The ensemble comes from the city of Satu Mare, a capital of the same-name county, located on the Someş river in the northwestern part of Romania. Interestingly, in Romanian the word sat means ‘a village’, and mare means ‘large’, and so the name of the city can be translated as ‘a large village.’ Over the centuries the turmoil of war which swept through the region left a lasting multi-ethnic imprint on the city, whereby only 60% of its inhabitants are Romanian, and the remaining percentage is chiefly made up of Hungarians. Consequently, the city is bilingual, just like the majority of Transylvanian towns.
“Cununita Nazdravana” was established in 2002. It numbers 60 dancing youngsters who are arranged in two age groups: one comprising children aged 3-15, and the other composed of teenagers aged 16 years upwards. The ensemble operates under the aegis of the association Comorile Turzii (Treasures of Turda), which through collaboration with several dance groups and folk music ensembles promotes the authentic folklore of Transylvania and the country’s northern regions.
On the Festival stage the ensemble will perform such dances as ardeleana, codru, bihor, roatele, maramures, joc la sura.
The band will be playing violins, an accordion and a double bass.
Leontina Dorca is the ensemble leader and choreographer, and Ionica Hainal is the band leader.
“Cununita Nazdravana” was established in 2002. It numbers 60 dancing youngsters who are arranged in two age groups: one comprising children aged 3-15, and the other composed of teenagers aged 16 years upwards. The ensemble operates under the aegis of the association Comorile Turzii (Treasures of Turda), which through collaboration with several dance groups and folk music ensembles promotes the authentic folklore of Transylvania and the country’s northern regions.
On the Festival stage the ensemble will perform such dances as ardeleana, codru, bihor, roatele, maramures, joc la sura.
The band will be playing violins, an accordion and a double bass.
Leontina Dorca is the ensemble leader and choreographer, and Ionica Hainal is the band leader.