The RitmiKKa folk dance troupe from Hamburg, Germany, is scheduled to participate in the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival, taking place in Munich from May 15 to 17. Kamen Kunev, the headmaster and choreographer of the troupe, announced that the performance will feature a dance created approximately 60 years ago by choreographer Zahari Andreev, whose graduate Kunev is. Kunev stated that the decision to present this specific dance stems from a desire to preserve the work of late legends in the performing arts.
“Such dances are eternally alive and we must support them,” he emphasized. He explained that the dance symbolizes the communal gathering in a village square. Kunev recalled that historically, after working in the fields, villagers would gather around a fire for music, songs, and dance.
He noted that participating in the festival with this choreography aims to demonstrate that even when living abroad, the community remains united through dance, asserting that Bulgarian culture is present wherever Bulgarians gather. The troupe will perform in newly designed costumes, tailored for the festival by fashion designer Nikolay Kolev. Preparations for the dance required an entire season of rehearsals, involving repeated practice of every detail.
The Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival supports amateur folk ensembles performing outside Bulgaria. The initiative was established by the Ot Izvora group in Lyon, France, which has hosted previous editions. The 11th edition in Munich is anticipated to host over 100 dance ensembles and more than 4,000 guests.
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) serves as the official media partner for the event.
Topics: #dance #troupe #folk
