Battle of Carnival Bands 2011

The Battle Parade starts at 6pm at Østerågade and proceeds to the city park, Kildeparken, where each group performs an individual show on stage. Please find the map of the parade route here.

Admission to Kildeparken is 30 DKK.

The competition

You can expect a spectacular event - and even more so because the carnival groups are judged during both the parade and their stage shows, and the so the game is on! The groups compete all day to win the title "Best Carnival Group of the Year". The top 5 groups proceed to the Grand Finale- show of the Battle, which takes place in Kildeparken on Saturday right after the Grand Parade. The winning group is awarded 10,000 DKK and a wooden carnival mask, by the Danish designer, Kirsten Gitz-Johansen.
Moreover, the carnival groups compete over being your favourit group as well! Choose your very own favorite carnival group(s) and vote for your top one(s) via SMS! The winner of the title "Favorite Carnival Group of the Public" is awarded 5,000 DKK.


Additionally, the Battle of Carnival Bands comprises another highlight - a highlight enabling the grand festivity of Aalborg Carnival: the Mayor of Aalborg presents the King of Carnival with the city key – the key to this insane moment symbolizes a time where everything is turned upside down – allowing the elected King of Carnival to take over the management of the city for this Saturday in May.
 

Carnival Mask
The winning group of the battle contest is awarded 10,000 DKK and a wooden carnival mask from the Danish designer, Kirsten Gitz.

Kirsten Gitz and the Carnival Mask of 2011

Alkoholdet (Denmark)
Alkoholdet is a group from Aalborg, who has been participating in the carnival for the past 13 years. They don't take part in the competition.

www.alkoholdet.dk
alkoholdet on youtube.com

Aquarela de Paris (France)
Founded 23 years ago, Aquarela is one of the oldest samba schools in France. The group consists of 40 musicians and dancers and is inspired by the Carnival in Rio . Aquarela participates in carnivals all around Europe and Brazil.

www. aquareladeparis.com

De Sjatrellen (Belgium)
De Sjattrellen is a Belgian group from Aalst. The group was founded in 1982 and takes part in the Carnival in Aalst.

www.sjattrellen.com

Dolna Sekirna (Bulgaria)
The group "Dolna Sekirna" represents the authentic folklore masquerade tradition in Bulgaria.
The masquerade games celebrate the awakening of nature. Their symbols are designed to chase away evil spirits and prepare nature for rebirth. The participants represent a mystical theater of rhythm, sound and color. Their masks are impressive and their costumes are very original. They fill the air with the sounds of bells, songs and wishes. The masks from the region of Pernik are made of sheep- and goat wool, feathers from domestic birds, horns, corn and leaves. The masks resemble the heads of fearful creatures and animals with scary faces.

Drachen Tänzer (Germany)
Drachen Tänzer is a German group, founded by the artist Bettina Eichblatt and her company Oakleaf Creativity.
www.oakleaf-creativity.de/

Dunkelfolket (Denmark)
The Danish group, 'Dunkelfolket from Fosdalen' have a special connection to the Carnival in Aalborg: on several occasions, Dunkelfolket have joined, when the organization Carnival in Aalborg has visited other carnivals around the world. Dunkelfolket also take an active part in almost all of Carnival in Aalborg´s activities.
Dunkelfolket is a group of masked dancers who shock and amuse the spectators. Every single mask is carved from one piece of wood and has its own distinct expression and personality.

www.dunkelfolket.dk

Club Carneval (Denmark)
2010 was the third year for Club Carnival to participate in the Carnival in Aalborg. The group's dream is to make the Carnival even more spectacular and to enduce more people to play alnorg in huge costumes and wagons.
Club Carnival does not participate in the Battle of Carnival Bands.

Mandinga Arts (England)
Mandinga Arts is owned by the British-Columbian couple Charles Beauchamp and Julieta Rubio. Through the past 20 years, they have been working with carnival costumes, floats, face painting, masks, workshops and much more.
In the Carnival in Aalborg, they will perform with students from Hasseris Gymnasium

www.mandingaarts.co.uk

Poco Loco (Denmark)
Poco Loco is a samba school from Aalborg with very beautiful costumes and lively rhythms. The group derives from the Carnival in Aalborg and has developed into a professionally working samba school. Poco Loco has also participated in other carnivals and 'encuentros' all over Europe. They won the the Battle of Carnival Bands in both 1998 and 2000. Poco Loco always play a prominent part in the Carnival in Aalborg. In 2002 they won the 4th price, in 2003 the 3rd price and in 2004, 2005 and 2006 they came in 2nd.
wwww.pocoloco.dk

Rampage Carnival Club (England)
Rampage is one of the first Mas Bands in Europe, founded in 1988. The band is inspired by the West-Indian carnival tradition. Rampage is very active in especially British carnivals, where they participate in about 15 a year, but you can also experience them at other carnivals around Europe. Their motto is "Pure Energy in Motion" - so you can look forward to experiencing their pure energy in the Carnival in Aalborg.

www.rampagemasband.com

Stelzen-Art (Germany)
Stelzen-Art is a stilts group from Germany, who performs their show in fantastic costumes and on stilts. The group represents figures from fauna, flora and fantasy worlds.

www.stelzen-art.eu

Vimoroz (Denmark)
The group was founded in 1996 and originally wanted to introduce more life to the Grand Parade of Carnival in Aalborg and so far, they have been successful!
Vimoroz is partly inspired by Cuba and Denmark, but is rooted in the musical culture of Ghana. Many of the members of the group have been in Ghana, and Vimoroz receive instructions from musicians from Ghana. As such, the group has made close contacts with African musicians and dancers over the years. Also the greater part of instruments and costumes are produced in Ghana.
www.vimoroz.dk