1st ever FIESTALONIA festival kicks off in Astana

The event is organized by the Astana Schoolchildren Palace together with Spain's FIESTALONIA MILLENIO committee in order to find talented youngsters, promote friendly relations between children from different countries of the globe and demonstrate Kazakhstan's national culture and traditions. "This is the first time this festival is held outside the EU and we are very proud that Kazakhstan was chosen to host it among other CIS member countries. I would like to thank Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain to Kazakhstan Manuel Larrotcha for his tremendous contribution and support in organization of this event. More than 600 participants from all corners of Kazakhstan, CIS and non-CIS countries came to Astana for the festival," head of the Education Department of Astana city Elmira Sukhanberdiyeva said at the opening ceremony. The festival brought together dancers, vocalists, children's theaters and folklorists. The best singers and dancers will get a chance to travel to Spain, Italy and France. The goal of the event is to boost Kazakhstan's international standing and strengthen cultural ties between Kazakhstan and the EU.