: this Thursday, July 23, the parade will be repeated in Carrizal, departing at 20:30 hours from El Toril to the Plaza del Buen Suceso. The festival's closing will take place on Saturday, July 25, at 21:00 hours, in the Néstor Álamo Park of Ingenio.
The pleasant weather, with a temperature of 24 degrees and a light breeze at the end of the route, accompanied the attendees, who enjoyed a multicultural evening in the streets of Ingenio's historic centre.
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