Report of “International Dance Games” & “Mediterranean Legends” Festivals (July, 2025)

This summer, the picturesque coastal town of Lloret de Mar once again became the vibrant stage for two of Fiestalonia’s most spectacular international events — the International Dance Games and Mediterranean Legends festivals. Held from 13 to 18 July 2025, the festivals brought together more than 200 participants from Armenia, Estonia, Slovakia, Portugal, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Kazakhstan, the USA, and South Africa, transforming the Costa Brava into a hub of creativity, cultural exchange, and artistic excellence. To see how it was, check out the video from the Gala Concert on our official YouTube channel, Fiestalonia Milenio.

The competitions featured five main categories: Instrumental Music, Vocal Performance, Choreography, Fashion Theatre, and Original Genre. Participants were evaluated by a distinguished jury whose names are well established in the history of the world’s performing arts.

Jury Members – Choreography:

  • Eugènia Mur – Dancer and teacher specializing in jazz and tap, holding a degree in Choreography and Dance Performance Techniques from the Conservatori Superior de Dansa de l’Institut del Teatre.
  • Yulia Kruglyak – The first Slavic flamenco performer in Spain, with over 30 years of stage experience and international recognition as a choreographer and master teacher.
  • Marcos Martinez – An acclaimed Hip Hop trainer, choreographer, and performer with an extensive portfolio of TV shows and international events.

Jury Members – Instrumental, Vocal & Fashion Theatre:

  • Nadiia Oleksiienko – Highly accomplished vocal coach, performer, and founder of InTOP School, with an international concert portfolio spanning Dubai, China, Singapore, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.
  • María Luz Martínez Farias – Talented soprano, Doctor of Art History, performer on prestigious stages worldwide, and professor at the University of Barcelona.
  • Noelia Mora – Versatile professional singer, mastering opera, pop, musical theatre, romantic song, ballad, and folk genres.
  • Marina Caro – Popular Spanish singer and performer whose songs feature on leading national radio stations, regularly appearing at top music festivals in Spain and abroad.

Competition & Masterclasses

The main competition day took place in the modern, fully equipped theatre of Lloret de Mar. Given the high number of entries, the jury worked in two shifts. The morning session showcased choreography: hip hop from the Netherlands, folklore from Estonia, contemporary dance from the USA and Portugal, vibrant performances from South Africa, and more.Following the contest, dancers attended a high-energy masterclass by jury member Marcos Martinez, where they explored new street dance techniques. Hip hop became one of the brightest highlights of the festival.

The afternoon session brought the spotlight to music and theatre: Kazakh dombra players, Armenian pianists, vocalists from South Africa and Spain, as well as theatre and fashion design presentations from the USA and South Africa. The performances were charged with emotion, passion, and friendly competition.

Cultural & Travel Program

Between performances, participants enjoyed the cultural offerings of Spain. Excursions included PortAventura Park, a panoramic tour of Barcelona, and an art-focused Girona + Dalí route.

As part of Mediterranean Legends, participants embarked on a three-day tour to France, Monaco, and Italy, performing and experiencing the rich traditions of multiple European countries. The program included visits to Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, and Sanremo, offering unforgettable impressions both on and off the stage.

Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony

On 17 July, the main square of Lloret de Mar hosted the grand gala concert, gathering thousands of spectators and supporters. The evening featured the best performances selected by the jury and organizers — a vibrant mix of dance, song, and theatrical creativity.

Special guest performance came from jury member Marina Caro, who sang her song “Self Love”, adding a touch of star glamour to the night.

The award ceremony crowned the event. Two participants earned the prestigious Grand Prix:

  • DanceNicole Borovikov (USA) with the contemporary piece “Chihiro”
    • Teacher: Lotta Burton, Igor Harea | Choreographer: Lotta Burton, Mariia Donets
  • VocalKyla Olfsen (South Africa) for her stunning rendition of “At Last”
    • Director: Talent Africa

Fiestalonia congratulates all participants on their achievements and thanks everyone for sharing their talent, passion, and creativity with the world.

Nicole Borovikov / USA (“Chihiro”)Choreographic groups and soloistsGRAND PRIX
KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Rowan girls”)

KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Hit the swings!”)

