A national contest festival of folk music and dance entitled “La Vatra Horelor bucuriene” has recently taken place in the House of Culture in the village of Bucuria, Cahul district, Info-Prim Neo learned from “Univers FM” radio station. The organisers state that the festival aims at capitalizing the folk dance and song and discovering new talents that will further promote the national traditions and customs. 10 folk groups from Valeni, Andrusul de Jos, Andrusul de Sus, Manta, Colibasi, Taraclia de Salcie, Bucuria from Cahul district, Carpesti from Cantemir district, and Congazcic from Comrat district participated this year in the 16th edition of the festival. Bucuria’s Mayor, Tatiana Nichiforeac, thanked all the participants for their support in the capitalization of the people’s cultural treasure. At the same time, the modern dance group “Yuventa” from Cahul has recently returned from the International Folklore Festival held in Porte Sur Saone, France. Students of choreographer Alexandru Chiper performed for the French audience modern dances of ethno style, combining thus the modern dance with the folk one. The group was invited to participate in another festival of this genre to take place in March 2008 on Ivory Coast. On the other hand, representatives from Israel, Serbia and France expressed their willingness to participate in the 2009 edition of the International Folklore Festival “Nufarul Alb” from Cahul.