Ethno Slava at the Grand Gypsy Ball in Paris
On July 5, 2026, Ethno Slava participated in the Grand Gypsy Ball in Paris, on the forecourt of the Palais de la Porte Dorée. Invited by DJ Tagada, I presented a selection of crafts from the Balkans and Eastern Europe during a sunny day filled with Balkan music, dancing, singing, and encounters.
This new participation naturally extended my presence a few weeks earlier at the Gypsy Spring on May 7, 2026, at Point Fort in Aubervilliers.
A day to the rhythm of the Balkans
The Grand Gypsy Ball took place at Les Lionnes, the summer terrace set up on the forecourt of the Palais de la Porte Dorée.
In a festive yet relaxed atmosphere, activities followed one another throughout the day: dance classes, singing workshops, a concert, and then a DJ set by DJ Tagada. Between two musical events, everyone could also simply enjoy the venue, have a drink, eat, or chat around the tables and various outdoor spaces.
Under the early July sun, music, dance, and conviviality gave the place a particularly pleasant atmosphere.
Crafts from the Balkans and Eastern Europe
Amidst this musical and cultural program, the Ethno Slava stand allowed visitors to discover another facet of these regions: that of their artisanal know-how.
Serbian craftsmanship held an important place, notably with felt wool slippers, jewelry, and various textile creations like knitted mittens and hats. Alongside them were also presented Montenegrin kilims, Romanian ceramics from Corund, small decorative boxes made in Ukraine, and t-shirts adorned with Hungarian embroidery, as well as
These objects come from different regions and traditions, but their presence side by side precisely corresponds to Ethno Slava's project: to promote artisanal creations from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as the techniques, motifs, and cultures to which they are linked.
Encounters at the Ethno Slava stand
What I especially remember from that day are the very pleasant and enriching exchanges with visitors.
Visitors were able to observe the materials, take the time to look at the details of an embroidery, a weaving, or a painted object, but also ask questions about their origin and manufacture.
These encounters are also an opportunity to talk about the artisans I work with, the regions from which the objects come, and certain traditions that continue to inspire their work.
Dance, songs, and Grand Gypsy Ball
The day also gave ample space to the transmission of traditions.
It began with a dance class with Ana Talabard, followed by a workshop on Balkan songs led by Stefka Miteva. The Balkan East Female Amateur Choir, Djam Orkestar, and then DJ Tagada accompanied the audience until the evening.
Dance, song, music, and crafts thus came together in the same place, with different ways of discovering cultures that remain very much alive beyond their regions of origin.
It is also in this type of event that Ethno Slava naturally finds its place: not only by presenting objects, but by allowing them to be placed in a broader cultural environment, in contact with the public.
Thank you to DJ Tagada for his invitation, as well as to all the people who came to discover the stand, chat, and share this very pleasant moment.
