site.btaAssociation of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad Honours Groups on 2025 Anniversaries

The Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad (ABFEA) awarded certificates and plaques to dance and singing groups celebrating 5, 10, or 15 years since their founding in 2025. The official award ceremony took place in Sofia during the fourth meeting of the leaders of Bulgarian folklore ensembles abroad.

“Behind every anniversary stand countless rehearsals, kilometers of travel, stages, emotions, friendships, and above all love for Bulgaria,” said ABFEA Chair Radoslava Nedyalkova.

Certificates were presented to folklore groups established in 2020: the Samodeitsi Folk Dance Group from Guildford, United Kingdom, the Nestinari Bulgarian Folk Dance Club from Berlin, Germany, the Nashenzi Folklore Group from San Bonifacio, Italy, and the Lev Ensemble from Rome and Colleferro, Italy.

Plaques for their contribution to the development of Bulgarian folklore around the world were awarded to the leaders of groups founded in 2015: the Sovatchii Folklore Ensemble from Limassol, Cyprus. the Rozhen Folklore Club from Philadelphia, US, the Nashenki Choir from Milan, Italy, and the Folklore Magic Ensemble from London, United Kingdom.

The Bulgarian Dance Group Dilmana from Copenhagen, and the Bulgarian Folklore Club Vereya from Chicago were honored with special golden plaques. Both ensembles celebrated their 15th anniversaries in 2025.

The Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad also presented two special awards to organizers of notable folklore events held in 2025. The first went to Anita Ekenova from Lyon, France, initiator and organizer of both the first and tenth editions of the traveling folklore festival “Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance” (Na Megdana). The second was awarded to Nikolay Stoyanov from Copenhagen, director of the First Festival of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad, which took place in July in Veliko Tarnovo.