Bulgarian Folk Groups Abroad Mark 10th Anniversary with Sofia Concert
Dancers and singers from Bulgarian communities across 21 countries came together at Joy Station on Saturday, as the Association of Bulgarian Folk Groups Abroad celebrated a decade of promoting Bulgarian culture.
Illustration: AI-generated image
The Association of Bulgarian Folk Groups Abroad (ABFGA) marked its 10th anniversary with a concert at Sofia's Joy Station on Saturday evening, opening with the Bulgarian and European Union anthems. The event, held under the auspices of President Iliana Iotova, brought together dancers and choir performers from Bulgarian communities around the world.
Host Rangel Vangelov welcomed the audience and emphasised the importance of passing Bulgarian traditions between generations, while a congratulatory address from President Iotova praised the association for turning folk groups abroad into centres of cultural life and continuity.
Bulgarian News Agency Director General Kiril Valchev suggested that folk groups abroad could teach Bulgarians at home three lessons: how to love Bulgaria through their work, how to live in harmony, and how to present the country abroad with dignity. He also called for a unified Bulgarian cultural institute and better support for citizenship procedures for people of Bulgarian origin.
Bulgarian National Television Director General Milena Milotinova announced that BNT is exploring ways to turn its BNT 4 channel into a two-way platform, giving greater visibility to the lives and achievements of Bulgarian communities overseas.
The concert featured several international ensembles, including Mladost na Megdana, which brings together dancers aged 15 to 25 from 19 folk groups in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands; Gurbetchii, with 55 dancers from more than 25 ensembles across Europe and the US; and the Pastra Kitka Folk Choir, uniting seven choral groups. After the formal programme, the audience was invited to join a communal horo dance.
The anniversary celebration was part of the fifth creative meeting of leaders of Bulgarian folk groups abroad, held from 6 to 8 November at Park Hotel Moskva in Sofia and dedicated to the Shopluk folk region. Discussions covered funding, support and partnerships, with several speakers calling for a dedicated programme to fund Bulgarian cultural associations abroad. Founded in 2016, the ABFGA now brings together 80 folk groups and organisations in 21 countries and 65 cities.
