The Artistic Committee of the 29th FESTIVAL OF THE CHILDREN OF MOUNTAINS

An ethnologist and culture researcher, one of the foremost instructors of folk ensembles in Podhale, a highly committed cultural life animator. She took a graduate degree in ethnological studies at the University of Silesia (the Cieszyn Branch), and a post-graduate degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Warsaw.  In 2018 she defended her Ph.D. dissertation in ethnomusicology at the Institute of Art at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. In 2000-2004 she acted as the head of the Community Centre in Poronin. She is also a councillor for the town of Rabka-Zdrój, where she holds the position of the chairwoman of the Culture Committee, as well as the chairwoman of the Museum Board of Władysław Orkan Museum in Rabka-Zdrój. In 2005 she established the Association of Folk Culture Lovers, and MAJERANKI Children's Folk Ensemble in Rabka-Zdrój. She is an expert affiliated with the Polish section of CIOFF, a member of the Programme Board of the National Institute of Music and Dance in Warsaw, and the Scientific Board of the Podhale Inhabitants’ Association in Poland. Besides, she acts as a jury member in numerous folk festivals and contests.

His dancing life began in “Aelita” dancing group when he was 10. In 1998 he became the leader and main choreographer of the group, for which he worked 20 years. In 2006 he became the President of the Lviv Regional Centre of Dance Sport in Ukraine. Since 2007 he has acted as Vice-President of the Ukrainian Dance Sport Association in Kyiv. In 2018-2020 Yuriy Prochko was the head of the department for children and youth dance clubs in the city of Lviv. In 2021 he founded and became the main manager for the “Italian Pro-Am Dance Academy” in Lviv.  Since 2007 he has been a holder of the International Dance Sport Association (IDSA) adjudicator license. Yuriy Prochko is an organizer of annual ballroom dancing festivals and tournaments in Lviv, inter alia “Lviv Golden Festival,” “Ukrainian National Championship,” “Lviv Winter Memories,” “Lviv Open Cup,” “IDSA European Championship.”

A dance instructor and an “S” category choreographer. A graduate from the Qualifying Course of the 2nd and 3rd degree in folk dance at the Cracow Culture Centre. Currently, she is a lecturer at the Qualifying Courses for folk dance instructors (e.g. in Cracow, Rzeszów, Warszawa), at the School of Folklore Studies for Folk Ensemble Instructors in Nowy Sącz, at a four-year Polonia Course of Study in Rzeszów, and a post-graduate course of study at the University of Rzeszów. She sits on artistic committees of many folk festivals and contests. She is a member of the Expert Board at the Polish Section of CIOFF. For many years she has been collaborating with Polonia circles: she has been running workshops in England, France, Canada and the USA. She has directed festival programmes in Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Chicago. For many years she has acted as a choreographer for ŚWIERCZKOWIACY Song and Dance Ensemble from Tarnów. For her professional activity she has received many awards and distinctions, inter alia a “Gloria Artis” Meritorious Service to Culture Medal. She has been twice awarded the “Winged One” Statuette for popularization of culture in Poland and abroad.

A graduate in ethnography at the Jagiellonian University. Since 1976 he has been professionally involved with the Provincial Culture Centre - currently SOKÓŁ Małopolska Culture Centre in Nowy Sącz - where he has been employed as the chief folklore specialist. He has originated many folk festivals and contests. In 1979 it was on his initiative that the Department of Folklore and Folk Arts was established; he served as its manager for 24 years. He acts as a juror and consultant for major contests, festivals and competitions, both local, all-Poland and international ones. In 1988-1993 he was a member of the Board of Experts at the Ministry of Culture and Arts. He is a member-founder of the Polish Section of CIOFF, and a member of the CIOFF Programme & Arts Board. In the 1980s he was also a member of the Artistic Board of the “Folk Stage” at the National Management of the Association of Rural Youth. He gives lectures at seminars, conferences and training sessions in folklore, organized by SOKÓŁ Małopolska Culture Centre, and other domestic institutions. Currently, he serves as a member of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Team at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

An assistant professor at the Institute of Ethnology, Folklore Research, and Ethnography Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; an ethnochoreographer at the Department of Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology. An author of more than 50 articles published in scientific journals. In her research she mainly focuses on dance music and folklore, contemporary folk events, and folklore in the Balkans. She is a choreographer and artistic director for dance ensembles in Sofia, a member of the Expert Board for Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, of the Choreographers Association in Bulgaria, and of the Bulgarian Section of CIOFF.