site.btaKanatitsa Folk Singing Group from Italy to Perform at Munich Festival

The Bulgarian folk singing group Kanatitsa from San Bonifacio, Italy, will take part in the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival, which will be held in Munich from May 15 to 17.

Kanatitsa will present the musical programme “From the Village Square to the Heart” – a journey through the Bulgarian spirit recreated through song and shared experience, the group’s music teacher Vanya Parizova told BTA.

“Only a few months ago, we founded the singing group after the members had been dancing since 2020 with choreographer Kalinka Georgieva and director Tanya Mladenova at the Association for Bulgarian Culture in San Bonifacio,” Parizova said.

According to her, the name Kanatitsa was carefully chosen. “It is one of the strongest Bulgarian embroidery symbols – a sign of protection, journey and connection between generations. For us, it embodies exactly what we do – bringing people together, creating bonds and keeping tradition alive, even far from Bulgaria,” she explained.

Parizova said she had been particularly inspired by the enthusiasm of the men in the group. “I saw potential and we created a male folk formation, which will open our performance,” she noted. Kanatitsa will recreate a “familiar and beloved scene” – men descending from the Balkan Mountains, dressed in traditional wool cloaks and gathered around a table, singing from the soul, while the women arrive carrying warmth and life, gradually joining in the song.

She explained that the group was formed naturally. “Last year, some of the participants joined the Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance as part of the Nashenki choir performance. It was then that they realized that, besides dancing, they also had the potential to sing,” she said. “Their enthusiasm and desire inspired me, and from September we began active rehearsals. In a very short time, a close-knit group was formed, united by love for folklore,” Parizova added.

According to her, this is more than preparation for a performance. “This is dedication. I am truly amazed by their commitment, attention to detail and the love with which they create every part of their appearance. And the most beautiful part... you will see on our aprons,” she said.

Kanatitsa currently includes around five men and 13 women, with interest in the group continuing to grow and more people wishing to join. The participants range in age from 14 to 65 – “a true combination of generations united by one shared love,” Parizova said.

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.