The dance ensembles “Shevitsa” from Essen, Germany, and “Mila Rodina” from Krefeld, Germany, will collaborate for their first joint performance at the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival. This event is scheduled to take place from May 15 to May 17 at the BMW Park in Munich. The collaboration, operating under the name “Shevitsi from Mila Rodina,” is rooted in a mutual commitment to preserving and promoting Bulgarian culture through dance.
According to the group’s leader, Ivandzhelin Ivanova, the partnership aims to showcase Bulgarian folklore abroad. The performance piece will feature the dance “Shopska Zakachka” (“Shopi tease”), choreographed by Iliya Petkov. This routine draws inspiration from the traditional dances of the Shopluk folklore region, aiming to recreate the energetic spirit and playful exchanges characteristic of village celebrations.
The participating groups comprise 22 dancers, with ages ranging from 14 to over 60. Several members of the ensemble were born or raised in Germany but retain strong ties to their Bulgarian heritage. Preparation for the festival has involved rigorous, multi-weekly rehearsals, alongside the meticulous creation of costumes and accessories.
This traveling festival gathers amateur Bulgarian folklore groups from various locations abroad. Since its inception in 2015, the event has hosted cultural showcases in multiple European cities.
Topics: #dance #groups #essen
It will be interesting to see how the two groups integrate their styles for this joint performance.