Ciprian Mert is a traditional craftsman and educator from Sintești, Timiș County, in Western Romania. He began crafting opinci—traditional Romanian peasant shoes—in 2000, inspired by the need to replace worn footwear used by his local călușari dance group. What started as a necessity soon turned into a passion and vocation. Over time, he refined his technique by learning from the few remaining elderly artisans across the country and by studying old opinci he collected.

Beyond producing custom orders for folk artists and cultural enthusiasts, Mert has participated in numerous national and international folk festivals and fairs in countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Italy. He is also dedicated to teaching the craft to younger generations, and in 2019 one of his students won first place at Romania’s National Folk Craft Olympiad.

In addition to opinci, Ciprian creates handcrafted leather accessories and wood-carved objects, promoting traditional Romanian craftsmanship through his Facebook page, MertCrafts. He co-founded a family museum in 2011, where he exhibits and demonstrates the art of opincărie. Passionate about heritage, Ciprian is ensuring the transmission of these traditions within his community—and proudly, to his two young sons.

The group’s primary goal is to promote and preserve Romanian folk dance, offering the diaspora an opportunity to reconnect with the authentic values of Romanian folklore. Each performance highlights the beauty of traditional costumes, the authenticity of the dance steps, and the unique energy of various folkloric regions of Romania, including Bucovina, Transylvania, Moldova, Muntenia, Oltenia, and Maramureș.

Over more than a decade of activity, the group has participated in numerous cultural events, festivals, and diaspora gatherings, becoming a symbol of Romanian identity preservation across the ocean. Through dance, they express emotion, history, and love for their homeland. The “Bucovina” group is more than just a dance ensemble—it serves as a living bridge between generations and continents.

From the heart of Moldova come two extraordinary souls, united by music and by love—Vasile Chiruță and Alexandra Angheleanu. Deeply rooted in Moldova’s rich cultural tradition, Vasile and Alexandra have shared their passion for music both on stage and in the classroom as teachers.

As performers, they captivate. As educators, they inspire.