“The Rising Seven” / SLOVAKIA (“Layers of the Mind”)

Grupo “Ritmix” / PORTUGAL (“Polka Irlandesa”)

The Art of Fashion / USA (“Grand Piano”)

KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Within trueself”)

Nicolene Minnaar / SOUTH AFRICA (“Garden Of Grace”)

Eva Skye Rose Johnson / USA (“Slow Me Down”)

Tali Faradjev / USA (“Stay”)

Nicolene Minnaar / SOUTH AFRICA (“Daylight”)

Eva Skye Rose Johnson / USA (“Robin Hood”)

Teele Nõmmik – KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“From the heart”)

Ariella Faershtein / USA (“Work Song”)

DUO: Somé Cromhout, Nicolene Minnaar / SOUTH AFRICA (“Carry Me”)

DUO: Elizabeth Naboka, Taylor Lin / USA (“Sign Of Times”)
Choreographic groups and soloistsGolden diploma
from 90 to 99 points
TRIO: Elli Villem, Heidi Villem, Liisi Villem – KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Trio Villem”)

TRIO: Linda Vincze, Ema Kiacova, Barbara Varga – “The Rising Seven” / SLOVAKIA (“I’m tired”)

DUO “OTHER SIDE”: Somé Cromhout, Nicolene Minnaar / SOUTH AFRICA (“Other Side”) 

Grupo “Ritmix” / PORTUGAL (“CandyMan”)

The Art of Fashion / USA (“Poppy Field”) 

New Age / THE NETHERLANDS (“New Age official”)

QUARTET “GDA”: Somé Cromhout, Nicolene Minnaar, Elizka de Bruyn, Zanica Bechaz / SOUTH AFRICA (“Rise Up”)

KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Dancesprint”)

KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Blooming souls”)

​​TRIO “GDA”: Somé Cromhout, Nicolene Minnaar, Zanica Bechaz / SOUTH AFRICA (“Confident”)

Grupo “Ritmix” / PORTUGAL (“Tchá-Tchá”)

Somé Cromhout / SOUTH AFRICA (“Jump”)

Tebogo Gaveni / SOUTH AFRICA (“Aspects of Water”)

Addison van der Merwe / SOUTH AFRICA (“This Is Urban Hip Hop”)

​​Margarida Florindo / PORTUGAL (“Margarida Florindo – Solo”)

Somé Cromhout / SOUTH AFRICA (“God Only Knows”)

Dawn Meyer / SOUTH AFRICA (“We All Are One”)

Evangelina Maeda / USA (“What Was”)

Nicolene Minnaar / SOUTH AFRICA (“Greatest Show”)

Somé Cromhout / SOUTH AFRICA (“Fever”)

Nicolene Minnaar / SOUTH AFRICA (“Faith”)

DUO: Linda Vincze, Ema Kiacová – “The Rising Seven” / SLOVAKIA (“Kill me again”)

DUO: Margarida Florindo, Carolina Chagas / PORTUGAL (“Margarida Florindo / Carolina Chagas- Dueto”)

DUO: Lara Silva, Lara Peguinho / PORTUGAL (“Lara Silva / Lara Peguinho- Dueto”)

DUO: Linda Vincze, Laura Muszka – “The Rising Seven” / SLOVAKIA (“Hope//Less”)

DUO: Somé Cromhout, Nicolene Minnaar / SOUTH AFRICA (“Run Boy”)
Choreographic groups and soloistsSilver diploma
from 80 to 89 points
Grupo “Freedom” / PORTUGAL (“Despedida”)

Grupo “Freedom” / PORTUGAL (“Urbana”)

Grupo “Freedom” / PORTUGAL (“Índia”)

Miché Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Not You”)

Ashriya Naicker / SOUTH AFRICA (“Stop The Clocks”)

Zanica Bechaz / SOUTH AFRICA (“Memories”)

Addison van der Merwe / SOUTH AFRICA (“Jazz Me Up”)

Tenícke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Feeling Good”)

Ronja Pajula – KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Rosiphysis”)

AMELIA VRABIE – SHALL WE DANCE / ROMANIA (“Ma Baker”)

Miché Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Matilda”)

Ashriya Naicker / SOUTH AFRICA (“Blue Bird”)

Zanica Bechaz / SOUTH AFRICA (“Lady Marmalade”)

Zanika Strauss / SOUTH AFRICA (“Possibility”)

Tenícke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“This Is Africa”)

Maria Järveoja – KOIT Tantsukool / ESTONIA (“Bird song”)

Miché Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Boom Boom”) 

Ashriya Naicker / SOUTH AFRICA (“AfroIndo Fusion”) 

Zanika Strauss / SOUTH AFRICA (“Cry”)

Alexandra Faragó – “The Rising Seven” / SLOVAKIA (“Like a river”)

Elizka de Bruyn / SOUTH AFRICA (“Drunk Again”)

Tenícke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“The Way You Make Me Feel”)

Dawn Meyer / SOUTH AFRICA (“Feeling Good”)

Hauzner Jázmin – “The Rising Seven” / SLOVAKIA (“Only me”)

Miché Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Shed”)

Addison van der Merwe / SOUTH AFRICA (“The Bop”)

Zanika Strauss / SOUTH AFRICA (“Every Time The Beat Drop”)

Zanica Bechaz / SOUTH AFRICA (“CHIX”)

DUO: Maria Silva Alves, Maria Leoor Guerra / PORTUGAL (“Maria Silva Alves / Maria Leonor Guerra- Dueto”)
Choreographic groups and soloistsBronze diploma
from 70 to 79 points

The Art of Fashion / USA (“Republic of Hope”)

