Bornova 2nd Folk Dance Festival, which lasted for four days, organized by Bornova Municipality together with many non-governmental organizations, ended with a colorful final night. The cortege march and dance performances held on the last day of the festival, where many events from exhibitions to panels, from dance performances to concerts were held, gave the participants an unforgettable night.
Stating that they consider it their duty to keep our cultural values alive and transfer them to future generations, Bornova Mayor Dr. Mustafa İduğ said, “With this awareness, we remembered our folk dances, one of the most important elements of our culture, with the festival we organized.”
The enthusiasm of the festival, where music and dance are intertwined and Balkan melodies come to life in Bornova, started with the cultural stands opened in Büyükpark. Uğur Mumcu Culture and Art Center hosted the “Scent of the Chest” and the “Balkans Photography Exhibition”. The "Izmir Balkan Immigrants Traditional Dance Culture" Panel and "Turkish Folk Music Concert from the Balkans to Anatolia" were held at the Ayfer Feray Open Air Theatre. All associations that took part in the event, which became colorful with Children's Activities and dance performances, brought the Balkan wind to Bornova at the special night held at the Aşık Veysel Recreation Area.
Cortege Walk
On the last day of the festival, the cortege march, accompanied by the costumes of the folk dance teams of all the participating associations and the marching band, attracted great attention. The cortege that started in Büyükpark continued along Küçükpark and Süvari Street and ended at the Ayfer Feray Open Air Theatre. The dance performances presented after the parade also gave Bornova residents an unforgettable night.
President Mustafa İduğ, who did not leave Bornova residents alone at the events, said, “I would like to thank our folk dance teams, who brought us multicolor and multiculturalism, accompanied by the melodies of the Balkans that touched our hearts. They presented the motifs of brotherhood, which is what our country needs most. They brought us the light of independence that grew in the land where our ancestor was born.”