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
The Surva festival begins with the lighting of bonfires and mummers dancing the horo chain danie around the fires on the night of January 13-14. The power and timelessness of the masquerade tradition has led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage..
Mummers from the neighborhoods of Bulgaria's town of Blagoevgrad, the neighboring villages and guests from Petrich paraded at a carnival in the regional town, as the sounds of hundreds of bells filled the town. For yet another year, the Mummers'..
For more than 20 years in the city of Montana, there has been a tradition on January 6 for people to go to Montanenzium Park, where there is an artificial lake, suitable for conducting the Orthodox Christian ritual called "Saving the Holy Cross" on the..
Halva, this sweet temptation with an oriental twist, is a welcome delicacy on the Bulgarian table, especially on holidays. Judging by the descriptions of..
Partly Cloudy
Mostly Cloudy
Cloudy