Over the course of the week, audiences can attend performances at Ismailia's Sheikh Zayed Park, the Roman Theatre, the Family Club, and other open-air and indoor venues.
Egyptian groups include the national folk troupe of the Artistic House for Folk and Performing Arts, regional troupes such as the Assiut Folk Arts Troupe, the New Valley Folk Arts Troupe, as well as ensembles from Aswan, Sharqiya and others.
International guests span across Africa, the Arab world and Europe—among them troupes from Guinea, Jordan, Palestine, Poland, Algeria, Uzbekistan and India.
So far, the national troupe led by Mohamed Farmawi presented a radiant programme of traditional Egyptian forms — the Muwashah, Mijwiz, Futuwwat Qibli, Hegala, Al Hosan and Om El-Khulol.
Meanwhile, the Guinean troupe Nimbaya brought African rhythms and dance to the Roman Theatre to widespread audience applause.
At the Fayed City stage, the Assiut group offered heritage-rich performances of Upper Egyptian stick dance, Al-Taḥmila, and spinning.
Then the New Valley group followed with oasis-inspired dances such as Al-Khazzam, Al-Maqrouna and Al-Balḥ.
The Jordanian Al-Mughair Rahoub troupe revived dabke and folk song traditions both authentic and contemporary. A club venue welcomed the Algerian City Cultural Arts Association, led by Abdulmalek Hamini, followed by Uzbekistan’s Jizzah Maqom Ensemble accompanying traditional music.
Poland’s Dance and Folkloric Dance troupe (Zespół Pieśni i Tańca "Anilana") offered Eastern European folk in tandem. Alongside them, the programme also includes troupes from Romania and other European countries, sharing folk dances, songs and costumes rooted in their homeland heritage.
In parallel with the performances an exhibition of environmental crafts and a series of academic seminars explore the development of folk arts in an increasingly globalised context.
The week will culminate on 30 October with a closing ceremony and awards for the participating troupes.
For locals and visitors alike the 25th Ismaïlia International Festival for Folk Arts is more than a series of shows—it is a living celebration of heritage and creative exchange.
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