The National School of Dance Art is to mark its 65th anniversary soon. Lecturers and pupils have prepared a series of events to mark this anniversary. Director of the National School of Dance Art Boyko Nedelchev told Radio Bulgaria details:

“First of all, we must note that the National School of Dance Art provides opportunities for education in the field of classical ballet, modern dance and Bulgarian folklore dance. This is the only educational institution of such a large scale in Bulgaria and the whole Balkan region, too. In 2016 we mark 65 years since the foundation of that school. We also mark other important dates such as the 100th birth anniversary of renowned Bulgarian folklorist and choreographer Margarita Dikova and the 90th birth anniversary of Kiril Haralampiev who was among the founders of the Bulgarian Folk Dance major. We have prepared six concerts which will be dedicated to these anniversaries. Meanwhile, we also mark various feasts with the concerts. We start on December 7 with a concert program performed by the alumni of the three majors. On December 8 we are to make a folklore show. Our festive programs are rich and interesting. Our next events will be held in 2016. In April next year we are to mark the World Dance Day. On May 9, 2016, we will pay tribute to Margarita Dikova and Kiril Haralampiev. The festive cycle ends on June 1, The International Children’s Day with a big concert in Hall No 1 at the National Palace of Culture. The event will be held under the auspices of UNESCO.”

The activities of the National School of Dance Art are entirely in support of the World Organization for Culture, Science, Education and Communication with the United Nations. Mr. Nedelchev also told Radio Bulgaria that the National School of Dance Art was the first Bulgarian art school which joined the UNESCO network of schools in 2015. More facts from the history of the National School of Dance Art:

“The National School of Dance Art was founded on February 5, 1951”, Boyko Nedelchev went on to say. “Many colleagues have contributed to the establishment of that school. The doyen of the professional Bulgarian ballet Anastas Petrov was among the most active Bulgarians who contributed to the school’s foundation. He had been writing letters to the cabinet of that time, insisting that the Bulgarian authorities had to support such initiative. Celebrated Russian ballet pedagogue Vladimir Beliy played a key role to the establishment of the National School of Dance Art. He wrote a letter to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture, which read that a country with ancient history should have by all means a ballet school. Thus, the first Bulgarian ballet school was founded. Five years later, thanks to the efforts of Kiril Haralampiev and other renowned Bulgarian choreographers, the folklore major was opened in 1956. Today many Bulgarian pupils study folklore dances and the school folklore ensemble is the best and youngest formation in Bulgaria.”

The Christmas concerts which are to mark the 65th anniversary of the National School of Dance Art will be held on the stage of the National Opera and Ballet in Sofia.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov