Dances

In the ensemble’s repertoire are selected and arranged customs and folk dances from all the ethnographic regions of Bulgaria, which makes its concerts especially colorful and glamorous. The full program of around 2 hours includes more than 10 dances – lyrical, playful, and ritual. The most of the dances are part of the golden heritage of the Bulgarian folk choreography. The most part of the dances are arranged by Kiril Chirpanliev – art manager of the ensemble for long years. Each dance is specific for its atmosphere created by original dance motions, costumes and music, typical for each ethnographic region.

AT THIS MOMENT THE ENSEMBLE PERFORMS:


PRE-WEDDING THRACIAN SIFTING

The dance was created on one of the most popular wedding customs – “zasevki” – a pre-wedding ritual for kneading the ritual bread. Here has been used folklore material of the Thracian Region. The wedding rituals start from the moment the bride sifted flour in her new home under the watchful eye of the mother-in-law. The dance was created in 1968.

Choreography – Metody Koutev;
Music – Angel Lozanov

trakiiski-zasevki-2013


MEN’S DANCE FROM PIRIN REGION

For the dance are used some of the most popular Pirin dances performed in accompaniment of specific instruments – zurna from Petrich Region. It was created in 2008.

Choreography – Yordan Nikolov;
Music – Folklore.

Pirinski


GIRL FEAST IN SHOPLUKA 

The dance is based on folk tradition – “Dunking of the Rings”, celebrated on Vasiliovden, in which the girls label their bunch to the men and try to predict their future husband. This dance is also part of our golden folk heritage – created in 1968 by the famous director of the Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Bulgarian National Army – Metody Koutev.

Choreography – Metody Koutev;
Music – Atanas Valtchev.

Shopski


ERKECHKI DANCES

The dance is composed by folklore elements from Middle Eastern Bulgaria, using the moments of the ritual “lazaruvane” – a pagan ceremony in terms of regeneration and rebirth of the nature in the spring. It is extremely interesting as symbolism, dance moves, music, costumes. We perform this dance with a replica of the oldest known specimen of Bulgarian costume dating from 500 years ago. The dance is part of the golden heritage of Bulgarian stage dance art, choreography by one of the founders and longtime director of the National Folklore Ensemble “Philip Koutev” – Margarita Dikova.

Choreography – Margarita Dikova;
Music – Michail Yordanov.

erek4i-2013


ЕНЬОВА БУЛЯ

There is a Bulgarian custom at midsummer, called “Enyo’s day” when girls go out in the fields to gather herbs. Popular belief is that in midsummer, herbs have the greatest healing power. The collected flowers are being twisted in wreaths, which the girls carry home after the youngest of them has danced to send out the poisonous herb and remain only their magical healing power.

Choreography – Metodi Koutev;
Music – Stephan Kanev.

The dance is described in 1967 г.

eb


KUDI
At Christmas in Bulgaria the young man go from house to house singing and dancing to the house owners for health, prosperity and good luck. If the group did not visit someone’s home, it meant that its owner was not a good person. So for every house owner it has been an honor to meet Kudi in his home and he gave them bread and wine. For this folk dance has been used material from Sliven and Yambol Regions. Created in 1988.

Choreography – Kiril Chirpanliev;
Music – Kiril Vladov.

kudi


ON THE FIELDS OF DOBRUDGA

In this dance has been embodied Dobrudga Region – the work in the field during the year – sowing, growing and ripening of corn, harvest, threshing, the delight of a good harvest. It is impossible to retell this dance, its idea, the mood it brings are unique and unforgettable. Everyone who has ever had the pleasure of watching “On the fields of Dobrudga” has experienced incredible satisfaction, and for us, the dancers, it remains the eternal challenge. It was created in the period 1962-1964 of the last century, it remains unrivalled work in Bulgarian stage dance art.

Choreography – Metodys Koutev;
Music – Angel Lozanov.

Dobrudja


ORATNITZI
For basis of this dance have been used the folk custom of Sirni Zagovezni – the lighting of fires, turning of torches for health and purification from evil forces. For this dance was used material from northern Bulgaria. It was created in the period 1982 – 1984.

Choreography – Kiril Chirpanliev;
Music – Jordan Draganov.

oratnici


BUTTERFLY
The custom is related with the folklore tradition of praying for rain and has been performed during the summer drought. The girls, led by the “butterfly” go oround the village, adorned with greenery, dancing and singing typical ritual songs. Created in 1985.

Choreography – Kiril Chirpanliev;
Music – Kiril Vladov.

Peperuda


TRIFON ZAREZAN

The dance represents the folklore rituals on the occasion of the feast of St. Trifon. It is one of the first works of Metodi Koutev, created in the early 60s of the last century.

Choreography – Metodi Koutev;
Music – Angel Lozanov.

trifon-zarezan


YOUTH

In this dance are included youth jokes and dances from Shopluka – the region near Sofia. There is no dancer of “Balkan”, which has not started with this dance, provoking sentiment and emotion in each performer and the audience. It can also be called the “bussiness card” of “Balkan”. It was created in the period 1980-1982.

Choreography – Kiril Chirpanliev;
Music – Jordan Draganov.

mladost


NORTHERN DANCE

This is a joyful and emotional dance, which includes popular folklore tunes from northwestern Bulgaria. It was created in 1984.

Choreography – Kiril Chirpanliev;
Music – George Staikov. 

Severniashki


MISUNDERSTANDING

A husband, who walked towards the vineyard ran across the raillery between two young people. An ordinary life situation has formed the basis for the creation of this comic chamber dance..

Choreography – Kiril Chirpanliev;
Music – Jordan Draganov. 

Nedorazumenie


MADCAP

In Bulgarian folklore the maiden bunch of flowers has very important symbolic meaning. If a girl gives it to some boy it means that she promises to marry him. In our dance a girl gives her bunch and gives up her maidenhood after wildly dancing.

Choreography – Julia Stoichkova;
Music – Folklore.

Ludetina


RODOPSKI DANCE

In this dance are included motives from the celebration of St. Peter in the Rhodope Mountains. The incredible sound of bagpipes and Rhodope song, also the specifics of the Rhodope people make this dance different and give it a place in our program. It was created in 2006.

Choreography – Kiril Chirpanliev;
Music – Peter Doychev.

rodopski


 “SHOPSKI LAZARKI” – Lazarus day is a Christian holiday that bears the name of St. Lazarus. The name Lazarus is a symbol of health and long life. Lazarus day   is celebrated on the eighth day before Orthodox Easter, always on Saturday. On this day in Bulgaria the custom Lazaruvane is traditionally followed by young girls called “lazarki”. They go around the village houses dancing, singing and do ritual blessings for health, happiness and prosperity. In the past it was believe that the girl who hasn’t taken part in Lazaruvane, couldn’t get married. Therefore, it was necessary every girl from the village to perform this ritual at least once in her maidenhood.

Choreography – Kiril Djenev;
Music – народна

lazarski

Over the years Ensemble “Balkan” has also performed “Midsummer bride” and “Spring Games from Ludogorie” of Metody of Koutev, “Dolls” and “Wild Youngsters” of Margarita Dikova, “By the river” of Angel Dimitrov, “Kopanitsa” and “Female Dance from Varna Region”of Kiril Chirpanliev.