The RitmiKKa folk dance troupe from Hamburg, Germany, is scheduled to participate in the 11th Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival, which will be held in Munich from May 15 to 17. Kamen Kunev, a long-time dancer, headmaster, and choreographer for the troupe, stated that the performance will feature a dance created approximately 60 years ago by choreographer Zahari Andreev, whose graduate Kunev is. He explained that selecting this specific dance reflects the leadership’s belief that the work of late performing arts legends should be preserved.
“Such dances are eternally alive and we must support them,” he emphasized. According to Kunev, the dance symbolizes the communal spirit of a village square. He recalled that in the past, evenings were spent gathering around village fires with music, songs, and dance after working in the fields.
Kunev noted that participating in the festival with this choreography aims to demonstrate that unity through dance endures, regardless of geographical location, adding that the spirit of Bulgaria remains wherever Bulgarians gather. The troupe will perform in new costumes designed specifically for the festival by fashion designer Nikolay Kolev. Preparations for the performance required an entire season of rigorous rehearsals, repeating every detail numerous times.
The Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival supports amateur folk ensembles performing outside of Bulgaria. The initiative originated with the Ot Izvora group in Lyon, France, which hosted the first edition in 2015 and the tenth in 2025. The 11th edition in Munich anticipates participation from over 100 dance ensembles and an attendance of more than 4,000 guests.
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is the official media partner for the event.
Topics: #dance #troupe #folk
Sounds like a wonderful festival; I hope the troupe has a great performance in Munich.