site.btaVeselie Folk Group from Valencia to Present Shoppe Suite in Munich

The Veselie folk group from Valencia, Spain, will present Shoppe Suite - Love, Longing and Joy on the Village Square at the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival, which will take place in Munich from May 15 to 17.  

The group leader Martina Rangelova said that the dance is from the Shoppe folklore region in Bulgaria, adapted especially for the festival and telling the story of a budding love between a young man and a young woman, filled with emotion, dynamics and joy. According to her, the choreography is by Mincho Raikov, while the theatrical part and adaptation of the dance to the festival theme were further developed by her with the participation of the entire ensemble.

"With this performance, we want to show the beauty of Bulgarian folklore and convey to the audience the emotion, energy and spirit of the village square," Rangelova added.

She said the formation currently includes around 20 dancers, all over the age of 18.

"From this year, our children have also started showing interest and curiosity towards our wonderful folklore, and more and more often the little ones aged between two and 11 join the lines during rehearsals," she added.

Rangelova also spoke about the formation’s role as host of the festival in Gandia in 2017.

"It was an unforgettable experience that showed us how strongly folklore connects us, even far away from Bulgaria. The emotion of hosting an event that unites Bulgarians abroad around a common mission is indescribable," she said.

According to her, the Veselie folk formation was established in 2009 with the aim of preserving and promoting Bulgarian traditions abroad. "The founder, choreographer and artistic director of the group until 2023 was Mincho Raikov," she specified.

Rangelova said that over the years the formation has participated in numerous concerts and festivals in various European countries.

"After a well-deserved break of nearly two years, in the autumn of 2024 Veselie returned to the stage under my leadership. With teamwork, great enthusiasm and renewed energy, we are working on the group’s rich repertoire developed over the years," she added.

The travelling festival Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance 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 (BTA) is the official media partner of the event and will present all participants.