Calling All Dancers for the Zlatne Uste Golden Festival

The traditional rhythms of the Balkans will fill Brooklyn’s Grand Prospect Hall on January 17 and 18, with the return of the Zlatne Uste Golden Festival.

The event, now 29 years young, is dubbed “New York City’s 29th Annual Festival of Music and Dance from the Balkans and Beyond,” and has become a celebration of Balkan music, food and fine arts.

Over the course of the festival, 50 dance groups will perform with a crowd of about 3,000 music lovers expected to attend.

But, the event – founded in 1986 by the Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band — isn’t just for listening; rather, attendees are encouraged to kick up their heels and dance to the traditional music. In fact, on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., there will be a dance workshop to kick off the celebration.

Countries represented include Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Georgia, Hungary, Norway and Sweden; Romany and Klezmer music will be performed as well.

Tickets can be purchased for either Friday or Saturday or for both days. Friday’s event begins at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 12:30 a.m.; tickets cost $35. On Saturday, the event will run from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.; the ticket price is $55. Tickets for both evenings cost $80. Included are complementary ethnic snacks (there will be a cash bar available). There will also be an ethnic artisan and music marketplace.

Students with ID are eligible for discounted prices ($30, Friday; $45, Saturday; $65, both nights), and children 12 years and under are allowed free entry.  Profits from the event will be donated to Balkan charitable or educational organizations.  Go to www.goldenfest.org/tickets to buy tickets.

The Grand Prospect Hall is located at 263 Prospect Avenue, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. For directions and more details about this event, check out their Facebook page at Zlatne Uste Golden Festival.

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