The Nayden Kirov Folklore Dance Ensemble was founded 55 years ago in Rousse on the Danube. The prestigious formation is marking its anniversary with a string of events called “Living tradition”.

The folklore dance theatre was created in 1960 by foremost Bulgarian choreographer Ivan Donev who went on to be its artistic director and occupied the position for the rest of his life. He was succeeded as artistic director by his son, Kamen Donev, a famous actor and former ensemble member. The folklore theatre comprises several different formations – a concert dance company, a women’s folk choir, a children’s choir and a professional folklore orchestra.

The folklore theatre’s popularity has gone beyond the country’s borders. It has guest performed across Europe – in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, it has also been actively involved in the cultural life of the city and the towns and villages nearby.

Nayden Kirov, whom the ensemble was named after was a prominent lawyer, intellectual and patriot who was killed in the 1878 Russo-Turkish war of liberation. Many years ago a factory in Rousse was named after him and this

Today choreographers of the Nayden Kirov Ensemble are Moniela Dobreva and Radko Prokopiev. Bogdan Donev is its chief choreographer. Here is more from him about the events marking the ensemble’s 55^th anniversary:

“We started the year with a show - a blend of dance and theatre - we are staging together with the Sava Ognyanov Drama Theatre in Rousse, based on Yordan Yovkov’s novel Shibil. It is produced by Orlin Dyakov, who is the theatre’s director and I am choreographer. The two companies work in sync with the dancers acting and the actors – dancing. For my part, that was a tough job. The dancing takes up around 40 minutes of the show and it closely follows the storyline. In mid-June we had three concerts to officially mark our anniversary. Alongside the traditional repertoire we presented three new dances and one vocal instrumental piece. Going back in time it would be very difficult to even make mention of the highlights in the history of the Folklore Dance Theatre. But what I would like to lay emphasis on is the enormous contribution of Ivan Donev who built and developed the ensemble and then took it up to a level we are now endeavouring to live up to. I have been with the ensemble since 1991, I worked as Mr. Donev’s assistant from 2001 until 2011 and I have learnt a great deal from him. A foremost name in culture, Ivan Donev’s creative potential knew no bounds. We are now adding new works to the shows he mounted.”

After taking part in a series of cultural events in Rousse, the Nayden Kirov Folklore Dance Ensemble is leaving on a tour of Belgium.

English version: Milena Daynova

Photos: private archive