Song, dance and flag throwing make up the cultural mix that will bubble with excitement at the annual China International Folk Arts Festival next month.

Over 30 performing troupes from 22 countries will descend on Huangshan, east China's Anhui Province from October 1 to 18.

Local acts will also perform at the event organized by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

They will first perform in the city of Huangshan, well known for its scenic Mount Huangshan and the buildings of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Then the 11 ensembles will later move to Beijing to give three shows at the Century Theatre and the Cultural Palace of Nationalities on October 9 to 11. They then tour North China's Shanxi Province.

Many of the troupes are well-known such as the Polish Mazowsze State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, the Flag Throwers of Cori, Italy, the Colombian Folk Dance Company, the Georgian Mount Mtatsminda Dance Troupe.

The Polish ensemble offers a glimpse of Polish folklore charm through song and dance.

The founder of the "Mazowsze" was folk composer Tadeusz Sygietynski (1895-1955), who devoted his life to collect the lyrics of old songs and record their music. In 1949, the "Mazowsze" Song and Dance Ensemble was created.

After his death, his work was taken over by his wife, the famous actress Mira Ziminska-Sygietynska. Under her direction, which continued until her death in 1997, the "Mazowsze" became a major ambassador of Polish culture throughout the world.

The Cori's extraordinary flag-throwers will give a thrilling performance at an open-air venue.

The tradition of flag-throwing dates to ancient times. A 15th-century account describes a representative from Cori at the Testaccio games in Rome. He was "dressed in felt and carried a flag."

The tradition, though, is older than 500 years. The practice can be traced to the soldiers who guarded the city-states against the strife that often blighted the Italian peninsula. When Cori's armies marched into battle, they followed the flag-bearers.

Early flags were made of leather or strips of cloth and were used to signify a division or to communicate military codes. Communication was accomplished by waving or throwing the flags in a particular manner. In battle, flag-bearers used the sharpened end of their staffs to defend themselves and attack opponents.

Today, the tradition of flag-throwing has been developed into a unique performance.

Sonia Amelio, the Mexican popular pianist, prima ballerina and player of the castanets will also perform in the festival. Amelio is famous for her unique style and astounding technique of making music with her hands and feet. She wonderfully combines choreography and castanets.

Other performers include the Manihiki Dance Ensemble from Cook Island, the Fosbrook Youth Art Ensemble from England, Japanese Hachijo Island Taiko Group and a drum Ensemble from Inchon of South Korea.

With a goal to promote international folk art and culture and maintain Chinese folk art and culture, as well as enhance the world friendship and peace, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles started the festival in August 1990.

Since then, more than 63 folk ensembles from 36 countries in the five continents have been invited to perform in more than 30 cities in China, offering locals opportunities to know more about the world's history and culture.

(Beijing Weekend September 10, 2004)