by: Loribelle Austria
Brasil Carnival Pavilion: A newer addition to the Folklorama Festival, hosted at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. It features a live band with amazing singers and musicians (the drum players were phenomenal)! This pavilion brings such energy to the stage which is infectious to the audience as they are big on audience participation! The dancers spend some time doing their fiery numbers weaving through the audience (they might even grab you to join in)! Their coconut butterfly shrimp with mango sauce was also a hit with me!
Korean Pavilion: Make sure to bring your appetite; the aromas are sure to captivate you from the moment you enter the building! They might not have air conditioning, but they make up for it by fanning you with their traditional fans as you walk in to see the show. The Korean pavilion will continue to captivate you with their colorful costumes, young and comical hosts, traditional dances (performed by children of all-ages), and also a heart-racing martial arts exhibit! Enjoy some Kimchi and Sushi and don’t forget to visit their cute booths filled with something for everyone!
Greek Pavilion: This wonderfully organized pavilion is extremely welcoming and is sure to please your appetite. I had the “Gyros in Pita”, which was absolutely delicious and highly recommended. They had a wide range of food which is sure to please everyone (vegetarian-friendly). I learned a lot about the Greek history through the young and high-spirited performers. It is beautiful to note that they were always holding hands throughout each and every dance number! This educational and high-energy pavilion is sure to leave you yelling, “Opa”, all night long.
Ethiopia: Smaller venue and no air conditioning. The heat is only turned up once the performers start tearing up the stage! Got to sample some injera (flatbread) with three different types of wat (stew) on top. I wasn’t too big on the injera and wat since it was more on the sour side. In the corner by the stage, you’ll find some young ladies practicing the traditional coffee making ritual. You’re welcome to try a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Most importantly, I learned that coffee actually originated in Ethiopia! All in all, the music and dancing is sure to have you dancing along in your seats at the very least. You will also find it hard to refrain from standing and joining in! Great traditional / cultural performances as well as displays.
German: I’ve always thought that Germany was known for their beer when in fact, their wine is quite impressive! Enjoy some mashed potatoes, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and schnitzel while having a beer or wine. Great dancing from local talent and also from the dancing group who has come all the way from Germany! It was nice to see both older and younger people involved with the performances. I quite enjoyed the yodeling and I found that the host educated us while kept us entertained at the same time.
Spain: I had the pleasure to sample a plate of Paella which was delicious; I finished the meal with flavorful sangria. The beauty of flamenco dancing is captured by beautiful women. Only downside is there were no male performers or ambassadors. Who knew that the Spanish had such great rhythm?! You’re sure to stomp along and rejoice with, “Ole”! Lighting was beautiful and the guitarist was fantastic. You also could experience the music through his solo performance. Costumes were colorful and gorgeous! A must-see!
Best food of the night: Spain. Favorite of the night: Spain.
Portuguese Pavilion: Saw the 6:45 show and was later informed that each show is different. The earlier show(s) consist of the younger children performing. Later shows will have the older ambassadors involved on stage. Enjoyed a fruit drink called “Sumol” (passion fruit) and some cod. For dessert we had something that is similar to a Filipino roll-cake. Women were wearing 7 layers of skirts; thank goodness the venue was air conditioned. We finished off the show with a female singer from Toronto and she was amazing! Great venue, good food, and an overall OK experience.
Celtic Ireland Pavilion
By far my favorite pavilion so far. Large and beautifully set-up venue. The sample plate included sausage (similar to breakfast sausage), mashed potatoes, sausage roll, and crispy coleslaw. Enjoy an Irish Coffee and an apple crisp for dessert. The performances ran right after one another, which made for a highly entertaining and smooth show. Beautiful smoke effects added to the grand stage and mystic feel. When you close your eyes, you literally feel like you’re in Ireland. A must-see!
Belgian Pavilion: Small and restaurant-style venue. We went to the last show which might be why the energy was low and the venue wasn’t full. The theme of the night was evidently: beer. The performances were mediocre, didn’t learn much about the culture and learned more about the different types of beer. The show consisted of one accordion player, one singer, a small group of dancers (no boys), and a host that read off of a paper. Belgian waffles, Belgian chocolate, chocolate mousse, and of course, the beer was a hit with me. Didn’t end up trying Belgian’s national dish: Fries. No joke.
India Pavilion: I cannot complain about anything in regards to this pavilion! It was educational, entertaining, traditional, and fun. I learned things that I never knew about India and their cultural display is quite impressive (and huge). I loved the performances; they were so high-energy and captivating. The India pavilion had some of the most beautiful costumes I’ve seen so far. The lighting was just as beautiful and it was like the lights were dancing along as well. Come out and see a four year old girl dance to, “I love India”, a dance group from Montreal, and enjoy some samosas or butter chicken to complete your experience. The Bollywood dances were probably the highlight of my night. The India pavilion truly showcases the beauty of their country.
Caribbean Pavilion: Some of the yummiest food that I’ve had all week! I’d like to refer to this pavilion as the, “party pavilion” since the line-ups for both the food and bar were crazy. Everyone was dancing and having a good time. As far as more traditional and cultural performances, it wasn’t too impressive. The show consisted of a few steel drum performances, a limbo dance, and some dancing by girls that I wasn’t too sure about. Like I said, come to this pavilion hungry and ready to party.
