Filip Arilon

Macedonian Dance

“Caught between the spirited steps of Macedonian folk dancing and the soulful melodies of the gajda, I find myself torn, not by indecision, but by the richness of two passions intertwining, each beckoning me to embrace them…”

With a passion for preserving and promoting Macedonian folk traditions, Filip Arilon is a scholar of folk dance and adept player of Macedonian traditional musical instruments such as gajda, kaval, tambura, and tapan. As a teacher, he has taken pride in showcasing the richness of Macedonian folk dance heritage to the world. Filip has shared his expertise as a teacher of traditional dance and instruments at the National Music Center “Ilija Nikolovski – Luj” in Skopje. He has further expressed his commitment to preserving and promoting Macedonian cultural traditions in his role as a junior cultural advisor in the Municipality of Veles, his hometown. Inspired by growing interest in Macedonian folklore, Filip founded Folkpal, which is dedicated to the promotion of traditional Macedonian dance and music, and to the production of immersive dance seminars across Europe. Filip has garnered widespread recognition for his ability to impart the intricacies of Macedonian folklore with precision and passion. His expertise focuses on the liminality of Macedonian traditional dances, encompassing their origins, migration across ethnic regions, dance techniques, creation of dances rooted in tradition, adaptation of traditional dances for the stage, and mastery of the traditional musical instrument, the bagpipe.

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