On 20 February, the Annual Folklore Awards are given for the second time. They are dedicated to the 120th birth anniversary of legendary folk singer Gyurgya Pindjurova. Under the rules, the event passes in two stages. At the beginning of the year prize holders for lifetime achievement are elected, and by the end of September, the winners by categories will become known. The event is organized by the Descendants of Folklore Fire Association with support from famous Bulgarian musicians and folklorists.
Following online voting the holders of the lifetime achievement awards have already become known. These are leading folk singer Lyubka Rondova and experienced choreographer Radi Radev.
Born in Aegean Macedonia Lyubka Rondova has an amusing life story. The civil war in Greece scattered her family across the world. She lived in Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic. In Prague she graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and Philology of Charles University. Rondova is fluent in several languages. In Bulgaria she came to live with relatives. For many years she worked as philologist of the Gotse Delchev Ensemble, and is one of the group's most celebrated soloists having starred across the world. Lyubka Rondova has also collected a great many folk songs from her native region. She writes music on lyrics by present-day poets.
The other holder of the lifetime award is choreographer Radi Radev. As a young man he was a dancer in various folklore groups. His career at the Filip Koutev State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble started back in 1995 where his professionalism peaked and his remarkable originality showed. He is also the founder of the Shopp Ensemble in Sofia. For that ensemble he has created some of his most famous pieces of choreography.
The Annual Folklore Awards will be given out at a ceremony in Sofia, and one of the most talented students of Lyubka Rondova is going to present songs from her repertoire.
English Daniela Konstantinova
