site.btaPresident Radev Distinguishes US-Based Otets Paisii Folk Dance Ensemble

Head of State Rumen Radev awarded the Otets Paisii folk dance ensemble with the President's Honorary Award for its significant contribution to the preservation and development of Bulgarian folk art, as well as for promoting Bulgarian culture and fostering cultural exchange at the international level. The event took place in Old Nessebar on the Black Sea coast as part of the festive concert ‘The Soul of Bulgaria,’ with which the ensemble celebrated its 70th anniversary.

The Otets Paisii ensemble is the oldest Bulgarian folk ensemble in the United States and operates under the Bulgarian-Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center (BMNECC) based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“For decades, your ensemble has been an integral part of the cultural life of the Bulgarian community in Pittsburgh and the United States. With your performances, you not only revive Bulgarian rhythms, songs and colours, but also build bridges between generations,’ the President said.