site.btaHorze Folk Dance Group from Cologne to Perform Folk Wedding Dance at 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance Festival

The Horze Folk Dance Group in Cologne, Germany, will perform a dance called Wedding at the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling folklore festival, which will take place from May 15 to 17 at BMW Park in Munich, Germany.

“We chose this theme because this year’s festival is dedicated to love. The Bulgarian wedding is one of the most vivid expressions of love and family in our traditions. It is a celebration that brings people together and is filled with music, dance, emotion, and festive spirit,” Rostislava Dimova, head of the dance group, told BTA.

“Through this dance, we aim to recreate part of that atmosphere and the joy that accompanies the beginning of a new family,” she emphasized, adding that the choreography is structured as a short stage narrative that blends theatrical elements with dance. The music draws on Bulgarian folk wedding motifs, which enhance the festive atmosphere of the entire performance, Dimova noted.

“Our message is simple: to show that Bulgarian traditions remain alive even far from Bulgaria. Through dance, we want to share the joy of coming together, dancing, and preserving our connection to our roots. We hope the audience will feel the energy and atmosphere of a Bulgarian wedding and, if only for a few minutes, be transported into this festive world,” Dimova said.

“For us, participating in the festival is a great source of motivation, as it gives us the opportunity to meet many other Bulgarian dance groups and share our love of folklore,” she said.

The Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival is organized by and for amateur folklore ensembles performing outside Bulgaria. The initiative was launched by the Ot Izvora group in Lyon, France, which hosted both the first edition in 2015 and the tenth edition in 2025. More than 100 dance ensembles and over 4,000 guests are expected at the 11th edition in Munich in May. The Bulgarian News Agency is the official media partner of the event and will present all participants.