"All that it couldnt be freely said in the life, all that it should have been suppressed, all that it had to be lived trough within, has found its place in the song.The song for Macedonia is a prayer, it is a mirror of her soul and her sigh.Macedonia did not create a complex instruments.She doesnt have a sonatas or simphonies.Her song is simple, permeated with a lots of sorrow, with a certain touchy tranquility, which contains a cry and a suffer, but also a hope........"
Koco Racin-Statija "Stihovi vo proza", by Alexandar Spasov, 1996.Skopje
“We the Macedonians do not have pyramids and Sphinxes, our fatherland is not ornamented with palaces of material monuments, but there is something that neither the centuries, nor the elements or the demonic hands of the tyrants could destroy…That unbreakable force is cast in one, sole monument: the folk song, the richest and most valued inheritance left from the previous life and culture of the Macedonians, preserved even to the present day.”
Josif Cheshmedjiev: Prelude to the Collection of Macedonian Folk Songs, printed in Sofia, 1926
CRITICS AND COMMENTS ABOUT “TANEC”
 The first thrill and the first public expression about our national folk values take place at the first international performance of the Ensemble “Tanec” at the one of the most prestigeous festivals-The Festival in Langolen, England, at 1950.After this historical performance and success, the president of the board, professor Teylor, after handing the First Prize to the Ensemble, quoted:
“The macedonian group gave us a clearly rough performance, taken from the deepest of the national cradles, where there was no touch of the artistic individuals, though, the dance itself represents such a subtlety, choreographic reachness, emotional containment and plastic perfection, that any attempt to do something within that dance, only would destroy the ideal harmony between all the elements above.This dance is sheer proof that somewhere there lives a nation with high cultural conscience and all other folk groups that we have seen by now, comparing to them are nothing but beginners and bad stylers.I think that any other comments towards that are needless.”
(Rabotnicko delo, 29-11-1955 Sofia)
A concert of friendship
“Great interest of the audience in the city of Sofia about the performance of the Ensemble Tanec.The hall is full.There is the announcement of the first and the second dance, ”Nevestinsko(bridal dance)” and “Teskoto(the hard dance)”.Gathered in groups of two and three dancers, wearing an old macedonian traditional outfits, slowly and peacefuly young male and female dancers make an appierence on the stage.A soft bridal song commence.The visual image takes us slowly to the ambient of the middle of the village.Eight female dancers start the dance slowly, holding each others hands, they dance softly and easily.The men sing in unison.The crowd applaud.Then, the melody of the zurla starts, the drummer(playing on a tapan) kickstarts the rhythm, the men make a circle, grabing at each others hands and starting to dance “Teskoto”.The frontman is waving the handkerchief, climbs up on the drum and starts to perform a strange interesting movements with one leg high above the knee.Thrillment in the audience.He jumps off the drum and the zurla stars a danceble melody, the dance slowly becomes dynamic, the drum speeds up the rhythm.The frontman is giving great movements and turnovers now, followed by another dancer.They both are performing a dance with a crouching.The others now follow, so the dance now is even more dynamic.They are all dancing originaly, as it had been in the past, in the village-without adding any other elements, without extra styling.With this dance that origins from Western Macedonia, they have managed to gain the first prize at the festival in England, 1950.”
The author of this critic is a Bulgarian choreograher of the Ensemble of folk songs and dances of the Bulgarian Army, H.Conev.
 (Elefeteosos, 24-05-1952, Athens)
“The Ensemble “Tanec” presented a perfect art.Through the colorful costumes, traditional instruments and specific dances, it represented the spirit of the homeland, turning the stage itno eternity, with drama and epic moments and the scent of the freedom and true nature.This night of glitter and beauty has given us a reason once more to remember the saying:-With the nation , you can achieve a glory, without it-nothing”
(Akropolis, 25-05-1952, Athens)
“These days in Athens was performing a great folk group of folk dances and songs.The Ensemble Tanec exceeded all expectations.The ensembles first appearence in the hall “Palace” in Athens was an astonishing artistical event.Tanec appeared in all its beauty and greaceful form, with an utter connection between the music, rhythm and dancing......”
(Ta Nea, 26-05-1952, Athens)
“......the folklorers got what they deserved:a frantic random applause and for us they obtained unexpectable brilliant enjoyment and satisfaction.Fascinating and very disciplined ensemble, technicly perfect, flexible with a strange easiness in the performance.I am imagining them as the show from the prestigeous ballet “Knez Igor” from Borodin.....”
(Macedonia, 04-06-1952, Thessaloniki)
“The audience is thrilled by a great appearence of Tanec.Artistical agenda, rich rhythm and temperamenat in the performance, unmistakable pacing into the highly complicated dance movements, unique scenery for Thessalonikis eyes......”
(Akropolis, 23-05-1952, Athens)
“The concerts of Tanec in Athens represent a first class, artistic event.......”
 (Akropolis, 23-05-1952)
Journalists critic of V.Vasiliku
“The rich choreography remains attached to the authenticle rhythm and traditional steps of these dances, whose music and figure create a priceless inheritance of the national folk soul.Maybe their dances do not contain the harsh finess and sense as a greeks one, but they are inspired by a wonderful elan, which sometimes gives a stunning impression of a natural phenomenon”
(Berlinger Zeitung 18-06-1968, Berlin)
Verner Horvish
“The visit of Tanec in Berlin has shown that macedonian artists trough the dances, songs and instrumental skills keep well the most beautiful treasure of the genuine folk and heritage, on which they are rightfuly very proud.Tanec is presenting mainly the dances from many different parts of the country, that differ one to another.In the basic elements of the dances, many times repeated, at the beggining solemn, at the end dynamicly flexible, many varieties of the choreographical language are visible, in which are present many emotional human subjects of the simple life of the peasants, of the shepards, craftsmen, of the life in the village and gatherings and customs.....the repertoire is something like “live museum” and directly, from it, we are exploring the sources by whom a folk artists create, the national art treasure, in general, that is a help to many musicologists, choreographers and folklorers, along with those one from Tanec, to nurse it and to affirm it”
(Radio Washington)
“Beautiful costumes, great dances and music, with an original characteristic are just a few of the aspects on the repertoire of Tanec, that has totaly enchanted the audience.Whole evening was very well organized and, when the curtain went down, we didnt want it to finish.Tanec appears to be a stunning artistic group that we havent seen by now, group that we would be very happy to see it performing again and again.....”
 (A letter from Paris from the Presedent of the Committee of artistic works of UNESKO, Ms H.Arno)
“In the name of the Committee, please recieve our warm gratitudes about the glorious evening of the songs and dances, that you have performed in the hall of UNESKO.Truely, it is a privilege and rarity to be present on such original performance, that arouses the true fillings with a harmony and entity, with a deepness and purity of the inspiration and with a perfect technique and interpretation.......we have noticed the richness of the outfits, as well, balanced nice rhythm of the instruments handled by a true artists, that managed to pass the true spirit of the highlands to the audience in Paris.Please, be kind to pass on this gratitudes to each member of your group individualy, about our high judgement and sincere thankfulness for the unforgetable evening.With respect H.Arno"
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