site.btaLyon-based Ot Izvora Troupe to Premiere New Dance in Munich

The Bulgarian dance troupe Ot Izvora, based in Lyon, France, which hosted the 10th edition of the Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival in 2025, will premiere the dance "Koga Ralena Sartse Dade" during this year's event, to be held in Munich on May 15-17, the troupe's director Anita Ekenova told BTA.

"This is a long-awaited meeting for all festival participants! This year it takes us to Munich, the heart of Bavaria, where our friends from the Lazarka Ensemble will host the festival for the first time," she said.

Ekenova said the festival's theme, "Libe Le, Libe Hubavo", will fill the stage with stories of love, longing and human warmth.

"Every new theme is a challenge for Ot Izvora," Ekenova said. The new dance, "Koga Ralena Sartse Dade", will have its premiere in Munich. The choreography is by Borislav Mutafchiyski, the music is by Nikola Vuchkov and Boyan Nankov, and the costumes were created by Magdalena Petrova from Bulgarska Shevitsa in Dobrich.

The dance tells the story of love that arrives unexpectedly - quiet, pure and genuine. Amid the rhythms of the Shopluk region, songs, labour and the village square, two young people confess their love to each other. But will their love withstand social prejudice? Will they find the strength to preserve it when it seems the whole world is against them?" Ekenova said.

"This production is about the power of love and human fidelity. This is a dance about the strength to stay by the person you love, and about true love being the greatest wealth," the troupe's leader said.

Ot Izvora was founded in Lyon in 2011. The troupe's main objective is the promotion and dissemination of Bulgarian folk songs, dances, traditions and folk art.

In 2015, the travelling festival was launched on Ekenova's initiative. It is hosted annually by a Bulgarian troupe in a different European country.

On June 6-8, 2025, Lyon hosted the 10th festival, organized by Ot Izvora. More than 100 Bulgarian folk dance and singing troupes from 18 countries performed on stage.

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.