BALKANIK, the first festival of Balkan music and culture in Romania, has come to its second edition and will take place in Grădina Uranus, between 21 and 23 September 2012. The three days and three nights of celebration aim to revive the boyar parties that animated old Bucharest in its golden age. Responsible for the music are five of the best groups of Balkan music from Serbia, Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.

THE BOBAN AND MARKO MARKOVIC ORCHESTRA, Serbia – the most acclaimed band in Serbia from the 80s to the present day, it reached fame after the collaboration with Emir Kusturica for the motion pictures Underground (winner of Palme d’Or) and Arizona Dream. PARNO GRASZT, Hungary – rewarded at World Music Charts Europe, BBC made a documentary on their work of preserving the tradition. BABA ZULA, Turkey – appeared in Fatih Akin’s documentary Crossing the Bridge - The Sound of Istanbul, included in the Official Selection of Cannes in 2005. FANFARA SHAVALE – Romania. Based in the village Zece Prăjini, the village that holds the record for the largest number of brass bands across the country. NEDIM NALBANTOGLU & THE BALKAN MESSENGERS, Turkey & Bulgaria. Nedim Nalbantoglu is a Turkish virtuoso known in France as “the man who brings the violin to life and makes it speak”.

Apart from the live concerts, the audience of Balkanik Festival will be delighted with a crafts fair showcasing folk items, from Romanian ceramics, hand woven carpets, to jewelry, accessories and textiles, workshops – clay modeling, water painting, creative recycling, tasty traditional food, coffee on sand, grape must, roasted pumpkin and other delicacies.

Among the surprises of this edition are:

Crispus, The Art of Fire – Since 2003, they have managed to transform fire games into true art and the result can be experienced in any of their shows that blends pyrotechnics and acrobatics, resulting in unique visual effects. They have broken the record for fire breathing and represented Romania throughout the entire world.

The Last Transhumance – a project by Dragoș Lumpan, photo exhibition on a 72 sqm display

„The world seems to always hurry, with a more and more delirious speed. We have less time for ourselves and for the ones around; less time to consider what truly matters. Yet, there’s a small gate. The people who organize their lives according to the laws of the earth are a valuable human resource and this is only one of the countless reasons that make Dragos Lumpan’s photography worthy. He knows he is unable to change anything, but simply by drawing attention to the phenomenon he actually contributes to the preserving of this way of life” – Caroline Juler, visual artist, author of the guide „Romania” – National Geographic.

Romafest – one of the most appreciated dance ensembles in Romania, created in the year 2000 in Târgu Mureș, has travelled to multiple international shows and festivals in Japan, Italy, Poland etc. The young dancers from Romafest can boast with their successful collaborations, as the one they had with the globally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil.

The tickets for the Festival can be purchased at Eventim and MyTicket. The prices are:

In advance: 35 lei/ day, 50 lei/ 2-day pass, 85 lei/3-day pass

At the entrance, before the show: 45 lei/ day, 60 lei/ 2-day pass, 95 lei/3-day pass

The event is organized by Metropolis Cultural Association, sponsored by Apa Nova, with the support of the Sector 5 City Hall and Bucharest City Hall.

About Metropolis Cultural Association

Metropolis Cultural Association, founded by Daniel Mitulescu, aims to organize non-profit events targeting the young public, as KINOdiseea - International Children Film Festival (20000 participants during its three editions) and Open Air Cinema (that recorded the widest public of an Open Cinema ever in Romania, 80000 viewers in its 10 weeks of projections).

Website: http://www.balkanikfestival.ro/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/balkanikfestivalro

PROMO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbguv8AHRYg&feature=youtu.be

(P- this article is an advertorial)