Esther Willems from the Netherlands continues to attract people from different cities and nationalities to her club for Bulgarian folk dances, established in The Hague and named "Zora". It was founded in 2017 and then 13 people were part of it, but now the number has reached 50. Willems defines the past season 2023-2024 as the most successful so far. Her group participated in a number of stage performances and gatherings in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.
In addition to learning Bulgarian folk dances, the formation organizes competitions between various Dutch groups, as well as games in which participants' knowledge of Bulgarian traditions and folklore is tested.
Listen to more details about Esther Willems' life and her love for Bulgaria in an interview with Radio Bulgaria:
Photos: Zora Folk Dance Group
On Christmas morning the glad tidings have spread that the Son of God was born, making it a special day celebrated with a lot of festive rituals. After Christmas Eve, when families get together for a festive meal, comes Christmas. On 25 December the..
Christmas Eve, once called Budnik, Little Christmas or Neyadka, was considered part of a dark, frightening period, charged with the potential to influence the entire upcoming year. For this reason, the night before Christmas was associated with..
It's Ignazhden! On St Ignatius' Day, 20 December, we honour the memory of St Ignatius the Theophorus. In the Bulgarian calendar St Ignatius' Day (Ignazhden) is not only a religious but also a folklore holiday. According to national tradition, it is..
Mostly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
Cloudy