site.btaBulgarian Ensembles from Bessarabia Win Prizes at Folklore Festival in Balchik

Bulgarian folk ensembles and Ukrainian vocal ensembles from the town of Reni and the village of Novi Troiani, Bolhrad Region, won prizes at the Sea of Rhythms International Folklore Festival. This was their first participation in it.

The festival was held for the 12th time in a row in the seaside town of Balchik on September 22-25. Around 1,300 performers from 16 Bulgarian regions and from Ukraine took part in the festival.

The jury awarded first and second place in the International Choirs category to the ensembles from the Regional Centre for National Cultures in Reni - Kalina, Roden Krai and Forte. Bulgarian Hearts from Novi Troiani is third. 

In the Under-18 Individual Performers category, 10-year-old Ivan Ivanov from Novi Troiani won first place.

"To us, this is important and exciting," Nina Ivanova, methodologist at the Traditions and Customs Department of the Centre in Reni, told BTA.  

During their visit to Bulgaria, the group of Bessarabian Bulgarians gave concerts in several settlements in Varna Region.