DIRECTING FOLK FESTIVAL

Abstract

The dynamics of directing of the modern folk festivals, their drama, set design, as well as the specifics of the entire director's production group are studied. Folk festivals in Ukraine are very popular and constantly gather an audience of thousands. Today, in the era of globalization such folk forums facilitate cultural exchange between nations, ethnic groups and social organizations. Wide range of information about different cultures contribute peace between nationalities and the reduction of antagonism and aggression between them. However, globalization is also associated with the progressive unification of the many aspects of national cultures that gives rise to the opposite trend when the aggressive imposition of "leveling" of the cultural space causes the opposite reaction – an interest in their own cultural traditions and in folk traditions of other nations, and the desire to protect their own cultural values. In Ukraine, the interest in folk culture has its own characteristics. In terms of permanent forbiddance on Ukrainian language and national identity only folk tradition was the constant foundation that contributed to the revival of Ukrainian culture as an independent phenomenon in European cultural context. Therefore, in Ukraine, folk festivals are very popular as a way of the own cultural identity. Ukrainian folk culture does not lead just only to the rustic culture, but it includes also the culture of other social stratums, such as the Cossacks, handicraft, as well as gentry and knightly traditions of Ukrainian cultural and political elite. This cultural stratum has a huge potential for dramatic theatrical festival shows.

A distinctive feature of the folk festivals is the maximum concentration around national cultural tradition that at such events is relayed into the theatrical and entertainment forms. The main task of the director is the organic combination of traditional culture, unprofessional, variability, which is a priori of folk culture, with certain rules and laws of the performing arts as a professional skill . One should avoid mechanical transfer of traditional ceremonies , songs, games on the festival scene , and tends with the artistic methods to convey the atmosphere of festive folk culture. The director faces the task of an organic combination of the past and present, as well as the construction of the festival action in such way as to motivate and inspire a contemporary with folk tradition, to light and present in the aesthetic language of modernity.

Another important factor in today's director of folk festivals, is the commercialization of the festival movement, as a part of the tourism infrastructure. A modern folk festival director faces the task to pay the maximum attention to the commercial part of the event, which affects on the director's vision of the overall festival picture, and on the selection of its members, expressive artistic methods and directing techniques. So, folk festival director often combines his work with the administrative work of the director, art director, producer.

First of all, before the director is the task to develop a spectacular artistic explication, the original format of the festival, to consider the through action that should tie into a coherent, logical sequence the performances of the festival participants; to offer an original set design, sound and lighting design of the stage platforms, to develop the director's explication of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the main event of the festival. Typically, theatrical spectacle of the festival becomes the central festival event, that expresses the main idea of the festival.

Today, folk festivals have different formats, that depend on the status of financial opportunities, concepts, themes of the event. The format of folk festival, aesthetics and style are also dependent on whether it is dedicated to folk culture of a particular ethnic group or has the genre direction, or demonstrates the tradition of a small area (village, district, local) or the tradition of the specific historical time (the prince, Cossack times, the era of Baroque and others).

Global trend of folk festivals is the active usage of landscape and architectural attractions as the venue of folklore activities, that contributes to the attractiveness of visitors, enhances the aesthetic appreciation of folk activities, expand their cultural and educational program. In the other turn, the venue of the festival dictates the choice of artistic media and the formation of the artistic design of the theatrical spectacle. This is due to the general tendency of visualization and entertainment of cultural events of all levels. The folk festival, as well as any other festival, it is a complex, synthetic and multifunctional phenomenon, not just the sum of several theatrical shares. By definition, on the festival it should be general encouraged atmosphere of the fest, like a holiday, where all participants are competent.

One of the main tasks for the director of the folklore festival is the creation of the conceptual drama and director plan of the full event, taking into account the features of the traditional genre of folk art. Today shooting script (implemented as a common scheme or libretto) of the folk festival has the several canonical constants: opening ceremony, parade, procession of participants, concerts and individual performances, improvised performances, competitions, culminating action and grand final (Gala).

In the structure of folklore programs, that have spectacular type, it is recommended to follow the principle of contrast , alternating different performances by: a) the genre (choral, dance, instrumental), and b) the age composition (children, adults, the elderly) , and c) regional characteristics. So you can achieve the variety of programs, raise the interest for action as the monotonous performances tire and depress the emotional mood of the audience. Special emphasis is directed to the interactive participation in all the actions the maximum number of those who are on our folklore.

Having reviewed the basic principles, forms of folk festivals direction, it can be summarized that the main current trend is to use new, original approach for playing, reconstruction and representation of traditional folk culture.

Direction skill at such festivals consists of creation the fascinating spectacle and unique atmosphere f the national holiday with the help of the organic, thematically unified fusion of different types of art.