The Conjunto Artístico Maraguán, an Afro-Cuban dance group from eastern Cubas University of Camaguey, won the gold medal at the famed International Folkdance Festival of Dijon, Francia.

The ensemble, founded in 1981 and conducted by engineer Fernando Medrano Vireya, had previously won the silver medal of this international festival in 2003.

This Olympiad of the international folklore was founded in the summer of 1946 once the World War II ended. In its early editions, the Festival of Dijon was the place where the folk groups of the region of Burgundy gathered together to spice the summer up in town during the grape harvest.

Over the last 60 years, this contest evolved to one of the most important cultural and tourist events in the world, encouraging the continuity of all forms of folkloric expressions.

Because of Maraguáns high artistic and technical levels, the Cuban youth have gained recognition in the circuit of Europes hottest song and dance festival.

Recently the ensemble that represents the westernmost island of the Caribbean performed in the World Folk Festival of Plozebet and in the 50th edition of the Confolens Festival, also in France.

Source: Juventud Rebelde