The ensemble KALTERSIA comes from the capital of Albania, Tirana, which is located in the country’s interior – Tirana County. The history of Tirana is related to Sulejman Bargjini, a general of the Ottoman Empire, who settled in the vicinity. This man, who supposedly was a janissary, was given a title of Pasha, and in 1614 along a popular caravan route established a new town with a mosque, a bakery and a hammam (a Turkish sauna). From then on, the town began to develop rapidly, soon becoming the centre of Albanian art, culture and religion. Today, it numbers around 1 million inhabitants.
KALTERSIA was founded in 2004 to preserve and promote the culture of all the Albanian regions. The idea behind its activity is to elaborate, develop and teach the Albanian folk traditions, song, dance and music from generation to generation.
At the Festival KALTERSIA will present a programme entitled Albanian Souls, composed of the following dances: Tropoja (a dance typical of northern Albania, showing the spirit of the proud people living in the mountains); Devolli (a playful dance for boys imitating a drinking occasion); Rugovo (a dance originated in the Kosovo mountains, in which the dancers emulate a gun or knife fight); Tirana (a happy dance of camaraderie and love); Osman Taka (a traditional dance named after a guerrilla who fought against Ottoman forces in the 19th century); baresha. The ensemble will also perform a medley of songs (tumankuqe, zambaku prizrenit, ajka, kuq e zi) as well as instrumental pieces.
Altin Gega is the ensemble leader and choreographer, and Besmir Sulaj is the leader of the musical band, which will be playing a clarinet, an accordion, a çifteli (a plucked, long-necked string instrument) and a drum.
KALTERSIA was founded in 2004 to preserve and promote the culture of all the Albanian regions. The idea behind its activity is to elaborate, develop and teach the Albanian folk traditions, song, dance and music from generation to generation.
At the Festival KALTERSIA will present a programme entitled Albanian Souls, composed of the following dances: Tropoja (a dance typical of northern Albania, showing the spirit of the proud people living in the mountains); Devolli (a playful dance for boys imitating a drinking occasion); Rugovo (a dance originated in the Kosovo mountains, in which the dancers emulate a gun or knife fight); Tirana (a happy dance of camaraderie and love); Osman Taka (a traditional dance named after a guerrilla who fought against Ottoman forces in the 19th century); baresha. The ensemble will also perform a medley of songs (tumankuqe, zambaku prizrenit, ajka, kuq e zi) as well as instrumental pieces.
Altin Gega is the ensemble leader and choreographer, and Besmir Sulaj is the leader of the musical band, which will be playing a clarinet, an accordion, a çifteli (a plucked, long-necked string instrument) and a drum.