Mivuyo Ncapayi / SOUTH AFRICA (“Nothing Beats Boxer Prices”)
Original GenreGolden diploma
from 90 to 99 points
Mivuyo Ncapayi / SOUTH AFRICA (“Why Did You Leave”)

Mivuyo Ncapayi / SOUTH AFRICA (“Children’s Voices Should Be Heard”)

Mivuyo Ncapayi / SOUTH AFRICA (“I Hate The Take Of Peanut Butter”)
Original GenreSilver diploma
from 80 to 89 points

Gabrielle Mulder / SOUTH AFRICA (“Adventure Of A Lifetime”)Fashion TheatreGolden diploma
from 90 to 99 points
Gabrielle Mulder / SOUTH AFRICA (“Obsession”)

Tebogo Gaveni / SOUTH AFRICA (“Night Calls”)

Gabrielle Mulder / SOUTH AFRICA (“Walking On A Dream”)
Fashion TheatreSilver diploma
from 80 to 89 points
Ashriya Naicker / SOUTH AFRICA (“Tears From The Moon”)

Gabrielle Mulder / SOUTH AFRICA (“Path”)

Tenícke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Dancing Again”)

Ashriya Naicker / SOUTH AFRICA (“I’m Ready”)

Tenícke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Seven Nation Army”)
Fashion TheatreBronze diploma
from 70 to 79 points

Altynbek Shylmyrzayev / KAZAKHSTAN (“Erke Sylkym” – dombra)

Sultanali Khalilov / KAZAKHSTAN (“Nauysky” – dombra)

Yerassul Tursyn / KAZAKHSTAN (“Koreguly” – dombra)

Alikhan Serikuly / KAZAKHSTAN (“Adai” – dombra)

TRIO «Kerbez – ZIS ASTANA»: Medina Bazarbek, Ynta Alimzhan, Zhanym Mukasheva / KAZAKHSTAN (“Nar agash” – dombra)

«Daryn- ZIS Astana» Dombyra Ensemble / KAZAKHSTAN (“Dombyra” – dombra)

Davit Hovhannisyan / ARMENIA (“Elegy” by Arno Babajanyan – piano)
InstrumentalGolden diploma
from 90 to 99 points
Danial Serikuly / KAZAKHSTAN (“Konil Tolkyny” – dombra)

Aisultan Turar / KAZAKHSTAN (“Tepen Kok” – dombra)

Ansar Suleimenov / KAZAKHSTAN (“Kelinshek” – dombra)

Sonar Aidynbek / KAZAKHSTAN (“Dala Rukhy” – dombra)
InstrumentalSilver diploma
from 80 to 89 points

Kyla Olfsen / SOUTH AFRICA (“At Last”)VocalGRAND PRIX
Kyla Olfsen / SOUTH AFRICA (“Say Something”)

Alondwe Ndlovu / SOUTH AFRICA (“African Dream”)

Tebogo Gaveni / SOUTH AFRICA (“Words Fail”)

Thannah Voterson / SOUTH AFRICA (“Creep”)

Jancke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Somebody Like You”)

Tebogo Gaveni / SOUTH AFRICA (“My Days”)

Jancke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Don’t Know Why”) 

Kayla Levenson / SOUTH AFRICA (“Popular”) 

Jancke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“Wicked Games”)

Alondwe Ndlovu / SOUTH AFRICA (“Opportunity”)
VocalGolden diploma
from 90 to 99 points
Thannah Voterson / SOUTH AFRICA (“Simply The Best”)

Kayla Levenson / SOUTH AFRICA (“She Used To Be Mine”)

Jancke Smit / SOUTH AFRICA (“A Million Reasons”)

Nika Wagner / SOUTH AFRICA (“Broadway Baby”)

Kyla Olfsen / SOUTH AFRICA (“The Story”)

Kayla Levenson / SOUTH AFRICA (“The Climb”)

Alondwe Ndlovu / SOUTH AFRICA (“Ave Maria”)

Thannah Voterson / SOUTH AFRICA (“Sway”)

Nika Wagner / SOUTH AFRICA (“Beautiful”)

Kyla Olfsen / SOUTH AFRICA (“Set Fire To The Rain”)

Kayla Levenson / SOUTH AFRICA (“African Dream”)

Alondwe Ndlovu / SOUTH AFRICA (“Trust In You”)

Thannah Voterson / SOUTH AFRICA (“Rolling in the Deep”)

Nika Wagner / SOUTH AFRICA (“Derniere Danse”)
VocalSilver diploma
from 80 to 89 points
Diana Hovhannisyan / ARMENIA (“Do I hate the rain or love it?”)

Leonardo Torres / SPAIN (“Espresso Macchiato”)

Nika Wagner / SOUTH AFRICA (“A Million Voices”)
VocalBronze diploma
from 70 to 79 points

Do you want to participate in the Contest “INTERNATIONAL DANCE GAMES” 2026Then follow the link and submit your application to participate!

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