Tanya Dimitrova has made her childhood dream come true – in the US, and has built upon what she has achieved, yet she has never forgotten her Bulgarian roots. She is a professional dancer and a dedicated choreographer with a love of Bulgarian folklore tradition and dancing which she has conveyed to Bulgarians and Americans alike. The dance group Balkanik, which she founded in Phoenix, Arizona, brings together people of different ages.

“I have always loved Bulgarian folklore dances, all my life. I started dancing when I was a little girl at the chitalishte (community culture club) in the village of Peturch where I was born. And I have never stopped,” says Tanya Dimitrova.

She says she is lucky to have found love with someone who shares the same values and is also fond of Bulgarian folklore. Together with her husband Dimitar Dimitrov they founded a Balkan organization of culture and heritage in Phoenix, with the help of which they organize a Bulgarian Folklore Festival called Tupan Bie (Drum Beating).

“The moment we moved to America with my husband we knew we wanted to keep the Bulgarian spirit alive in the community, here in Phoenix. We founded the Bulgarian dance group Balkanik, but we also wanted a Bulgarian festival – there was no such thing at the time. One of our main aims was to create a festival like the fairs we remember from our childhood, as they are done in Bulgarian villages – getting together to have some fun outdoors, in the park here, with food, with music, with dancing, traditional costumes, i.e. with all of the things that are connected with Bulgarian folklore.”

This year (in October) was the 7^th edition of the Bulgarian festival in Phoenix, it lasted two days, and professional musicians from Bulgaria, dance and folklore groups from 4 different states in the US took part in it. “We had some incredible musicians – professionals who love Bulgaria and who passed this love onto others. We were on stage together for the first time, it was magnificent,” Tanya says.  

“In Phoenix we have a dance group that has been nurturing love of international folklore for over 60 years – Phoenix International Folk Dancers – which I admire very much. I have been invited by them as guest choreographer. Most of the dancers are over 50 and they get together every week to learn Balkan, Bulgarian and international folklore dances. They too took part in the fair and danced Bulgarian horo dances. Watching people who don’t even have Balkan roots dancing to Bulgarian folklore is an incredible thing! With our dance group Balkanik we reenacted a Bulgarian wedding. It was magic!”

Because of her work for preserving Bulgarian culture and traditions, Tanya Dimitrova was among the nominees for the annual awards of the Bulgarian Foundation for Arts, Culture, and Education BGface, the official award ceremony for which was on 1 November, National Awakeners’ Day, in Los Angeles.

“I am so glad there are people who appreciate our work and are ready to continue the mission of Bulgarians living abroad for popularizing the authenticity of our folklore and culture. It is my belief that these are the modern-day awakeners, all of us who, with our love, popularize all things that preserve us as a nation. The bond with Bulgaria is extremely important – for us, so as to keep the emotional connection alive, and for our children.”

Interview by Maria Samichkova

Editing by Elena Karkalanova

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Photos courtesy of Tanya Dimitrova