Abdal is a dance for both men and women from the village of Gradets in the Vidin area of Northwest Bulgaria. Presented in 2008 by Daniela Ivanova. View the pdf here.
Alulenu from Vrav
Alulenu from Vrav is a dance for both men and women from the village of Vrav in Northwest Bulgaria, (the Vidin–Danube river area). “Alunelu” is a Vlach word that means “hazelnut.” The dance is performed with instrumental accompaniment. The dance pattern includes 4 figures. Presented in 2008 by Daniela Ivanova. View the pdf here.
Bugarka
Bugarka is a dance for both men and women from the village of Zhagubitsa in Northeast Serbia, Vlach area. The dance is performed with instrumental accompaniment. The dance pattern includes 4 figures.
Presented in 2008 by Daniela Ivanova. View the pdf here.
Ginka
This is a dance performed to the popular Pirin Macedonian song “Mitro le, Mitro” (Southwest Bulgaria). When performed by men only, this dance is danced with high jumps. The dance pattern includes 1 figure.
Pronunciation: GIHN-kah
Music: From Bulgaria and Beyond CD, Band 6. 7/8 meter (SQQ)
Formation: Open circle; hands joined in V-pos, facing LOD.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2008. View pdf here.
Kremikovsko
This is a dance for both men and women from the Shopluk Region (Sofia area) in West-central Bulgaria.
Pronunciation: kreh-mee-KOHV-skoh
CD: Ya si te daruvam (I give you my heart). Band 17. 2/4 meter
Formation: Open circle; belt hold.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2008. View pdf here.
Mandrile
This is a dance performed mainly by women from the village of Vrav in Northwest Bulgaria, the Vidin–Danube river area. “Mandrile” is Vlach word that means “beauty.” The dance is performed with instrumental accompaniment. The dance pattern is symmetrical: 8 measures to the right, 8 measures to the left.
Pronunciation: MUHN-dreh-leh
Music: Ya si te daruvam surtseto, dushata CD (I Give You My Heart, 5/8 meter, counted QS My Soul) Songs & Dances from Bulgaria, Macedonia, & Serbia. Band 6. Dances from Serbia & Northwest Bulgaria. Band 3.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2008. View pdf here.
Mariikinata
This is a dance choreographed to accompany the popular Macedonian song (“Mama na Mariika Dumashe”) based on a traditional dance pattern from Pirin Macedonia known as Deninka. The dance here is performed both by men and women, and with vocal and instrumental accompaniment. The dance pattern includes 3 figures.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2008. View pdf here.
Pirinska Chetvorka
This dance pattern from Pirin Mountain folklore region (southwest Bulgaria) is known under different names and there is not one particular song to accompany the dance. In this instances, the popular Pirin song “Kalino Kalinche” was chosen. . The dance is for men and women and includes one figure in 8 measures.
Pronunciation: pee-RIHN-skah cheht-VOHR-kah
Music: From Bulgaria and Beyond 2007 CD, Band 7. 7/8 meter (SQQ)
Formation: Open circle; hands joined in V-pos, facing LOD.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2008. View pdf here.
Shalauna
This is a Vlach dance for both men and women from the village of Lazour in northwest Bulgaria, the Danube river area. The dance is performed with instrumental accompaniment. The dance figure includes one basic symmetrical dance pattern which could have one or more variations.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2008. View pdf here.
Smilyana
Daniela choreographed Smilyana using the melody from the repertoire of a famous Bulgarian
singer, Lubka Rondova, and the melody was composed by the singer’s mother. The music is
arranged by Vladimir Mollov. This a song between a daughter and her mother. The daughter
will be married the next day and she asks her mother to come comb her hair and prepare her for
the wedding, because her new relatives and will come the next day and take her with them.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2008. View pdf here.
Angelovata
This is a dance from Gorna Lipnitsa (North Bulgaria). It is a dance for both men and women, holding palms in a circle. The performers are randomly arranged – no pattern is followed (man, woman, man, etc). Men dance with a rather characteristic “jumpy” fashion compared to women, and particularly the squats which - depending on the mood - are performed in a variety of ways.
Presented by Daniela Ivanova in 2005. View pdf here.
